The Yorkshire Dales are a natural fit for road cycling, with long empty lanes climbing through limestone dales, big skies over open moorland, and some genuinely testing climbs in the north of England. From the flower-filled hay meadows of Wensleydale and Swaledale to the dramatic scenery of Malhamdale and the high passes of Fleet Moss and Buttertubs, there is no shortage of variety for cyclists of every level.

With 24 graded day rides and a 6-stage tour, this Cicerone guidebook by Harry Dowdell covers the full extent of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale National Landscape. It also includes a special bonus route: Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France from Leeds to Harrogate.

• The 24 day rides range from 24 to 92km (15 to 58 miles) and are graded as moderate, hard or challenging, centred on the key cycling bases of Pateley Bridge, Grassington, Ingleton, Settle, Reeth, Sedbergh, Hawes and Leyburn
• La Vuelta a Dales is a 305km (190 mile) circular 6-stage tour covering all the major dales, starting and finishing in Settle via Pateley Bridge, Leyburn, Hawes, Muker and Sedbergh
• Challenging climbs include The Fleak, Birkdale, Coal Road, Tan Hill, Oxnop, Buttertubs, Greets Moss, Park Rash, Trapping Hill and Fleet Moss, covering the best-known ascents in the Dales
• All routes are supported by 1:100,000 maps and gradient profiles, with refreshment and accommodation information for every ride and GPX files available to download]
• An introduction covers geology, wildlife, getting there, accommodation, food and drink, choosing your bike and basic bike maintenance

The Yorkshire Dales offer long, empty lanes, legendary climbs, and sweeping moorland views. Comprehensive, well-researched and packed with practical detail, this is the essential guide to cycling them.

Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales - Quick Facts

Day rides: 24 graded circular day rides 
Day ride distance range: 24 to 92km (15 to 58 miles) 
Grading: Moderate, hard or challenging; no easy rides in the Dales 
Tour: La Vuelta a Dales — 305km (190 miles) in 6 stages, starting and finishing in Settle 
Bonus route: Tour de France 2014 Stage 1, Leeds to Harrogate (206km / 128 miles) 
Key centres: Pateley Bridge, Grassington, Ingleton, Settle, Reeth, Sedbergh, Hawes, Leyburn 
Notable climbs: The Fleak, Birkdale, Coal Road, Tan Hill, Oxnop, Buttertubs, Greets Moss, Park Rash, Trapping Hill, Fleet Moss 
Areas covered: Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale National Landscape 
Bike type: Suitable for road bikes 
Mapping: 1:100,000 maps and gradient profiles included for each route 
Digital navigation: GPX files available to download 
Practical information: Refreshment and accommodation listings for every route; appendices covering useful contacts, campsites along the Vuelta a Dales, cycles on public transport and basic bike maintenance 
Best season: Year-round; spring to early summer recommended for hay meadows and moorland wildlife

Author Highlight

"Cyclists enjoy the network of small roads and lanes, some originally built by the Romans while others are upgraded cart tracks or drovers roads. The roads are generally quiet and are used mostly by local traffic. The lack of large urban areas on the fringe keeps the number of visitors low, and good trunk roads outside the Dales ensure that heavy traffic has no reason to pass through."

- Harry Dowdell, author of Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

Geology of the Dales

Human habitation

Wildlife

Getting there and getting about

Money

When to go

Accommodation

Food and drink

What to wear

What to take

Choosing your bike

Maps

Emergencies

Using this guide

Pateley Bridge

Link Route Leeds Bradford Airport to Askwith

Route 1 Nidderdale, Washburn and Wharfedale

Route 2 Brimham Moor, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Route 3 Masham and Burn Valley

Grassington

Route 4 Round Barden

Route 5 Malhamdale and High Limestone Country

Route 6 Malhamdale by way of Bordley

Route 7 Malhamdale, Silverdale and Littondale

Ingleton

Route 8 Dentdale and round Whernside

Route 9 Ribblesdale and round Ingleborough

Settle

Route 10 Dales and Tarn

Route 11 Langcliffe Scar and Malham

Reeth

Route 12 Tan Hill

Route 13 Wensleydale, Mallerstang and Tan Hill

Route 14 Richmond

Sedbergh

Route 15 Lune Valley and Barbondale

Route 16 Circuit of the Howgill Fells

Route 17 Barbondale and Holme Open Farm

Hawes

Route 18 The Big Cheese

Route 19 Semerwater

Route 20 Coverdale and Langstrothdale Chase

Leyburn

Link Route Northallerton to Leyburn

Route 21 Swaledale and The Fleak

Route 22 Aysgarth Falls

Route 23 Jervaulx Abbey and Middleham

Tour de France 2014

Route 24 Tour de France 2014 Stage 1: Leeds to Harrogate

La Vuelta a Dales

Stage 1 Settle to Pateley Bridge

Stage 2 Pateley Bridge to Leyburn

Stage 3 Leyburn to Hawes

Stage 4 Hawes to Muker

Stage 5 Muker to Sedbergh

Stage 6 Sedbergh to Settle

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Campsites along the Vuelta a Dales

Appendix D Cycles on public transport

Appendix E Basic bike maintenance

Seasons

all-year-round cycling but the best time is spring to early summer when the hay meadows are in flower and the birds of the high moors have returned to breed

Centres

the routes are centered on Pateley Bridge, Grassington, Ingleton, Settle, Reeth, Sedbergh, Hawes and Leyburn

Difficulty

routes are graded as short, medium and long and classified as moderate, hard or challenging. There are no easy rides in the Dales. The routes are suitable for all but the novice cyclist. Those with less experience may need to rest a little more often

Must See

cycling throughout the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Routes include all the major dales and challenging climbs of The Fleak, Birkdale, Coal Road, Tan Hill, Oxnop, Buttertubs, Greets Moss, Park Rash, Trapping Hill and Fleet Moss

July 2021

Route 6

December 2019

Link Access Sedbergh

August 2019

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