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Day rides

Here you can find many classic routes varying from 50km to 100km, with PDFs containing a map and description.

Hawes toughie

Start/Finish: Hawes National Park Centre
Distance: 45 miles (75km)

This route starts off with a gentle run down Wensleydale but then becomes tougher. A long climb up Coverdale takes you over Park Rash and down into Wharfedale, and then after another flatter section there is the climb over Fleets Moss to finish.

Route map and description

Into Wharfedale

Start/Finish: Skipton or Grassington National Park Centre
Distance: 29 miles (48km)

This route takes you quickly away from Skipton and heads to Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale. It takes the quiet road up the east side of the valley up to Grassington before heading back, with the one big climb saved until close to the end. You then get a fast run down back into Skipton.

Route map and description

Pateley Bridge to Masham

Start/Finish: Pateley Bridge or Masham
Distance: 30 miles (50km)

A spectacular ride with a great mixture of scenery. It includes two tough climbs separated by easier cycling through rolling countryside.

Route map and description

Sedbergh to Kirkby Lonsdale

Start/Finish: Sedbergh of Kirkby Lonsdale
Distance: 25 miles (40km)

This is a relatively gentle route with the only long climb being the gentle ascent of the beautiful and remote valley of Barbondale. From Sedbergh you travel down the Lune valley to reach the Market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, then quiet roads take you through Barbondale to Dentdale, and a gentle return to Sedbergh.

Route map and description

Settle circular

Start/Finish: Settle main square or Grassington National Park Centre
Distance: 38 miles (62km)

A classic circuit around the limestone country crossing dramatically-shaped valleys and passing through the best-known villages in the southern Dales.

Route map and description

Swaledale circular

Start/Finish: Reeth
Distance: 27 miles (45km)

An easy route for navigation! This route follows the undulating road up the lovely valley of Swaledale, and then climbs to the highest pub in the land at Tan Hill. From here the route back to Reeth is a classic – a quiet road through beautiful scenery which can seem virtually downhill all the way if the wind is behind you (which it usually is).

Route map and description

Tan Hill toughie

Start/Finish: Hawes, Kirkby Stephen or Reeth
Distance: 52 miles (86km)

Can’t hide the fact that this is tough but likewise the beauty and charms are equally blatant. Lots of climbing as you visit some of the more remote areas of the Dales and the highest pub in England!

Route map and description

Two valleys route

Start/Finish: Hawes or Reeth
Distance: 33 miles (55km)

A cracking road route around the Herriot country of the two major northern Dales. In essence this route heads east along Wensleydale and west along Swaledale. Of course that means two long steep climbs and fast descents to cross the high moorland in between the valleys. You will need a low gear for some of the climbs – and then good brakes to get the most out of the breath-taking descents!

Route map and description