Baysdale, North York Moors
DISTANCE 33.1km (20.6 miles) CLIMBING 930m (3,051ft) TIME 2hrs to 3hrs 30mins
Start/ inish Yorkshire Cycle Hub, Fryup (grid ref NZ 720/049, postcode YO21 2AP)
Route summary A typical North York Moors route using a wide variety of tracks, from heather-hidden singletrack across the barren moors to lush green meadows in the valley bottoms
1
Back at the road, turn right. Keep right after the cattle grid, up to the road junction. Turn left, then go right opposite the blue sign (ignore the bridleway just before). A steep climb is followed by a rutted descent. Join the road at the bottom and follow it to an o!set crossroads. Go straight over this.
2
At the fork, turn o! right, on a grassy bridleway. Cross some fields, following the tree line. Then bear left, crossing more fields. Keep ahead alongside more trees, crossing more fields, until you reach a bridleway fork. Go left here, across a stream. Follow the grassy track to a track crossing. Continue ahead, through a gate, onto a bridleway and uphill to Castleton.
3
Go left on the High Street, then right at the fork. Keep ahead at the crossroads, over Dibble Bridge. Bear left at the fork and continue to a T-junction. Go straight on here, o!-road on a good track. Keep ahead past the old building, then bear left, alongside a wall. Turn left down a grassy slope, past a barn.
4
At the T-junction by another barn, go right, along the valley bottom. Take the first track on the left. Follow it uphill, into the trees. As you exit the plantation, turn left, on a faint track along the edge. Continue to follow this trail as it heads right, uphill. When you meet a better track, bear left onto it. 5
Just after a wide track on the right, join the (very technical) singletrack to the right – or take the easier option, which is to continue straight on, cross the bridge and then head right. Whichever you choose, follow the trail until you meet a road. 6
Turn right on the tarmac, which becomes an o!-road track. Continue ahead, past a farm and across some fields, then turn left onto a wider/better track. Go left at the junction. Head downhill, ignoring the left turn. Follow the track to the left, into Westerdale. Turn right at the T-junction, then take the first left. Go right at the crossroads, onto a dead-end road.
7
Continue to follow this as it becomes an o!-road track past a farm, across fields and through another farm. Keep right and continue straight ahead, up a steep climb to a road. Go right on this, for 1km. Shortly after passing a footpath on the left, turn left at a bridleway fingerpost, across the moors. Go left on the road, by the white stone marker. Pass a road and car park on the left, then turn left by the bridleway marker post.
8
Keep ahead on this path, over a wide track. Go right and then left, down a steep technical descent. Continue to a road and turn left on it. At the T-junction, go left. Turn right at the top, back to the Yorkshire Cycle Hub.
LOCATION DETAILS
The North York Moors form a 1,436km² plateau, which is England’s largest expanse of heather moorland. With over 800km of bridleways to explore, there’s a lot of riding to be had over the moors and in the dales, on a range of di!erent terrain. The trails generally drain well, though some areas can get boggy.
GETTING THERE
The Yorkshire Cycle Hub is located on the northern side of the North York Moors, between Middlesborough and Whitby. From the A171, head south to Danby, then through Ainthorpe. Follow the road up the hill, past the Fox & Hounds pub and Danby Castle, until you reach the Hub.
MAPS & BOOKS
OrdnanceSurveyLandranger94: Whitby&EskDale. NorthYorkMoorsMountain Biking by Tony Harker (Vertebrate Graphics).
FACILITIES
With parking, showers, accommodation, a cafe, bike shop, bike wash, bike hire, guided rides, skills courses and more, the Yorkshire Cycle Hub has everything you’ll need. (01287 669098, www. yorkshirecyclehub.co.uk). The cafe, pub and shop in Castleton will probably come too early in the ride for lunch, but you can pick up some supplies if required.