The North Yorkmoors
Bike’s photo legend Chippywood has ridden and shot every road in the UK worth its salt. This month he picks…
The North York Moors are England’s rooftop – high, windswept and bumpy, but the views are stunning. The climb onto the moors starts along the A170 between Thirsk and Scarborough – choose from any number of routes, but a favourite is a looping 70-mile ride starting off at Pickering, an old market town with a vintage steam railway station that’s worth a visit.
Pick up the smooth, flowing A169 heading north to Whitby and twist through fields and trees. After ten miles, lush gives way to moorland as the road climbs into the clouds (on a dodgy day). Pick a sunny day or evening and the skies seem as big as Utah’s – if you like a bit of photography, all the better. Although be warned the weather can change in a blink so pack a mac. Look for Saltergate car park on the right and the magnificent sweep of the 400 metre-deep Hole of Horcum on the left – a vast depression caused by underground erosion. More importantly, in the summer the car park enjoys an ice cream van, so grab a 99 and contemplate the view.
After the twin hairpins at Saltergate Bank, the A169 streaks north – you’re in the right place if you can see RAF Fylingdales’ radar tower which looks a bit like a giant hi-fi speaker, but used to look like golf balls. Divert through Goathland (you’re in Heartbeat country now), then over Blue Bank with striking views across Whitby and the North Sea. Whitby, with its ancient abbey, Goth-loving Bram Stoker heritage and excellent fish and chips, is worth a stop – but then take off along the north edge of the moors on the fast A171 for Guisborough. There are lots of smaller roads drifting off south across the moors – Danby to Hutton-leHole is a cracker. But, I’d say sweep down the Shellgrip dual carriageway hairpins at Birk Brow, then peel off for Stokesley and join the B1257 – otherwise known as the Helmsley TT. It’s easy to imagine the road being full of speeding sportsbikes in the 1990s, but today it’s a gentle, rolling descent into Helmsley that’s awash with adventure bikes and cruisers. Treat yourself to a cup of tea and a sandwich at the Black Swan hotel in the village square, or one of the many cafés dotted about. And now you’re back on the A170, ready for the return trip.