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Pockley & Bransdale
Back to North Yorkshire Moors Routes
 Looking for something new? This route might just do. This is a pure cross country
route with easy track riding and fantastic scenery and nothing to scare the technical shy rider. (Except on the day we did this)!
Its probably best to save this one for August when the tracks should be dry
and the heather in full bloom.
Park in Pockley village. The road is wide at the north end of the village with more scope for parking.
Turn right at the top of the village down a lane signposted Beadlam Rigg. Follow this lane which climbs steadily north and continue
as it turns to double track past High Farm.
Soon you will come to the top of Rollgate Bank. This is the nearest you will get to any
steep exciting down hill so make the most of it.
At the bottom of the bank the track gets softer with some big deeep puddles.
This track will lead you all the way onto Pockley Moor
and you will need to negotiate a wet a few wet areas along the way. The last mile becomes
very rutted and you will need to concentrate and balance or you will be thrown off your bike
into the heather. Eventually you come to the Bransdale road. Turn left.
 The map shows a bridleway leading to Bonfield Ghyll and then turning west at the farm onto the moor. This bridleway
does not exist over the moor. It did'nt 30 years ago either when I remember having to heather bash the full distance accross the moor.
However there is a perfectly good and relatively new track presuambly for the grouse shooting fraternity.
I'm not keen about how these tracks are appearing at alarming speed on the moors obliterating
some of my favorite tracks and paths, but this one I like as it opens up a ridable route
on this particular stretch of moor. Allthough it is not strictly a right of way, there are no signs
prohibiting your passing, unless you have a dog!
So, pass the bridleway end to Bonfield Ghyll and climb up the road a few hundred meters
to a point where you can turn right onto the track. Follow this north for about
500 metres and turn left just above Bonfield Ghyll. Now stay on this track which will head west
and loop around Coniser Howl bringing views of Bilsdale before turning south east to lead you to the gate on the edge of Roppa Wood.
Turn right through the gate and follow a track along the edge of Roppa Wood and stay with it as it turns into the
wood to reach the bridleway below Helmsley Bank. Turn left here and stay on this bridleway
to the road on Cowhouse Bank. This is a firm forest track and most of it is downhill for the whole 2 km.!
Turn left at the road and follow it down past Cowhouse Bank farm
to the bridleway which is signposted on the right about 400 metres after the farm
This is the last section of the ride and could be the least enjoyable with two climbs and some soft ground to cross.
At the time we did this most of the route was soft to Howl Wood Farm and then plastered with mud from the farm to the lane.
Again, best done in the summer. The route is not very clear from the gate, but head for the copse of trees and from there you will see the gate and bridleway sign
which follows the fence down to stream. Now with a brand new bridge erected after the flood damage earlier last year. Cross the bridge and follow a bit of single track up through the
bracken and on to a higher track which takes you to Howl Wood Farm. Pass through the farm and stay on the same track
all the way to the road via a last punishing climb through some woods. Turn right at the road for an easy last
2km to Pockley. Plenty of tea rooms in Helmsley to choose from!
17 Miles, 27.36 Kms, 1800 Feet, 591 Metres, N/A Gates, 73% Off Road
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