An all weather route with plenty of options to expand or shorten if required.
A good variety of riding with amazing views to be had across the Vale of York and North York Moors with well over 95% offroad.
There's a brand new skills loop at the Visitors Centre to warm up (or challenge the leaders board if that way inclined!) and good bike wash facilities (£1) to finish. The friendly Sutton Bank Bikes has everything you might have forgotton or broken!
Route Details
Leave the carpark of the visitors centre via the main exit turning right and pick up the green waymarkers for the Cliff Trail immediately ahead (across the main road). We follow this well signposted family trail for approximately 4km through the woods, across the race horse training track and on to Dialstone Farm. As is evident around us this area is heavily used for horse training so keep an eye out when crossing the track. There is a history of racing here dating back to at least 1612. The racing ceased in the mid 1800s when Thirsk race course was opened lower down - apparently the cliff top location and exposed conditions weren't too popular with the ladies of the day! We cross the quiet road junction and go through the gate alongside the farm heading along the field edge towards the cliff top. This is the dampest part of the route but easily rideable all year round.
On reaching the cliff edge with a new gate immediately ahead we leave the Cliff Trail waymarkers and turn right, descending a short distance with a wall on our left, before reaching the edge itself. Here we turn right onto the Cleveland Way bridleway and follow a fantastic swooping singletrack along the edge. This is a shared track with walkers but the hoards tend not to make it this far from the centre.
After approximately 4km we fork left heading down on a well signed bridleway as the Cleveland Way continues ahead and begins to climb. Following the bridleway we descend through the woods, watching out for a couple of gates, and exit onto a farm track which we follow into the now quiet small village of Boltby. In years gone by this was a bustling place with 4 pubs when a large reservoir was constructed in the forest nearby. The reservoir is close to drained now and not one pub remains!
In the village centre we turn right and follow the road. After a dip down over the beck we begin the short but steep climb up Boltby / Sneck Yate Bank. This is a famous local road bikers climbing challenge but luckily we're not going to the top! We pass first a footpath and then a farm road on our left before picking up the Cleveland Way bridleway again and entering the woods through a gate on our left. A gentle run down through the trees and we exit via a gate into a long narrow field. Straight across the field we exit once again through another gate and turn right to climb up the metalled track to, and on through, High Paradise farm.
We now reach a T junction of paths and turn left to join the old Hambleton Drove Road. The North York Moors are riddled with historic old tracks but this is one of the most notable being part of an ancient highway running all the way from Scotland to the south of England. It was used for the large scale movement of cattle which ceased with the Industrial Revolution and expansion of the railways. Most of the original road is now gone, hidden in our modern roads, but the section we are about to ride is part of an 8km section which remains across the moor just as it would have been for the drovers.
We follow the grassy track for 500m before entering the top of Boltby Forest through a small gate and then follow the more gravelly track straight ahead until we hit the gate onto open moor. Here we turn left, go round the triangle gate, and follow the bridleway down close to the edge of the forest before reaching a gate onto the moor. Boltby Forest had decent marked MTB trails in the 1990s but these have fallen into disrepair now. This section was part of these trails and the odd signpost can still be found laid in the undergrowth. We exit the forest onto the moor and begin the climb up the gulley back onto the moor top, turning left and continuing to reach a 'parking' area. There is a gate on our left with a road heading steeply down Kepwick Bank.
We turn right here and enjoy a great 2km descent on the moorland track slowed by just one gate towards the end. We can't get too carried away here as as soon as we hit the woods on our left we take a sharp right turn, up a sudden very steep short bank, onto Dale Town Common. This is a lovely section across grassland amongst grazing sheep but can be tough if windy or wet - always rideable though. The track loops round following a wall to our left and brings us back to the High Paradise Farm T-junction.
Through the gate we turn sharp left and take in a fast run down the track to Sneck Yate parking area. Here it is possible to pick up the road straight ahead and follow directly back to the car park but the preferred option is to turn right, drop down the bank for just a 100m and then pick up the bridleway on our left. This takes us through a gate and onto the Cleveland Way singletrack once again. We pass the disused High Barn farm on our left and are then treated to a great view of the old Boltby Scar limestone quarry panning out infront of us. This is a great vantage point and recent excavations have found evidence of an Iron Age hill fort here! More information on this can be found in the visitors centre.
We continue to follow the track along the cliff edge all the way back to the visitor centre. We did ride a section of this earlier in the ride but it is totally different in this direction and well worth retracing our tracks for. We pick up the final stages of the waymarked Cliff Trail to return us to our start point.
The tea rooms do a good cake and have always welcomed muddy boots and bottoms.
A good variety of riding with amazing views to be had across the Vale of York and North York Moors with well over 95% offroad.
There's a brand new skills loop at the Visitors Centre to warm up (or challenge the leaders board if that way inclined!) and good bike wash facilities (£1) to finish. The friendly Sutton Bank Bikes has everything you might have forgotton or broken!
Route Details
Leave the carpark of the visitors centre via the main exit turning right and pick up the green waymarkers for the Cliff Trail immediately ahead (across the main road). We follow this well signposted family trail for approximately 4km through the woods, across the race horse training track and on to Dialstone Farm. As is evident around us this area is heavily used for horse training so keep an eye out when crossing the track. There is a history of racing here dating back to at least 1612. The racing ceased in the mid 1800s when Thirsk race course was opened lower down - apparently the cliff top location and exposed conditions weren't too popular with the ladies of the day! We cross the quiet road junction and go through the gate alongside the farm heading along the field edge towards the cliff top. This is the dampest part of the route but easily rideable all year round.
On reaching the cliff edge with a new gate immediately ahead we leave the Cliff Trail waymarkers and turn right, descending a short distance with a wall on our left, before reaching the edge itself. Here we turn right onto the Cleveland Way bridleway and follow a fantastic swooping singletrack along the edge. This is a shared track with walkers but the hoards tend not to make it this far from the centre.
After approximately 4km we fork left heading down on a well signed bridleway as the Cleveland Way continues ahead and begins to climb. Following the bridleway we descend through the woods, watching out for a couple of gates, and exit onto a farm track which we follow into the now quiet small village of Boltby. In years gone by this was a bustling place with 4 pubs when a large reservoir was constructed in the forest nearby. The reservoir is close to drained now and not one pub remains!
In the village centre we turn right and follow the road. After a dip down over the beck we begin the short but steep climb up Boltby / Sneck Yate Bank. This is a famous local road bikers climbing challenge but luckily we're not going to the top! We pass first a footpath and then a farm road on our left before picking up the Cleveland Way bridleway again and entering the woods through a gate on our left. A gentle run down through the trees and we exit via a gate into a long narrow field. Straight across the field we exit once again through another gate and turn right to climb up the metalled track to, and on through, High Paradise farm.
We now reach a T junction of paths and turn left to join the old Hambleton Drove Road. The North York Moors are riddled with historic old tracks but this is one of the most notable being part of an ancient highway running all the way from Scotland to the south of England. It was used for the large scale movement of cattle which ceased with the Industrial Revolution and expansion of the railways. Most of the original road is now gone, hidden in our modern roads, but the section we are about to ride is part of an 8km section which remains across the moor just as it would have been for the drovers.
We follow the grassy track for 500m before entering the top of Boltby Forest through a small gate and then follow the more gravelly track straight ahead until we hit the gate onto open moor. Here we turn left, go round the triangle gate, and follow the bridleway down close to the edge of the forest before reaching a gate onto the moor. Boltby Forest had decent marked MTB trails in the 1990s but these have fallen into disrepair now. This section was part of these trails and the odd signpost can still be found laid in the undergrowth. We exit the forest onto the moor and begin the climb up the gulley back onto the moor top, turning left and continuing to reach a 'parking' area. There is a gate on our left with a road heading steeply down Kepwick Bank.
We turn right here and enjoy a great 2km descent on the moorland track slowed by just one gate towards the end. We can't get too carried away here as as soon as we hit the woods on our left we take a sharp right turn, up a sudden very steep short bank, onto Dale Town Common. This is a lovely section across grassland amongst grazing sheep but can be tough if windy or wet - always rideable though. The track loops round following a wall to our left and brings us back to the High Paradise Farm T-junction.
Through the gate we turn sharp left and take in a fast run down the track to Sneck Yate parking area. Here it is possible to pick up the road straight ahead and follow directly back to the car park but the preferred option is to turn right, drop down the bank for just a 100m and then pick up the bridleway on our left. This takes us through a gate and onto the Cleveland Way singletrack once again. We pass the disused High Barn farm on our left and are then treated to a great view of the old Boltby Scar limestone quarry panning out infront of us. This is a great vantage point and recent excavations have found evidence of an Iron Age hill fort here! More information on this can be found in the visitors centre.
We continue to follow the track along the cliff edge all the way back to the visitor centre. We did ride a section of this earlier in the ride but it is totally different in this direction and well worth retracing our tracks for. We pick up the final stages of the waymarked Cliff Trail to return us to our start point.
The tea rooms do a good cake and have always welcomed muddy boots and bottoms.
moderate
Distance 26.7 km
An all weather route with plenty of options to expand or shorten if required.
A good variety of riding with amazing views to be had across the Vale of York and North York Moors with well over 95% offroad.
There's a brand new skills loop at the Visitors Centre to warm up (or challenge the leaders board if that way inclined!) and good bike wash facilities (£1) to finish. The friendly Sutton Bank Bikes has everything you might have forgotton or broken!
Route Details
Leave the carpark of the visitors centre via the main exit turning right and pick up the green waymarkers for the Cliff Trail immediately ahead (across the main road). We follow this well signposted family trail for approximately 4km through the woods, across the race horse training track and on to Dialstone Farm. As is evident around us this area is heavily used for horse training so keep an eye out when crossing the track. There is a history of racing here dating back to at least 1612. The racing ceased in the mid 1800s when Thirsk race course was opened lower down - apparently the cliff top location and exposed conditions weren't too popular with the ladies of the day! We cross the quiet road junction and go through the gate alongside the farm heading along the field edge towards the cliff top. This is the dampest part of the route but easily rideable all year round.
On reaching the cliff edge with a new gate immediately ahead we leave the Cliff Trail waymarkers and turn right, descending a short distance with a wall on our left, before reaching the edge itself. Here we turn right onto the Cleveland Way bridleway and follow a fantastic swooping singletrack along the edge. This is a shared track with walkers but the hoards tend not to make it this far from the centre.
After approximately 4km we fork left heading down on a well signed bridleway as the Cleveland Way continues ahead and begins to climb. Following the bridleway we descend through the woods, watching out for a couple of gates, and exit onto a farm track which we follow into the now quiet small village of Boltby. In years gone by this was a bustling place with 4 pubs when a large reservoir was constructed in the forest nearby. The reservoir is close to drained now and not one pub remains!
In the village centre we turn right and follow the road. After a dip down over the beck we begin the short but steep climb up Boltby / Sneck Yate Bank. This is a famous local road bikers climbing challenge but luckily we're not going to the top! We pass first a footpath and then a farm road on our left before picking up the Cleveland Way bridleway again and entering the woods through a gate on our left. A gentle run down through the trees and we exit via a gate into a long narrow field. Straight across the field we exit once again through another gate and turn right to climb up the metalled track to, and on through, High Paradise farm.
We now reach a T junction of paths and turn left to join the old Hambleton Drove Road. The North York Moors are riddled with historic old tracks but this is one of the most notable being part of an ancient highway running all the way from Scotland to the south of England. It was used for the large scale movement of cattle which ceased with the Industrial Revolution and expansion of the railways. Most of the original road is now gone, hidden in our modern roads, but the section we are about to ride is part of an 8km section which remains across the moor just as it would have been for the drovers.
We follow the grassy track for 500m before entering the top of Boltby Forest through a small gate and then follow the more gravelly track straight ahead until we hit the gate onto open moor. Here we turn left, go round the triangle gate, and follow the bridleway down close to the edge of the forest before reaching a gate onto the moor. Boltby Forest had decent marked MTB trails in the 1990s but these have fallen into disrepair now. This section was part of these trails and the odd signpost can still be found laid in the undergrowth. We exit the forest onto the moor and begin the climb up the gulley back onto the moor top, turning left and continuing to reach a 'parking' area. There is a gate on our left with a road heading steeply down Kepwick Bank.
We turn right here and enjoy a great 2km descent on the moorland track slowed by just one gate towards the end. We can't get too carried away here as as soon as we hit the woods on our left we take a sharp right turn, up a sudden very steep short bank, onto Dale Town Common. This is a lovely section across grassland amongst grazing sheep but can be tough if windy or wet - always rideable though. The track loops round following a wall to our left and brings us back to the High Paradise Farm T-junction.
Through the gate we turn sharp left and take in a fast run down the track to Sneck Yate parking area. Here it is possible to pick up the road straight ahead and follow directly back to the car park but the preferred option is to turn right, drop down the bank for just a 100m and then pick up the bridleway on our left. This takes us through a gate and onto the Cleveland Way singletrack once again. We pass the disused High Barn farm on our left and are then treated to a great view of the old Boltby Scar limestone quarry panning out infront of us. This is a great vantage point and recent excavations have found evidence of an Iron Age hill fort here! More information on this can be found in the visitors centre.
We continue to follow the track along the cliff edge all the way back to the visitor centre. We did ride a section of this earlier in the ride but it is totally different in this direction and well worth retracing our tracks for. We pick up the final stages of the waymarked Cliff Trail to return us to our start point.
The tea rooms do a good cake and have always welcomed muddy boots and bottoms.
A good variety of riding with amazing views to be had across the Vale of York and North York Moors with well over 95% offroad.
There's a brand new skills loop at the Visitors Centre to warm up (or challenge the leaders board if that way inclined!) and good bike wash facilities (£1) to finish. The friendly Sutton Bank Bikes has everything you might have forgotton or broken!
Route Details
Leave the carpark of the visitors centre via the main exit turning right and pick up the green waymarkers for the Cliff Trail immediately ahead (across the main road). We follow this well signposted family trail for approximately 4km through the woods, across the race horse training track and on to Dialstone Farm. As is evident around us this area is heavily used for horse training so keep an eye out when crossing the track. There is a history of racing here dating back to at least 1612. The racing ceased in the mid 1800s when Thirsk race course was opened lower down - apparently the cliff top location and exposed conditions weren't too popular with the ladies of the day! We cross the quiet road junction and go through the gate alongside the farm heading along the field edge towards the cliff top. This is the dampest part of the route but easily rideable all year round.
On reaching the cliff edge with a new gate immediately ahead we leave the Cliff Trail waymarkers and turn right, descending a short distance with a wall on our left, before reaching the edge itself. Here we turn right onto the Cleveland Way bridleway and follow a fantastic swooping singletrack along the edge. This is a shared track with walkers but the hoards tend not to make it this far from the centre.
After approximately 4km we fork left heading down on a well signed bridleway as the Cleveland Way continues ahead and begins to climb. Following the bridleway we descend through the woods, watching out for a couple of gates, and exit onto a farm track which we follow into the now quiet small village of Boltby. In years gone by this was a bustling place with 4 pubs when a large reservoir was constructed in the forest nearby. The reservoir is close to drained now and not one pub remains!
In the village centre we turn right and follow the road. After a dip down over the beck we begin the short but steep climb up Boltby / Sneck Yate Bank. This is a famous local road bikers climbing challenge but luckily we're not going to the top! We pass first a footpath and then a farm road on our left before picking up the Cleveland Way bridleway again and entering the woods through a gate on our left. A gentle run down through the trees and we exit via a gate into a long narrow field. Straight across the field we exit once again through another gate and turn right to climb up the metalled track to, and on through, High Paradise farm.
We now reach a T junction of paths and turn left to join the old Hambleton Drove Road. The North York Moors are riddled with historic old tracks but this is one of the most notable being part of an ancient highway running all the way from Scotland to the south of England. It was used for the large scale movement of cattle which ceased with the Industrial Revolution and expansion of the railways. Most of the original road is now gone, hidden in our modern roads, but the section we are about to ride is part of an 8km section which remains across the moor just as it would have been for the drovers.
We follow the grassy track for 500m before entering the top of Boltby Forest through a small gate and then follow the more gravelly track straight ahead until we hit the gate onto open moor. Here we turn left, go round the triangle gate, and follow the bridleway down close to the edge of the forest before reaching a gate onto the moor. Boltby Forest had decent marked MTB trails in the 1990s but these have fallen into disrepair now. This section was part of these trails and the odd signpost can still be found laid in the undergrowth. We exit the forest onto the moor and begin the climb up the gulley back onto the moor top, turning left and continuing to reach a 'parking' area. There is a gate on our left with a road heading steeply down Kepwick Bank.
We turn right here and enjoy a great 2km descent on the moorland track slowed by just one gate towards the end. We can't get too carried away here as as soon as we hit the woods on our left we take a sharp right turn, up a sudden very steep short bank, onto Dale Town Common. This is a lovely section across grassland amongst grazing sheep but can be tough if windy or wet - always rideable though. The track loops round following a wall to our left and brings us back to the High Paradise Farm T-junction.
Through the gate we turn sharp left and take in a fast run down the track to Sneck Yate parking area. Here it is possible to pick up the road straight ahead and follow directly back to the car park but the preferred option is to turn right, drop down the bank for just a 100m and then pick up the bridleway on our left. This takes us through a gate and onto the Cleveland Way singletrack once again. We pass the disused High Barn farm on our left and are then treated to a great view of the old Boltby Scar limestone quarry panning out infront of us. This is a great vantage point and recent excavations have found evidence of an Iron Age hill fort here! More information on this can be found in the visitors centre.
We continue to follow the track along the cliff edge all the way back to the visitor centre. We did ride a section of this earlier in the ride but it is totally different in this direction and well worth retracing our tracks for. We pick up the final stages of the waymarked Cliff Trail to return us to our start point.
The tea rooms do a good cake and have always welcomed muddy boots and bottoms.
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
373 m
Lowest point
119 m
Start
Coordinates:
OS Grid
SE 51612 83206
DD
54.241959, -1.209540
DMS
54°14'31.1"N 1°12'34.3"W
UTM
30U 616676 6011922
w3w
///flaked.suave.light
Note
all notes on protected areas
Coordinates
OS Grid
SE 51612 83206
DD
54.241959, -1.209540
DMS
54°14'31.1"N 1°12'34.3"W
UTM
30U 616676 6011922
w3w
///flaked.suave.light
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Reviews
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
26.7 km
Duration
2:43 h
Ascent
448 m
Descent
448 m
Highest point
373 m
Lowest point
119 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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Rating
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