Four new off-road cycling routes have opened on the northern edge of the North York Moors National Park, offering riders accessible adventures with easy train access from Whitby.
Fresh off-road cycling adventures await riders on the northern edge of the North York Moors National Park following the opening of four new circular routes. The newly launched network is designed to give riders a profound sense of adventure as they head into the peaceful surroundings of the region.
Historic landscapes and quiet lanes will greet cyclists tackling the new tracks. The trails make use of existing rights of way around Danby, Great Ayton, and Guisborough, bringing fresh life to these historic locations.
Keen local cyclists John and Lois Fife designed the loops in close collaboration with the National Park. The paths are specifically tailored for gravel, mountain, and hybrid bikes, along with their e-bike equivalents, ensuring a wide range of cyclists can enjoy the terrain.
Riding options range from a beginner-friendly seven-mile circuit around Roseberry Topping. Famously known as the 'Matterhorn of the North', this shorter loop serves as an ideal taster for those who are completely new to off-road cycling but still want to experience the dramatic local scenery.
A much more challenging thirty-seven-mile adventure tracks its way across the area known as the 'Land of Iron'. Fading relics of the Victorian ironstone mining period will be revealed to riders along this extensive route, offering a unique glimpse into the industrial heritage of the moors.
The journey eventually arrives at the coast at Skinningrove. Riders will then return to Guisborough via a dismantled railway and a series of quiet roads.
Train access has been heavily integrated into the new network, significantly reducing the need for visitors to arrive in the National Park by car. The start of each loop is located close to a station along the Esk Valley Railway, which provides a direct and scenic connection between Whitby and Middlesbrough.
Bike hire is also readily available for those without their own equipment. The two shorter routes begin directly at Bike Base in Gribdale near Great Ayton, which offers both mountain and e-bikes for rent to visiting cyclists.
The launch adds to the National Park’s existing Explorer single-day itineraries and coincides with a nationwide surge in the popularity of gravel cycling. New infrastructure and a greater choice of gravel bikes have made off-road riding significantly more accessible to the general public.
This style of cycling offers the thrill of off-road riding without the intense technical difficulty that often comes with traditional mountain biking. The frequency of local cycling events is also increasing alongside this trend, with Sutton Bank’s Minds and Miles sportive scheduled to take place this Sunday, September 27th.
Yorkshire cyclist and creator Guy Kesteven helped bring the new trails to life through a series of video guides. He said:
"The North York Moors has some of the best off-road cycling in the UK. As well as good stretches of smooth ‘champagne gravel’, all-weather tracks and forest trails, there’s a wonderful mix of lost landscapes and iconic landmarks - perfect for escaping everyday stresses and immersing yourself in nature at your own pedalling pace."
Digital maps and downloadable gpx files for the new Explorer routes are now available for cyclists to access via the North York Moors National Park website at https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/blog-listing-page/new-gravel-explorer-route-from-north-of-national-park
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