Cycling in North Yorkshire
Welcome to a cyclist’s paradise
- Stories & Inspiration
- Welcome To A Cyclists Paradise
North Yorkshire is a must-visit cycling destination all year round
Find out the best places for road and mountain biking, bike hire and easy-going cycle paths for all the family to enjoy.
See why the roads of North Yorkshire were chosen for the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 as you test your bike skills and your legs through dramatic countryside.
North Yorkshire is a must-visit cycling destination all year round. Surrounded by stunning scenery you can attack some killer climbs in Nidderdale, charge down some challenging mountain biking routes or enjoy some gentle scenic off-road cycling on one of the many cycle tracks. Whatever your level and ability, you are sure to find the route for you.
Nidderdale’s ‘killer climbs’
Trapping Hill featured in the Tour de Yorkshire 2017 as the Côte de Lofthouse and this route is a definite ‘killer climb’ sure to test out your legs and your stamina. With a gradient of 25% at its steepest, your reward is spectacular views.
There are several other ‘killer climbs’ in the Nidderdale area to challenge you so see how many you can complete.
Road cycling in the Yorkshire Dales
The roads of the Yorkshire Dales National Park offer some great cycling routes due to the undulating nature of the landscape providing cyclists with challenging climbs and breathtaking descents.
Follow the route of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ on the roads of Swaledale and Wensleydale taking in the dramatic scenery of the Buttertubs Pass.
Cycle coast to coast
The Way of the Roses coast to coast cycle route starts on the west coast and takes cyclists on a journey through two National Parks – the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors and two National Landscapes – Nidderdale and the Forest of Bowland so stunning scenery and views are guaranteed!
Dalby Forest
Dalby Forest is a great destination for mountain bike enthusiasts. There is a choice of routes ranging from easy-going, suitable for beginners and families, to challenging ones for serious bikers.
The toughest trail is the UCI World Cup Trail. Use all your bike handling skills to navigate the zigzags, berms and descents. The trails are graded from green (easy) to black (extreme) so you can match your riding level with the trail before setting off.
Visitors can hire bikes including trikes, wheelchair bikes and hand crank bikes from the nearby Dalby Cycle Hub.
Test yourself at Stainburn Forest
Stainburn Forest is another great option for some super mountain bike trails and is considered one of the most technical trail centres in the UK. The site is a mixture of man-made and natural trails all designed to test riders.
Cycle rides that are small on effort but big on scenery
For cyclists who prefer a gentler pace, North Yorkshire boasts many easy-going cycle routes and trails incorporating old disused railway lines such as the Nidderdale Greenway, The Cinder Path between Scarborough and Whitby and the York to Selby cycle path.
These routes are perfect for families or for people who are new to cycling.
Elite world cycling returns to North Yorkshire this September as Stage 4 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men (5 September) takes to the roads of the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales with the peloton rolling out of the market town of Helmsley for a tough day of hard racing to the finish line in Leyburn.
See our activities pages to find more cycle and mountain bike routes as well as cycle hire information.
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