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CLASSIC ROUTES
A quick blast after work, a night loop you can finish before your lights die or a ride to squeeze in when you’re short of time. That’s a classic. Relatively low on mileage and never taking you too far from the start, these are good, solid rides. Short but not necessarily easy. |
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The Valley of Marske Beck
A thoroughly satisfying short route, tough climbs, great views, fine descent, grassy bits and woodland bits.
Route Grade: medium. Distance: 8km |
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Over Great Pinseat from Langthwaite
A remote area with testing climbs and “roof of the world” cruising
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 12km |
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Two Short Rides from Hardraw
Two short routes. Do them together, separately or link them to the Hawes route: the choice is yours.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 10 and 12km
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East from Langthwaite onto Hurst Moor
A stiff climb, a cruise over heather clad moorland, a fast descent to Schoolmaster Pasture, a climb tat then sets you up for one of the Dales’ Top Ten Downhills!
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 15km
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Gunnerside & Melbecks Moor
Tough climbs, stone tracks, grassy tracks, tracks through old mining ruins and finishing with a fast stone and grass descent to Swaledale.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 12km |
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West of Marske to Fremington & Marrick Moor
The route has two sections alongside the lovely River Swale, a steep climb up onto Fremington Edge, a short plateau cruising section, a climb and then a final stone a grass track descent which is a belter.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 20km |
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Limestone Plateaux between Kirkby Stephen & Crosby Garrett Way
This route links together quiet lanes, tracks through lush pasture, a climb over Smardale Fell and a wonderful breezy descent down to Crosby Garrett.
Route Grade: medium. Distance: 20km |
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EPIC ROUTES
Getting longer now – these mountain biking loops will take a bit more time and effort. Not rides to be scared of, but definitely rides to be respected. Rather large hills and plenty of technical ground to cover mean that firstly, you’re going to be out for a few hours and secondly, you’re going to have a really good time. |
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Howgill Summits north of Sedbergh
This route starts with a tough climb that leads you into a mountain biking heaven of smooth tracks and a mind blowing descent.
Route Grade: extreme. Distance: 16km
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Sedbergh & the Upper Rawthey Valley
Tarmac turns to track followed by a variety of surfaces, fine stone tracks, some overgrown narrow sections and tricky stream crossings.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 23km |
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Sedbergh south-east to Dentdale
This route is an exploration of the western end of Dentdale, one of the softer more wooded vallyes of the Yorkshire Dales. There’s a ford of unknown depth, some easy and some tough lane riding, a long section on a contouring green lane and a bone shaking descent.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 26km |
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Reeth & Reeth High Moor
A loop around Leeth High Moor that takes you to a height of 570 metres before a descent that is first rough stone then a smooth stone beauty.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 20km |
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South of Reeth onto Harkerside Moor
A warm up section (lane, stone track, grass track and a new cobbled section) is followed by a big climb to the highpoint of the ride. Then its predominantly downhill over the next 10km.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 23km |
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South of Reeth to Apedale
You have to work hard for your enjoyment, with a tough ascent from Grinton to Greets Hill. The most technical bits of the ride come after crossing the Askrigg road – a steep, rubbly descent where you hope the front end of your bike knows what it’s doing!Route Grade: hard. Distance: 23km |
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Castle Bolton & Apedale
The first 10km is one of the longest unbroken sections of off road in the whole of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It climbs and dips pas farms and broadleaf copses, old mining ruins and between drystone walls. Then after a steep road climb followed by the second off road treat; quintessential Yorkshire Dales mountain biking on an excellent stone track.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 24km
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Askrigg & Thornton Rust Moor
Climb steeply on picturesque lanes to reach the start of the off road – a wide stone track turning to rough grass. Descend to Caperby then it’s a climb up onto the moorland, skirt around Addlebrough and then it time for the descent on grass then stone tracks back to the start.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 22.5km |
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Hawes, a tour of Dodd Fell & Burtersett
A wiggly lane takes you to the start of a steep grassy climb. You won’t be spending much time in the saddle until the summit, but from there on the trail is a gem perched on the edge of the exceedingly steep hillside.Route Grade: hard. Distance: 21km |
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Bainbridge, Raydale & Stake Allotments
Raydale has the feel of a forgotten valley. The cobbled crossing of Crooks Beck is one of the memorable challenges of the day. This is followed by a steep climb and a fain track that gently descends a vast grass plateau, eventually turning to stone as it drops towards Thoralby.Route Grade: hard. Distance: 26km |
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Thoralby, West Burton, Carlton Moor & Melmerby
A tough circuit route with an extremely challenging climb to the summit of Burton Moor/Carlton Moor. The descent gets better and better, then a tarmac climb sets you up for 5km of off road fun with the most exciting stuff on the descent towards West Burton.Route Grade: hard. Distance: 22km |
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ENDURO ROUTES
Now we’re talking, Pack your sarnies and your chain lube. These are big, tough mountain biking rides that’ll probably take you all day. They are challenging routes for fit and experienced mountain bikers. Riding where you might describe the route as a bit of a beast! |
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Bainbridge, Langstrothdale & Cam High Road
A big breezy ‘roof of the world ride’ twice climbing to over 550 metres on fine stone tracks, linked by a beautiful lane.Route Grade: hard. Distance: 35km |
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Lady Ann Clifford’s Highway, northwest of Hawes
One of the finest stretches of plateau cruising in the Dales with fantastic views, it comes at the cost of a 30 minute hard slog but its well worth it.Route Grade: hard/extreme. Distance: 33.5km |
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North from Muker to Tan Hill
The first half of the ride stays along the side of the River Swale then it climbs through woodland above the valley. The return lies away from the valley and includes a steep climb up Kisdon Hill and a grassy descent back to the start.Route Grade: extreme. Distance: 28km |
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Castle Bolton, Broomber Rigg & Redmire Moor
A castle, a tearoom, two pubs, Aysgarth Waterfalls, strange signs for tanks on Redmire Moor, ghostly mining spoils and enough climbing to keep you fit.
Route Grade: hard. Distance: 21.5km
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KILLER ROUTES
Character building… We wouldn’t go so far as say these routes could kill you, but they won’t be much fun if you’re not prepared. Allow plenty of time; stock up well on the calories and make sure you’re firing on all cyclinders. |
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Marske to Arkengarthdale
The scenery becomes wilder the further north you go, climbing eventually to 550 metres. There is pasture, woodland, stretches along the river, steep climbs and wondrous descents, tow fine pubs and a long spell of high moorland cruising.
Route Grade: extreme. Distance: 47km |
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Bainbridge to Horton
This long tough ride has five major climbs. What goes up must come down and the hardest climbs seem to lead to the most satisfying descents. Pubs a café, the highest road pass in the dales and one of the fastest off road descents in the dales, and you have a ride of superlatives.
Route Grade: extreme. Distance: 58km |
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PLUS TOP DOWNHILLS, UPHILLS, CRUSING |
