We last attempted this ride several years ago, so we were looking forward to the action with enthusiasm. The ride to Cornwood was scenic but uneventful. When we reached Torr, Charlie and Dave decided to take the road route home via Harford while the rest of us set off for the stony track to the Tinners' Hut.

We were intercepted at the start of the track by a local resident who seemed to feel it was his duty to interrogate everyone who was headed for the moor: I don't think he fully understands the purpose of national parks! After trying to put us off for ten minutes he eventually realised that we were determined to go, and wished us well.

The track was excellent, our progress being impeded only by the occasional moorland pony that crossed the path. We lunched in a delightful sheltered glade beside the river, and then continued slowly in search of a suitable crossing point. We soon found a place with plenty of big boulders, and eventually we were across with only a few wet feet.

The climb to the track on the ridge was much harder, especially for the younger riders, so the fit ones came back and helped them with their bikes. When we eventually found Tao (who had veered a little too far to the left during the climb) we followed the track for a few miles and then took the track descent to Owley. Here again there was room for error, when the leading riders veered too far left and found themselves surrounded by waste-high bracken! They persevered along their selected route, even though they could see the rest of us making much better progress on the path!

We had hoped to meet Charlie and Dave at the Copper Kettle at 4pm, but in fact it was closed for the day and Dave and Charlie were nowhere to be seen. We made our separate ways home at the end of another excellent adventure.