Ripon and Easingwold Cycle Route

Ripon & Easingwold Cycle Route

Route Information

Stats:  39 miles and 895 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Three very good opportunities exist along this route, at Raskelf and at Easingwold (see map) on the way out, and at Helperby on the way home. Once back at Ripon, there is a wealth of cafes to take a pick from. Pop into Moonglu Performance Cycles whilst in Ripon, and chew the cud with Neil and Mark.

Character

Fast, flat, with lots of long straights for you to crank it up along! This route will allow you to stretch it out and test your pace, or have a relatively easy ride out with the family – the choice is all yours.

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Route

1. Head out of Ripon Market Place down Kirkgate, ignoring Duck Hill and taking the opportunity to pass by the front of England’s oldest Cathedral.

2. Turn right down Bedern Bank, then left at the roundabout, along Boroughbridge Road. Cross straight over the large roundabout at the Ripon Bypass, cycling past the Racecourse and over the bridge that crosses the river Ure.

3. An easy climb leads in a few hundred yards to a junction on the right signed to Skelton on Ure and Newby Hall. Take this winding lane and cycle all the way to Langthorpe near Boroughbridge.

4. At the T junction with the B6265 at Langthorpe, turn right and cycle the few hundred yards to Canal Roundabout, turning left at ‘The Grantham Arms Hotel’ and heading toward Helperby. A quarter of a mile further along, take the junction right signed to Helperby. The road is now flat and fast, allowing you to speed along to this super little Georgian village. This roads twists and turns towards the end, before meeting a junction at Thornton Bridge. Turn right and head into Helperby, then turning left at the junction in the village, opposite ‘The Oak Tree’, heading along the super flat and super straight road that takes you to Raskelf.

5. On route take on the short climb over the East Coast main line before heading into Raskelf. On reaching Raskelf, the road twists left and right, then on towards Easingwold, crossing the A19 Easingwold bypass. Raskelf Road meets a mini roundabout at Easingwold – turn right and head into Easingwold and the wonderful little market place, where a selection of cafes abound. We’ve chosen the ‘Sugar Mouse’ cafe, with its excellent cake!

6. Once refreshed, get back on the bike and reverse the route, turning left at the mini roundabout onto the Raskelf Road, then taking the second turning left, signed ‘Alne’ onto the National Cycle Route ’65’. This cracking lane crosses over the A19, before turning sharply right and continuing along ‘Crankley Lane’ to Alne. At Alne, turn off left, signed ‘Aldwark’, staying on the National Cycle Route ’65’ until the crossroads, then turning right towards Helperby. This long flat line rolls gently through delightful countryside all the way back to Helperby.

7. Once back into Helperby, follow the road signed for Boroughbridge, turning left at the Oaktree and back over Thornton Bridge. However, this time you need to ignore the turning to Boroughbridge and keep on the road towards Asenby, heading through Cundall and climbing gently on to Asenby itself.

8. At Asenby and a convoluted junction by the A19 and the Crab & Lobster, head straight over the Topcliffe Road and cycle along the narrow lane signed to ‘Baldersby St James’ , then turning left towards Rainton just after the Nursery Garden holiday park. Follow this lane as it enters Rainton, passing ‘The lamb Inn’ before turning left at the small village green, signed to ‘Dishforth’. This narrow country lane is flat and fast, with a short kick to it as it joins a mini roundabout by the A168. Turn right here and head onto Sharow Lane.

9. The initial climb is soon rewarded, as this narrow twisting lane eventually speeds you back to Ripon, crossing the bypass and North Bridge before finishing in the Market Place.