Route
1. (From Rosedale stopover) Now to head to the coast, taking in some great forestry riding at Dalby on route. But first we have some more of the best singletrack in the UK on offer. Climb Rosedale Bank to the hotel. You may need to walk up this! It’s England’s steepest road! Take the bridleway off to the left, passing Bank Farm and a cattle grid en route to the bridleway junction at Hollins Farm. Take the singletrack that skirts the edge of the moor undulating along divine moorland riding until it eventually gives way to a track which leads to tarmac at Lower Askew.
2. Follow the road down to Cropton, then turning left at the village green and following the narrow lane signed for ‘Sutherland’ and ‘Newton’. Approximately 2.2 miles along this lane, the road turns sharp left, with a cul-de sac directly ahead. Stay ‘straight ahead’ following the rough track of the cul de sac for a further 0.7 miles.
The Dalby Forest Option
3. A short distance further on a ‘T junction’ track is reached – turn down right and follow this track until it joins the main road by Yatts Farm. Turn left and immediately right, into Ruddings Road, a hedgerow lined flat lane that will speed you along towards Dalby.
A crossroads of tracks is reached next. Go straight on, following this track as it crosses the North Yorks Moors Heritage Railway, turning right almost immediately once across the tracks, skirting left as a copse of trees is reached, following the BW with the trees now to your right, then across to meadow towards Crossdale Road (track). A reassuring sight will be Farfields Farm bed and breakfast to your left. Turn left at the main road where you will see the Fox and Rabbit Inn (possible halt nearer Dalby). Having turned left, take the next right and follow the track down into Dalby Forest, to the visitor centre and start your fun on the red route.
We haven’t described the red route directions, as you simply have to follow the well signed route and end up again at the visitor centre for a break before heading to the coast!
To the coast!
4. From the Dalby Forest visitor centre head along the road towards the ‘Go Ape’ climbing area, turning into the track next right after this. Head up and out of the forest via Givendale Head Farm, turning right after the farm onto the lane, then turning left into the wide lane/ track a few hundred metres further along (Oxmoor Dikes on OS map). Stay on this for 2.3 miles, crossing over a lane along the way and keeping the woodland to your left.
5. The track meets a tarmac lane (Cockmoor Road) in among Wykeham Nursery. Turn right and immediately left on the further rough track and descend to the road by Troutsdale Lodge, then turning right. Stay on this lane for just under 1.5 miles, then turning into the lane on the left which will lead you to Langdale End.
6. Enter Broxta Forest and ride through for 2.5 miles to the viewpoint and car park near Reasty Hill (OS Maps). At the road turn left and cycle along until this narrow road joins with the A171 trunk Road close to Ravenscar and the disused railway that takes you to the sea at nearby Robin Hoods Bay!
7. Turn left onto the A171 and cycle for 1 mile, then turning onto the bridleway on the right, following this across moorland scrub until it exits you onto the disused railway line that leads you along the coast a few miles to the beautiful seaside hamlet of Robin Hoods Bay, where there’s ample places to stay, to eat and drink. Cycle into this small coastal village and wander down to the sea to dip your feet into the sea – well done!
The northern Moors Option
If however, you don’t want to take on Dalby today, then this option leads you from Cropton Forest and across the Moors, directly to Robin Hoods Bay and the sea. It’s a shorter day and a better option if time is a consideration.
3a. Exit Cropton Forest at the northern edge, at Wardle Green, and pick up the track towards Goathland (across Simon Howe Rigg). Pass the standing stones and cairn, and then the climbing starts to descend, thankfully.
4a. Descend ‘Two Howes Rigg’, crossing the footbridge near Collinson Beild (OS Map), and head all the way to the narrow road. Turn right and ride down towards the Whitby Road (A169) at Ellerbeck.
5a. Follow the bridleway east, crossing open moorland, to the track junction at Lilla Howe (OS map). Pick up the bridleway heading north-east, signed the ‘Robin Hood’s Bay Road’, and ride along this to the A171 trunk road. Turn right and ride along the road for a short distance, picking up the bridleway on the left towards St. Ives Farm and Bridge Holm Lane.
6a. Just before Bridge Holm Lane, the disused railway cycle track is reached. Turn onto this and ride the last short section to Robin Hood’s Bay. It’s then an easy ride down the hill that runs through this beautiful coast hamlet, all the way to the sea. Robin Hood’s Bay has ample places to eat, eat and drink and accommodation choices. Time for a drink 🙂
Unlike Wainwright, we won’t be offering you a pint… buy your own!
