With new explorer gravel cycling routes being launched and prestigious bike events being staged in the North York Moors in June and September, the National Park’s reputation as a cycling destination is set to grow this year.
The National Park, and many businesses across the North York Moors, have been investing in the cycling infrastructure over recent years resulting in an extensive support network for cyclists of all abilities, together with a string of new on-road and off-road routes that help guide people through the beautiful landscape on two wheels.
This month, the National Park will, for the first time, host the opening stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women race, which will see the peloton starting from the Forestry England visitor centre in Dalby Forest. The 5 June stage will cross some of the most iconic moorland and dales landscapes of the North York Moors via Pickering to Great Ayton before the race moves onto the finish in Redcar.
In September, Dalby Forest will also be hosting the British Gravel Championships, which will use the varied and extensive network of well-maintained gravel tracks to test the endurance and speed of the nation’s elite gravel racers.
September will see a repeat of the successful Minds and Miles cycling event that was first held last year. The 28 September event will again see four different routes from Sutton Bank – two on-road, a gravel route and a 25km off-road family route – designed to suit every type of cyclist and ability.
The events will help shine a spotlight on the North York Moors as a destination for cyclists, particularly as this summer Sutton Bank will, for the first time, have three new dedicated circular gravel routes created by the National Park.
These will enhance Sutton Bank’s cycling hub, where people can hire a bike from Sutton Bank Bikes, enjoy a good meal at The Truffled Hog, brush up their handling skills as well enjoy the existing network of routes and the pump track.
The new Explorer routes, which can be done on a gravel, mountain, or off-road hybrid bike fitted with suitable tyres, are graded easy to moderate and will follow existing bridleways, an ancient drover’s road, gravel tracks and quiet backroads. Each will open up opportunities for people to enjoy the spectacular and less-visited scenery across the Cleveland Hills, the Vale of Mowbray and the wooded surroundings of Rievaulx Abbey at the western edge of the National Park, as they head towards Osmotherley, Hawnby and Boltby Forest.
The routes are:
Hambleton Horizon 50k
A rewarding journey along a former Drovers' Road, following the dramatic Cleveland Way escarpment to Osmotherley. The return leg winds through the lower edges of the hills via Kepwick and Boltby Forest, before a final blast past the famous “Finest View in England” at Sutton Bank, a phrase coined by author James Herriot.
Stay: Riders can base themselves at Cote Ghyll Youth Hostel in nearby Osmotherley.
Stop: A perfect mid-ride break awaits at High Paradise Farm, a café offering homemade treats in ‘Paradise’ in the corner of Boltby Forest.
Grade: Moderate 865m of elevation gain over 50km – expect steady climbs, gentle descents
Watch: Hambleton Horizon 50k on YouTube
Rievaulx Raider 38k
A gravel route inspired by Rievaulx Abbey and the area's rich monastic history while enjoying the ebb and flow of pedalling within the River Rye’s watershed to Rievaulx. The route starts on the Cleveland Way through Boltby Forest before turning down into the lovely village of Hawnby, The return involves climbing back up through Nettle Dale through pastureland via Old Byland and Cold Kirby
Stop: Rievaulx Abbey’s tearoom or The Owl at Hawnby
Grade: Moderate Around 600 metres of elevation gain over 38km.
Watch: Rievaulx Raider on YouTube
Moorland Meander 25k
The easiest of the three routes, which captures the wild, open feel of the North York Moors and predominantly remains on ‘Top of the Rock’, the Sutton Bank escarpment. The routes heads out along the Cleveland Way past ‘Paradise’ at High Paradise Farm. At the Kepwick Bank crossroads, the route turns east along the finest ‘champagne’ gravel through Little Moor atop the moorland plateau towards Arden Hall before heading south and returning back to Sutton Bank
Stop: A perfect mid-ride break awaits at High Paradise Farm, a tearoom offering homemade treats in ‘Paradise’ in the corner of Boltby Forest.
Grade: Easy
Watch: Moorland Meander on YouTube
Cycling writer Guy Kesteven, who has helped create the routes comments: “I’ve been lucky enough to ride the North York Moors my entire life. These three routes provide a true taste of the rich off-road cycling available in a really accessible way and with options for all appetites.
“They're all carefully curated to showcase the incredible views, fascinating history, local hospitality and amazing diversity of landscape from wild moorland to stunning secret valleys that make the North York Moors such a special place to explore on a bike.”
All three routes can be found and downloaded on www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/explorer-routes
ENDS
Media contacts
Amanda Brown on M: 07876 452580 or email: amanda@a2bpr.co.uk
Or
Nina Beadle, Communications Office, North York Moors National Park Authority
press@northyorkmoors.org.uk
01439 772700
The North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, ancient woodland and historic sites. Created on 28 November 1952, it became Britain’s sixth national park. Covering an area of 554 square miles (1,436 square kilometres) the National Park has 26 miles of coastline, two national nature reserves, 840 Scheduled Monuments and over 3,000 listed buildings, attracting an estimated 8.4 million visitors a year.
The National Park has two visitor centres, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre, providing opportunities for cycling, walking, eating, picnicking, shopping, crafts and wildlife-watching. The centre in Danby also houses the Inspired by… gallery, which features regularly changing exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from the North York Moors.
The North York Moors National Park Authority works with a wide variety of people to care for this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, providing apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with nearly 14% of staff being apprentices from local families.
To view other press releases and for further information about the North York Moors National Park, visit www.northyorkmoors.org.uk