As Rob Newton has been often heard to say ‘it’s got to be done’ so that’s how I felt about a bridleway across the southern flank of Fountains Fell. So with this object in mind four of us set off from the centre of Settle on a cool and windy day. Most eastward departures from Settle involve a long steep climb and our route was no exception as we rode north-east up the bridle path that joins the even steeper tarmac road that comes up from Langcliffe. Our efforts weren’t helped by me turning uphill too early on a false trail.