Storiths & Bolton Abbey

Route Information

Stats: 17 miles and  1552 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

The secret place here ,  the Storiths cafe at “Back O’ Th’ Hill Farm” has apparently now closed  (: . Instead, the tearooms at Bolton Abbey  are suggested, where the  cake is superb. Accommodation is all around is various Dales B&Bs, but nearby Skipton provides the best options.

Character

A great summers evening ride. This route takes in the best bits of Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, some great Yorkshire Dales views and back through a wood known as Storiths. Back to the Cavendish Pavillion where you can either have a pot of tea, chill with an ice cream or cool your legs in the river. Loads of parking at the Cavendish but take some change as you’ll have to pay during the warmer months. You can make this route longer by travelling through Burnsall and into Threshfield/Grassington and then heading back on the B6265.

Route

1. Park up at the Cavendish Pavillion car park, which is situated just beyond Bolton Abbey village on the right. Pay on the way down. This provides a great area to park and to use the facilities. Check bike and kit and set off up the lane which you’ve just come down.

2. At the junction turn right and continue along towards Barden Tower.

3. At Barden Tower (which is a good photo spot) continue straight on the lane towards Burnsall

4. The B6160 will bring you out at Burnsall which again is a perfect Yorkshire Dales village and you could spend some time there or bat straight on. Cross over the bridge (straight on for Threshfield on the longer route)

5. Take your next left turn onto Hartlington Raikes and continue climbing up the hill.

6. You will climb up to the B6265 and turn right at the junction.

7. Continue along this main road until you see the junction for Appletreewick on your right. The lane is marked New Road and is a downhill section.

8. This is fast decent and worthy of some speed however be careful of both cars and cows. They seem to pop out from nowhere and trust me the farmer uses language like I’ve never heard.

9. Some great tight bends and you will come to a junction but continue towards Appletreewick on Hazier Lane.

10. Take the next left onto Stangs Lane which is another drop down. This will bring you out above Barden Tower on the other side of the River Wharfe.

11. Continue left and don’t be tempted to drop down to Barden.

12. You are now on Storiths Lane and will be riding along a tree lined lane. Word of warning – this is a tight lane in places and cars do tend to fly along so be careful of muddy verges. Don’t want to end up in a bush or worse a tree.

13. Storiths lane has a wide and very obvious right turn down the wooden bridge over the river Wharfe which brings you nicely back to the front door of the Cavendish Pavilion and the facilities.
Have an ice cream as you’ve earned it.

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