Being a simple community of like minded riders from around the globe, it’s great to read about each others adventures. Here’s an awesome trip in an area that we know well, taken by our friend in Spain, Laura 🙂 If you like adventure, you’ll love this trip and want to ride in this beautiful mountain […]
A rolling mtb route in the mountains above historic Sibiu, among beautiful forested hills at Paltinis.
This natural trail is taken from the 2018 Triada MTB Series, one of the very best in Romania, and it’s an awesome adventure along the beautiful and technical mountain biking trails that lie in the Carpathian mountains.
Cycling in Romania is a delight. There is so much history around you and the beautiful landscapes. Sibiu is at the heart of cycling in Transylvania and Romania, sitting beneath the Carpathian Mountains, it has some of the best road cycling and best mountain biking in Romania and indeed in Europe.
Distance & Ascent: 70 km & 3100 metres of climbing
Facilities: Limited at Paltinis, but ample in nearby historic Sibiu. Airbnb have a great selection of properties to choose from,all exceptional value. Choosing Sibiu as a cycling destination is something that you all should do.
Route
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A rolling mtb route in the mountains above historic Sibiu, among beautiful forested hills at Paltinis.
This natural trail is taken from the 2018 Triada MTB Series, one of the very best in Romania, and it’s an awesome introduction to mountain biking in the Carpathian mountains.
Cycling in Romania is a delight. There is so much history around you and the beautiful landscapes. Sibiu is at the heart of cycling in Transylvania and Romania, sitting beneath the Carpathian Mountains, it has some of the best road cycling and best mountain biking in Romania and indeed in Europe.
Distance & Ascent: 37 km & 1508 metres of climbing
Facilities: Limited at Paltinis, but ample in nearby historic Sibiu
Route
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A land of myth and legend, of beautiful countryside, enchanting villages, and historic castles – Romania is all of this and more.
The Carpathian and Cindrel Mountains are full of hidden tracks and trails, to epic peaks with amazing views.
With our editor, Larisa, we’ll be bringing lots of Romanian mtb trails for you to enjoy. Yes, it’s time to take a bikecation to Romania.
Our map below shows you exactly where the routes are. Simply pan in and click on a bike and a link will take you to the web page, or click the panels as you read through our great selection of rides.
ROMANIA
PALTINIS TO CINDREL PEAK – MEDIUM 30KM
A series of singletrack trails and tracks that climb through a fairy tale forest to amazing mountain views.
ROMANIA
TRIADA PALTINIS MTB SCURT 2018
Superb forested mountain bike trail riding, in the high hills and Carpathian mountains near historic Sibiu.
ROMANIA
TRIADA PALTINIS MTB LUNG 2018
Tough but rewarding forested mountain bike trail riding, in the high hills and Carpathian mountains near historic Sibiu.
Details coming soon
Details coming soon
Paltinis to Cindrel Peak
Route Information
Stats: 20 miles and 6125 feet of ascent
Refreshments
Nearby Sibiu is our chosen base for this ride out into the hills. It has ample accommodation places, and lots of choices of restaurants.
Start and Finish: Paltinis near Sibiu
Character
The route I’ll take today is easy, relaxed and disconnected from the urban environment. The route starts from Sibiu, and until reaching Paltinis there is a distance of about 30 km that can be reached by car or by bus (about 15 lei / ticket and 40 minutes distance). The Paltinis-Vf. Cindrel is about 5 hours and during the summertime you have to have a raincoat because the weather is quite changing.
Route
1. From Paltinis, it is 1 hour to Poiana Gaujoara, through a beautiful forest like in fairytales. The route is single trail and the difficulty is medium. Poiana Gaujoara is a glade full of vegetation in the middle of a spruce forest.
2. Now, it’s uphill to Batrana (1911 m), where a weather station is located. From the alpine hut, the route is simplified because it is only on the crest in the sun. From the trail you can see the Fagaras mountains behind you and on the left you can see the crest of the Lotru mountains.
3. The road to the Canaia hut has a low difficulty level and wonderful scenery to stop and take in.
The trail stops at the Canaia hut, where you need to be aware that it’s not open permanently, but only if the landowner is announced in advance. So do try to check with locals and in in nearby shops and hotels. If open, there you can sleep, rest and eat before setting off on the rest of your Romanian adventure.
4. From here to the final destination of the trip is approximately 1 hour – one half hour. The trail passes through a juniper, followed by the Cindrel Nature Reservation, which during the summer, when the peony is blooming, is covered with a pink/violet color to a very pleasant honey, a gorgeous landscape from which you hardly go away. Then it’s an uphill ride or hike to the Cindrel Peak, where there are a few push bike sections for everyone!
5. However, as much as you liked the route, you will love the top scenery from Cindrel Peak (2244m) where the view leaves you breathless, and thankful that you climbed up.
6. Now, all that’s left is to pick your point of decent, and enjoy the flying speed as you race through our amazing mountains, hopefully dreaming of further visits and new routes to explore – you’ll always be welcome, and there’s so many mountain valleys to choose from!
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Whitendale, Lancashire
Route Information
Stats: 6.5 miles
OS Map: 
Refreshments
Dunsop Bridge features a car park, toilets and Puddleducks cafe. If you have kids in the party, there’ll be plenty of time for a relaxed sit by the river feeding the ducks with duck food thoughtfully provided by the cafe.
Character
This is an ideal ride for a young family where the smaller members of the party can stretch their legs on tarmac but with negligible traffic. Consequently, we’ve listed it as both a road and MTB route but there’s no law against you doing it on a hybrid, a shopper or a penny farthing if that’s what takes your fancy.
If you need a USP to persuade the kids, bill this as a Journey to the Centre of the Earth. OK, a journey to the centre of the UK, anyway. If you cut out a map of the United Kingdom from plywood, the point of balance is Brennand Farm, our furthest point. Don’t listen to any Southerners who claim that Meriden, or Bedford are at the centre of things – Lancashire is where it all hinges.
Route
Straightforward from mapping
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Waddington Fell, Lancashire
Route Information
Stats: 10.5 miles and 1450 feet of ascent
OS Map: Refreshments
Pubs in Waddington, West Bradford and Grindleton.
Character
A pleasant double loop on the south-facing flank of Waddington Fell. It’s nowhere difficult, and either loop could be tackled individually. The turf can be soft at the top.
Route
1. Find somewhere out-of-the-way to park in West Bradford. Trundle along to Grindleton on the minor road and set off on the long climb up Main Street.
2. At the 181m spot-height, the main road veers right, with a curiously staggered signpost pointing to Slaidburn. Go straight ahead onto the minor lane.
3. At the bridleway sign, turn left. Cross a broken wall on your left and descend parallel to the valley.
4. At the T-junction at White Hall, turn right at a large house with a statue in a fountain. Descend pleasantly to the Grindleton-West Bradford Road again.
5. Turn right at the bottom and, as you go through West Bradford, turn right into Eaves Hall Lane which turns into Moor Lane as it climbs. You’ll soon come to a big sign announcing Seedall’s Farm – Bridleway only and the tarmac ends so the climbing gets a bit more interesting.
6. Ignore the footpath turning right and turn right at the top where the bridleway veers at 295 m.
7. Follow this line for two fields-worth, then turn right at an unmarked spot with marshy ground ahead and a ruin up on your left. Soon, you’ll see another ruin (photograph above) with a splendid view of Pendle Hill and bags of Bronte-esque atmosphere. Soon after, the trail dinks down to the left then zags sharply right.
8. The trail is indistinct on the ground but the key is to zag slightly more than you zigged. Cross the stream and follow a faint field boundary heading south-east. This soon becomes a strong track.
9. At the bottom, turn right on the road then look out for the bridleway sign forking away on the right. This is faint, gaining a slight causeway for a while. When the houses come into view, bear right and plunge down a fast, grassy slope to the start.
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Thieveley Pike, Lancashire
Route Information
Stats: 11 miles and 1250 feet of ascent
OS Map: Refreshments
Todmorden and nearby Hebden Bridge would be our choices.
Character
This short excursion into the wild lands between Yorkshire and Lancashire includes two deliciously overstated place names. Anyone expecting Thieveley Pike to be a soaring pinnacle will be disappointed, just as a prior visitor to the Verdon will question whether the Cliviger valley really counts as a “gorge.” But context is all and it is certainly a dramatic cleft, in Pennine terms. The Pike is an unassuming swell of moor rendered dramatic by the crenelated edge overlooking the gorge.
Route
1. Ride south-east on the A646 to Cornholme.
2. Just as you enter the village, fork right into Carr Road. Climb for about 2 miles to a moorland plateau.
3. Double back to the right on Flower Scar Road. This climbs up the moor but we fork left onto a sketchy trail across the north-facing flank.
4. At places, there is just a series of short posts (in varied colours of blue, yellow and white) to guide you. Look out, too, for incongruous interpretation boards for the Todmorden Moor Geology Trail and some industrial history of the mining activity here. The distinctive buildings down on your left are part of an observatory.
5. Drop to the A681 Bacup road and climb briefly to the right.
6. When the road dinks left and drops, turn right towards the less-than-scenic landfill site.
7. Turn left near the power lines, towards a remote farmstead. Follow this line for a mile or so.
8. Climb up to the right to gain the trig point at Thieveley Pike. Follow the watershed to the A671 Burnley Road.
9. Follow the new bridleway alongside the road, ignoring the track flanking the moor on your right.
10. Instead, take the lower track towards the even-more-remote farm at Cow Side but bypass this on the left.
11. Drop on grass from the Mary Towneley memorial, noting the ingenious fencing to keep your front wheel out of the rabbit-hole traps.
12. Zig-zag down to the right, crossing the railway to Holme Chapel.
13. Turn right to regain the start point.
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Salter Road, Lancashire
Route Information
Stats: 17 miles and 2100 feet of ascent
OS Map: Refreshments
Nothing. Not so much as a baked bean. The raison d’etre of this route is to get away from all that commercial, Starbucked razzle-dazzle. Chances are you’ll not see anyone else on the whole ride, so make sure you’re kitted out.
Character
The Salter Road is a grand high-level crossing of the Bowland Fells. It can be done as part of a longer loop but it’s good value as an out-and-back as well. The route is described from the Roeburndale side but you could just as well come at it from the south. It makes an ideal outing for a summer’s evening, when the softly dipping moorland light washes away the day’s cares. Be careful in winter as you’ll be spending a long stretch above 1000′ with no escape routes and shouting “Help!” will summon nothing but slavering wolves.
image by Jon Sparks
Route
Once you’re on the road, it’s a piece of duff to follow. Stay straight as the Romans before you and don’t venture into the seas of heather to either side.
Bonus Start/Finish: From Claughton, you can climb up to the wind farm on Caton Moor, then take the big zigzag via Haylot Farm to get to Lower Salter. This adds 10 miles and another 1,000 feet of ascent.
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Rivington Pike, Lancashire
Route Information
Stats: 7.3 miles and 1985 feet of ascent
OS Map: Refreshments
Occasional ice-cream van at the car park at the furthest-north point.
Character
Lord Leverhulme bequeathed this rambling area of woodland, rhododendrons, quarries and follies to the good people of Bolton (and I’m given to understand there are a few) in Edwardian times. It is now a vast playground for picnicking families courting couples and, of course, anyone who still likes playing out on bikes. And that means you.
Route
Rivington’s particularly good for an evening ride to shake off the frustrations of the working day and watch the sun dip over the Fylde coast. The view from up here can be stunning – this panorama is from the slightly higher Winter Hill just over the moor. Or come on a crisp winter’s night with your lights blazing. All of the tracks are stone-based, making for all-weather fun. Of the descents shown, the short drop south off the Pike is a pleasant set of rocky drop-offs followed by a fast, rut-dodging rattle. The one from George’s Lane alongside Wilderswood is fast and swoopy. But the descent of Belmont Road (don’t be misled by the suburban-sounding name) from the Pigeon Tower is one of the great test-pieces anywhere – worthy of comparison with the Beast of Hope Cross. Don’t even contemplate going home without rattling your brains out down there…
In keeping with the feeling of the place and its density of bridleways and byways, we’ve shown a suggested itinerary but will omit a turn-by-turn description. Just stay off the footpaths, OK?
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Crank it Up!