Route Ref:  NYM12

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This is our first ride on the North Yorkshire Moors since the lifting of restrictions on 1st October. Despite planning a ride well away from the areas where restrictions remain, we still encountered a problem. It is a bit short and is quite an easy ride with no major climbs. Nice single track out of Rosedale,(as featured in MBR top 10 single tracks April 2003) hard forest tracks, moorland tracks and fast tarmac down hill. In fact a little of everything. Alternative finish on overgrown bridleway.

Park at Rosedale abbey. There are two small car parks, the bigger one behind the Milburn Arms on the road east out of the village to Egton Bridge. I can imagine that parking gets a bit difficult at peak times. There are also two Tea rooms in the village center, one them being The Abbey Tea Rooms. Note, no more until you return back to Rosedale abbey.

Take the road out of Rosedale Abbey, south west towards chimney bank and climb as far as the pub. From here a bridleway takes you south east out of the dale. This starts off as a farm track becoming very muddy and then turns into single track. (Now hard packed gravel). When you reach Hollins Farm make sure you go to the right up the hill a little and not through the farm gate. At the wall corner the bridleway forks. Take the left single track. This track becomes difficult or techie in places with rocks and boulders, so expect to have to get off and push a few times. Unless your one of those really clever show offs! It gets better further on. This track eventually brings you past High Askew and onto the tarmac lane. Turn left and over the bridge and right at the junction. Climb a short but steep hill to the village of Cropton. There is a brewery at the New Inn to the south of the village. Turn left at the junction in the village. Follow this road east towards Cawthorne

Just after the lane to Hen Flatts on the right a narrow lane turns off left to Skelton Banks Farm. Follow this lane down the hill past the farm keeping to the left fork. Another 1/2 mile on this lane brings you into Cropton Forest and the tarmac road changes to forestry road. Continue "up" through the forest until you come to a "T" junction. The bridleway continues ahead indicated by a little yellow arrow, onto soft single track. This get boggy in places but provides a pleasant break from the forestry road. After 3/4 mile of feet wetting you come out again onto the forestry road at a sharp right angle bend. Continue straight ahead on the road, down a bank to the gate leading to St James's Farm. (This is the one that blocked us when we first rode this after the foot&mouth).

Pass through two more gates and then onto a pleasant single track section skirting the edge of the forest with views over towards Hartoft Moor and the valley with no name. (The official bridleway does leave the forest boundary for a short section, rejoining after 1/2 mile). I diid say this is a pleasant single track and it is, but it needs careful balance in sections where there is risk of dropping off left into a smelly water filled ditch! I'll say no more! The track then goes into some dense forest which provides a canopy blocking out most of the light. The track meanders around trees and boggy bits coming out at another forest road.

Cross straight over and go though the single gate leading to the moor. After going through the gate (761969), keep the stream on your right and head up the hill north easterly to a gate in the wall. In poor visibility it will be difficult to navigate this short section up to the wall. It is also hard work climbing on spongy grass. From the wall the moorland track ahead also looks difficult to follow, but when you get to it, it's OK and fairly firm. Follow this track which joins a dolomited track further on bringing you eventually to the site of Hamer House.

Turn left on the road for a short descent to Hamer Beck and then the day's last climb over the ridge for a one mile downhill back to the car park. Alternatively, from Hamer House you can take the bridleway west towards Northdale Rigg. Unfortunately the track turns to heather after 100 yards. Avoid temptation to pick up a new dolomite track that leads you too far north to Shunner Howe. You need good navigation skills to continue and should not attempt this crossing in poor visibility unless you do have confidence in your navigation ability and don't mind riding across open moorland. (A lot of this was only just ridable but obviously this will change at different times of the year). Using the map, aim for the footbridge over Hamer Beck (GR734985). The footbridge is nothing more than a rock! From the beck aim for a small stone shelter on the hillside. Another 200 yards brings you to the track on the ridge. Pick up the bridleway for a bouncy downhill into North Dale. Turn left at the lane, cross the bridge, and a short steep climb brings you to the bridleway sign for Heygate Farm. Keep left after passing through the after the stream, other wise you will end up on the footpath. Heygate Farm is probably one of the messiest farms you will ever see! Turn right after the farm on the road back to Rosedale Abbey.

Start Rosedale Abbey village car park GR 725960 - Inn 723954 - Hollins Farm 732944 - Track/Junc 743907 - Road Junc 752895 - Forest Drive 751908 - Track Junc 756918 - Spiers Farm Gate 766946 - Forest Gate 761969 - Gate in Wall 758975 -Track Junc 751983 - Track/Road 744991 - Hamer Beck 982976 - Rosedale Abbey Car Park 725960.

16.2 Miles, 26.07 Kms, 1987 Feet, 652 Metres, N/A Gates, 68% Off Road