Route Ref:  NYM21

Back to North Yorkshire Moors Routes

The first half of this ride is easy leaving all the work to do later on. It also finishes with an 800 foot steep road climb out of Farndale. This route also includes three miles of single track riding. Start at the Lion Inn on Blakey, or if you don't want to use their car park there is a another a couple of hundred yards down the road. Pick up the track crossing the old railway and follow it down hill to Moorlands Farm.

Go past the farm and pick up the bridleway on the right (Daleside Road). Follow this grassy track down the valley,(with ten gates to open),picking up the tarmac lane at Thorgill. The lane takes you to Chimney Bank where you cross the road past the pub,and onto another bridleway to Hollins Farm. The track has been relayed with stones which is an improvement on the muddy mess it was twelve months ago. At Hollins Farm turn right up a grassy bank to a point where the track forks. Keep left to the wall and soon the track becomes single track. Apart form a couple of bouldery sections this is a good couple of miles of single tracking all the way down to a point just above High Askew where the track meets a wall corner. From here, there a few ditches to criss cross before picking up a hard track leading onto the Lastingham road.

Turn right in Lastingham at the pub and follow the road on to Hutton-Le-Hole. Pretty little village but gets packed with the 'Tourists'. At the road junction turn left for a cafe or right to continue the ride. Keep to the road up the hill taking the next left (Lowna Road) and a sharp descent to Lowna Bridge. Turn left after the bridge, climbing again as far as the track on Harland Moor for Harland. Follow the track through Harland, over a water splash and to the Bransdale road. (This section is not a public right of way. You are at the mercy of he land owner). Turn right and half a mile on take the bridleway over Rudland Rigg. The track is hard which makes the long climb up the Rigg easier. Follow this track for about three and a half miles to the Farndale/Bransdale crossroads. Turn right and start the descent into Farndale. Good views of Farndale open up as you descend as well as a view of the road climb finish at the other side of the valley.

The track gets more technical and steeper on the bottom third and finishes at the gate opposite Monket House. Turn right on the road and then quick left, a fast and steep descent to Church Houses. From Church Houses you start the long climb back up to Blakey Ridge. Take a breather on the way to stop and look at the views into the valley behind you. Not that you won't need a breather!. If you make it to the top turn right back to the Lion Inn and some well deserved refreshment.

21 Miles, 33.80 Kms, 2820 Feet, 925 Metres, N/A Gates, 52% Off Road