THE LOWDOWN

LOCATION

North York Moors National Park in north-east Yorkshire is one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the UK, covering 1,436km². It includes an extensive coastline, with the pretty seaside settlements of Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby sitting within the park. www.northyorkmoors.org.uk

WHY COME HERE?

The North York Moors are a fantastic location for cycling, whatever your level or discipline. Mountain bikers not only have a choice of great manmade tracks at the local trail centres, but there’s also an abundance of rights of ways across the National Park, which provide top-notch riding amid stunning scenery. A network of businesses have signed up to a ‘Cycling Friendly’ initiative, offering facilities, information and services to make it easier and more welcoming for visiting (and local) riders.

GETTING HERE

We recommend starting from The Yorkshire Cycle Hub, which is located in the heart of the North York Moors, between Middlesbrough and Whitby, off the A171. Exit the A171 heading south to Danby, go through Ainthorpe and follow the road up the hill, past the Fox & Hounds and Danby Castle, until you reach the Cycle Hub in Fryup (grid ref NZ 720/049, postcode YO21 2AP).

BIKE CHOICE

There’s a wide range of terrain here, which means you can enjoy it on all kinds of bike, from a hardtail to an enduro rig, depending on where you choose to ride. If exploring the backcountry, we’d recommend a 120 to 150mm-travel full-suspension bike. You’ll want good all-rounder tyres too, with sidewalls tough enough to handle rocks.