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Mountain biking trails

Parkhead Station Café – The Elephant Trees loop from Waskerley Reservoir

Routes

Mountain biking trails

Parkhead Station Café – The Elephant Trees loop from Waskerley Reservoir

Hard

riders

Parkhead Station Café – The Elephant Trees loop from Waskerley Reservoir

05:45

67.5km

1,460m

Mountain biking

Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 24, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

North Pennines National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.27 km

Parkhead Station Café

Highlight • Cafe

This former station master's house on the old Stanhope and Tyne Railway has been converted into a walker and cyclist-friendly cafe and B&B. Whether you are after a scone to fuel the walk ahead or looking for a haven to rest, Parkhead Station can cater for you. There's even a drying room and evening meals are available, though advance booking is recommended.

Tip by

15.8 km

The Elephant Trees

Highlight • Viewpoint

A conspicuous sight up high on Pikeston Fell, the Elephant Trees are a beloved landmark in this part of the Durham Dales. This clutch of trees is so-called because it was said to resemble an elephant. However, gusty conditions have since brought a few of the trees down, altering the elephant's appearance.

Tip by

25.5 km

Pike's Teeth, Hamsterley Forest

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

A Category 4 climb at the beginning of the Black Route at Hamsterley Forest lasting around 1.2 Mile with an average gradient of 7% peaking at 15% in places. The climb Leads you to the first trail on the black route Pikes Teeth.

Tip by

27.3 km

Pooh Stick Bridge

Highlight • Forest

Nice and easy walk

Tip by

27.3 km

The Gruffalo Sculpture

Highlight • Monument

The big Gruffalo

Tip by

30.4 km

Woods Downhill Trail, Hamsterley Forest

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

The first half of this trial has been official for a while, however the bottom half after crossing through the fire-road used to be unofficial. It has recently been converted to an official trail which is meant to be continued on from the original first half. The trail is around 0.2 Mile long with an average gradient of -8% peaking at -35% in places.

Tip by

32.0 km

Captain's Plantation

Forest

32.7 km

Dig In Bench Viewpoint

Highlight • Rest Area

Rest point on the trails

Tip by

35.9 km

Hamsterley Forest

Forest

51.5 km

Weardale–Teesdale Pass (B6278)

Highlight • Mountain Pass

This is a long moorland road that links Stanhope in Weardale to Eggleston in Teesdale. It's about 17km and reaches a high point of 511m on Middleton Common. It's quite a hilly road with the steepest section coming out of Stanhope if traveling from north to south.

Tip by

67.5 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

26.1 km

19.5 km

18.8 km

2.65 km

380 m

134 m

Surfaces

20.3 km

19.4 km

18.5 km

5.66 km

3.27 km

410 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (510 m)

Lowest point (150 m)

Weather

Saturday 4 July

18°C

13°C

40 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Parkhead Station Café – The Elephant Trees loop from Waskerley Reservoir

Parkhead Station Café

The Elephant Trees

Pike's Teeth, Hamsterley Forest

Pooh Stick Bridge

The Gruffalo Sculpture

Woods Downhill Trail, Hamsterley Forest

Dig In Bench Viewpoint

Weardale–Teesdale Pass (B6278)

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