Langdale End to Whitby Cycle Route

This stunning ride sums up the essence of the North York Moors – mile after mile of heather moorland reaching out towards the glistening sea beyond. It’s a challenging section of the Moor to Sea that takes you across some of the most remote and least visited areas of the National Park. It’s also exposed in parts, particularly at Stony Leas, the route’s highest point at 299m, but the three large forests on the route provide some shelter. At Hawsker the cycling suddenly becomes easier, as you join the ‘Cinder Track’, the former Scarborough-to-Whitby railway line, for the last 3 miles or so to Whitby. There’s cycle hire and a café at Hawsker, but no other facilities en route until you reach Whitby.

About this cycle route

Route type: Moors to Sea Network
Distance:18 miles (29km)
Time: 3½ to 4½ hours
Start point: Langdale End
Grid Ref: SE 938 912
OS Map: Ordnance Survey OL27

Refreshments: Moorcock Inn at Langdale End, picnic site at May Beck, cycle hire and café at Trailways in Hawsker, and plenty of choices in Whitby.

A moderate route on roads and forest tracks, with some steep ascents and descents

This cycle route is part of the 'Moor to Sea Cycle Network', which connects Scarborough, Whitby, Dalby Forest, Pickering and Great Ayton in a stunning series of moorland, forest and coastal loops.

There are 11 different connecting sections, adding up to around 150 miles of cycling in total, through the very heart of the North York Moors National Park. Cycle it all at once (in 5 or 6 days), or tackle it a section at a time – each part of the route offers a different challenge.

There are more details on our Moor to Sea Cycle Network page, and a list of local hire outlets on the Cycle hire page.

Route highlights!

•Lilla Cross – a famous landmark and viewpoint
•Enjoy the purple blaze of flowering moorland heather in late summer
•Coast along an easy section of the Cinder Track, from Hawsker
•Dip your wheels in the North Sea from the beach at Whitby