Ripon & Bedale Cycle Route

Route Information

Stats:  31 miles and 1300 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Both Bedale and Ripon offer some good cafes and places to have a bite to eat. Parking is easy and the roads are excellent.

Character

For a variety of reasons, not least of which is to give the guys north of Ripon a good ride out, we’re starting this route from Bedale. However, it’s up to you; just make sure that you read the directions from the right reference number for your own starting point.

From Bedale, the road climbs, but not too significantly. It’s all in proportion, as this is a flattish ride. From Masham, you join the Tour de France route and roll along the excellent road all the way to Ripon. Then it’s a ride along quiet country lanes that offer speedy sections all the way back to Bedale.


Route

1. Climb out of Bedale on the B6268 towards Masham. The initial climbing is not too demanding but is soon rewarded with a good stretch of downhill roading.

2. This road eventually meets a junction with the B6267, just to the east of Masham. Turn right towards Masham and swoop down to the junction with the A6108 Tour de France route.

3. Now dream of riding with the Peloton all the way into Ripon, swooping down into West Tanfield on route, taking care on the descent, which turns sharply left into the village.

4. At the mini roundabout at West Tanfield, turn right towards Ripon, passing through North Stainley. Take some time to view the great statue of a Deer, created by the village locals from bike parts.

5. At the clock tower junction at Ripon, turn right and head into the centre for a brew if you need a refreshment. Oliver’s Pantry is a great cafe, and you can keep the bike in sight, in the yard of the cafe.

6. On leaving Ripon, take the opportunity to ride past the oldest Cathedral in England, riding from the Market Place, down Kirkgate. Turn right onto Bedern Bank, and at the bottom of the short hill, turn right at the roundabout.

7. At the traffic lights turn right and climb High Skellgate up to the centre again, then turning left at the next lights onto Westgate. At the next junction turn right onto Blossomgate, passing ‘Moonglu Performance Cycles’. Keeping straight on, this road joins Kirkby Road, which is climbed out of Ripon in the direction of Kirkby Malzeard.

8. Open country with neat hedgerows brings a steady climb. This eases off, with a fenced military training area to your left, and the road begins to twist steadily down. A short distance later the road bends sharply left, with a narrow junction on the apex of the bend, on the right. Take this road signed for ‘Mickley’. An initial climb soon eases and a narrow tree lined lane twists its way to a T junction. Turn right.

9. This narrow lane, Nusterfield Lane, leads in turn to another small junction, where you again turn right and head down to the A6108 again. On reaching the junction with the A6108 turn left towards West Tanfield and ride over the bridge to the mini roundabout by the Bruce Arms.

10. At the roundabout go straight on towards Bedale and Well, climbing steeply out of the village. At the next crossroads turn right onto the B6267 for a short distance, passing through Nosterfield before turning left towards Carthorpe after the quarry works and ponds.

11. This excellent flat road allows you to open things up as you ride through Carthorpe and Burneston all the way back to Bedale.

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