Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way – 3 day trip – On Road Cycling
Having seen the signs (Blue with Swaledale Sheep Head) around the Dales and had a few guests stay with us whilst completing the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway (YDCW) We thought we would take a few days out and complete the route oursleves!
The total route is 130Km (130mile) and is a circlular route – offically starting in Skipton but can be segmented as you wish. We are regualar cyclist’s so would say we are fairly fit as we get out on our bikes about 3-4 times a week doing around 25-30miles with a few longer rides thrown it!
Both of us have ridden many of the “big” climbs before (some on more than a few occasions) so we knew what was coming and planned the overnight stops in advance and booked our accommodation
We have road bikes with small tail bags, handlebar bags and frame bags to have our spare evening cloths and essentials
Planning a cycling trip in April means the weather can be unpredictable so we had waterproofs with us and only once had to use them!
Day 1 – Settle to Hawes
Distance 60.81km Elevation 1192m OS Map
Day 1 Cycle the Yorkshire Dales
Setting off on a very familiar road out along past Eldroth, Clapham and Ingleton villages, our first test was coming out of Thornton In Lonsdale through the spectacular Kingsdale which brings you up quiet high and then down into Dent. On reaching the village of Dent we headed for the campsite High Laning has a café located within Dent Heritage Centre & Museum we had our coffee & cake. On leaving, the clouds darkened and the rain came but the time we reached Cowgill it was dry again and this as it turned out was the last we saw of the rain for the entire trip! Another cheeky climb out of from near Dent Head Viaduct to Newby Head it was out onto the main road (B6255) and nearly all down hill (with a few short climbs) into the town of Hawes. As we were too early to check-in to our B&B we “had” to finish our ride with a few pints of Theakstons Ale.
Riding time: 4hours 12mins
Day 2 Hawes to Ketterwell
Distance 72.95 km Elevation 1590m OS Map
Day 2 Cycle the Yorkshire Dales
After a great Yorkshire Breakfast at our rather posh Guest House we had to divert from our original route due to a closed road over the river Ure. So we went along the A684 to Bainbridge for a few miles which was fine to re-connect to the planned route at Askrigg. We reached a fork in the road outside the village indicating Reeth off to the right – we decided to take this route as Jackie’s bike had some brake issues (sticking) and the bike shop near Reeth may be able to advise. This route took us up steeply to Long Band lane and then above Crackpot with fantastic views we had not seen before! Re-connecting back on the planned route on the “Swale Trail” cycle route. We diverted to the Dales Bike Centre where unfortunately the bike mechanic looked briefly at the bike, which he didn’t have the time to sort. With a few riding adjustments (i.e stopping to release the sticking brake occasionally all was good for the rest of the ride) Great Coffee and shared cake were had whilst we were there. Then the second big climb of the day out of Grinton on the moors towards Bolton Castle. Before the end of the long descent before we reached the Castle there is a sharp right turn along a gate road. We then joined the road onto the last climb of the day through Coverdale and descending sharply at the end down the famous “ParkRash” into Ketterwell for our next night’s accommodation. We had earnt ourselves a pub visit for more Ale!
Riding time: 4hours 47mins
Day 3 Ketterwell to Settle
70.58km Elevation 1395m OS Map
Leaving Ketterwell after another good breakfast from the Youth Hostel where we had spent the night we took the small lanes through Grassington, Hebden, Appletreewick and stopping for Coffee near Bolton Abbey. Very much rolling up and down with not big climbs, until we got to Embasy village after which was a hill which at one point was too much due to the unhelpful headwind! The pretty views of the lanes took us to Burnstall (for an ice cream!) and more undulating terrain through Cracoe and Hetton. Back on familiar territory now when we got to Airton we didn’t have the need to do the 100% official route that would have taken us via Malham and up another big climb we came back direct up and down via High Hill to return to Settle
Riding time: 4hours 37mins
Day 3 Cycle the Yorkshire Dales
Overall, the ride is glorious and shows off why the Yorkshire Dales attracts cyclist from all over the country (world) the surfaces are generally good and although not traffic free pretty quiet. When you look at the official website you can create longer and shorter riding days, we used OS maps to create the GPX for our Wahoo navigation (if you want our GPX files just contact us direct)
