Cycling in the North York Moors

The 554 square miles of the North York Moors National Park have lots of offer for cyclists of all ages and abilities. With short family-friendly forest paths, exciting mountain bike trails and challenging but scenic road cycling routes, the park is full of excellent ways to explore on two wheels. Numerous UCI World Cup events have been held here, and North Yorkshire has even staged the famous Tour de France send-off, so you'll be in good company if you choose to head out on bikes around the national park.

In this article, we’ll suggest some of the best North York Moors cycle routes – from easygoing off-road trails for beginners to expert-level mountain bike and road cycling challenges – selected by Pitchup’s keen cyclists.

Family-friendly cycling routes

A day of cycling with family in the North York Moors is a lovely way to spend some time, whether it's a day out from home or part of a holiday exploring a new area. Here we've chosen a few of the best easy North York moors cycle routes, suitable for families and beginner or occasional cyclists.

Dalby Forest Adderstone Cycle Trail

Start/end: Dixon's Hollow car park

Distance: 8/12 miles (13/19 km)

Its network of well-maintained waymarked cycle routes makes Dalby Forest a popular destination for cyclists of all ages and abilities. The gentle and scenic Adderstone trail is an excellent choice for families and novice cyclists – it's relatively flat and runs mostly along paved surfaces. Depending on your available time and energy levels, you can choose either an eight-mile loop or the slightly longer 12-mile full trail.

Whichever trail you choose, you’ll be treated to some lovely views as you pedal through the forest – the outlook from the Jerry Noddle headland is a particular highlight. If you'd like to break the ride up a bit, stop at one of the  picnic areas or play areas along the route.

Local tip: There are all sorts of bikes for hire – including electric bikes, kids' bikes and a number of kinds of accessible bikes – at Dalby Forest Cycle Hub. It's also a handy place for bike repairs and accessories.

Rosedale Railway Path

Start/end: Rosedale Abbey

Distance: 4 miles (6.5 km)

This is a lovely scenic out-and-back ride following the route of the old Rosedale Mineral Railway, which closed down in 1929 after many years of transporting iron ore from the mines and kilns to the main railway network. Sadly, much of the accompanying infrastructure was removed when the line was closed down, but you’ll still get hints of the Industrial Revolution as you follow the path – look out for remnants of the old brick kilns and cottages as you cycle.

Being quite high up, you'll also get some fabulous views over the scenery of the North York Moors as you ride this trail.

Local tip: The route of the former railway runs for around 17 miles, so you can also make this a longer ride – just be aware that the gradient gets more challenging in the later stretches. As it’s an out-and-back trail you can easily tailor this ride to suit your own energy levels.

Cinder Track from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay

Start: Whitby

End: Robin Hood’s Bay

Distance: 7 miles (11.5 km)

A bike ride along the Cinder Track, following the route of a disused railway line, is one of the best ways to get to the lovely Robin Hood’s Bay from Whitby. Start by learning about Captain Cook and Dracula in the atmospheric harbour town of Whitby, then follow the traffic-free path south across the River Esk, past Cock Mill Wood and along the coast to Robin Hood's Bay. This is one of the loveliest villages on the North Yorkshire coast, so take some time to wander through the historic streets, stroll on the beach and grab a bite in one of its cafés or pubs before the return leg.

The Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay section of the Cinder Track is flat and well-made so it should be suitable for most riders. Finding the start point can be a bit tricky though – look out for the trail marker on Stakesby Vale, to the west of the town centre.

Local tip: The Cinder Track runs for 21 miles from Whitby all the way down to Scarborough, and there are plenty of places to access the trail, so you can make this a more challenging ride or pick a shorter section.

Mountain biking trails and trail centres

Want a bit more speed and a higher thrill level from your bike outings? Bring your mountain bike along and get set to tackle some of the park’s more challenging terrain. Here are a few of the best destinations for mountain biking in the North York Moors.

Dalby Forest mountain bike trails

As well as the easy trails detailed above, the 8,500 acres of Dalby Forest have plenty to offer for more ambitious cyclists too. In fact, those in the know often say this is one of the North York Moors' best mountain biking areas, with six routes ranging from blue (moderate) through to black (expert). 

• If you’re still getting to grips with mountain biking, try out the 6-mile Jubilee Blue Route, starting at Low Dalby and building to a thrilling zig-zag descent at the end.

• The fast-paced Jerry Noddle Trail is a red-rated route with some spectacular views along its 7-mile route and the chance to tackle the challenging Medusa's Drop; for a longer outing, follow the 21-mile Red Route, which has plenty of climbing and descent on some fast single track.

• The pinnacle of the forest’s mountain bike challenges is the UCI World Cup trail, which has featured in several world cup events and was once even voted the best world cup course by the UCI. Needless to say, this black trail is one for the experts only, with technical challenges galore, so make sure you're well prepared before setting off.

Local tip: Dalby Forest also has a bike skills area, with loops and jumps that can help you warm up, build skills or test your abilities to find a suitable trail.

Guisborough Forest

The terrain of Guisborough Forest is a little more user-friendly than that of Dalby Forest, so it’s a good bet for younger and less experienced mountain bikers. The 4.5-mile blue route is currently the only designated trail in the park, following forest tracks with some climbs and the odd singletrack section to help develop skills.

The former designated black trail was taken out of action because of path deterioration, but that doesn't mean there’s nothing here for experienced riders. It just means that you'll have to do a bit of exploring and use the forest’s unofficial trail network to work out your own route. You could also include a trip to Roseberry Topping if you like – the area's most iconic hill is only a couple of miles away.

Local tip: The Guisborough Forest visitor centre is a useful source of information on the various routes around the forest, and it's also got toilets and a café.

Sutton Bank

If you like to take in the scenery as well as enjoying a few challenges, the mountain bike trails at Sutton Bank should certainly be on your schedule. There are five different marked trails here, ranging from family-friendly routes to more adventurous ones, and all of them have fantastic views over the Vale of York (expect to stop a few times to take it all in and snap a few photos). Which of the trails will you choose?

• The Cliff Trail – a 3-mile family-friendly green trail with great clifftop views

• The short Fort Trail – a continuation of the Cliff Trail, stretching out to 5.5 miles with a green/blue rating

• The full Fort Trail – a 7-mile blue-rated loop with enough climb and descent to make it a good challenge for families and more experienced riders

• The Drovers Trail – a blue/red-level ride covering 9 miles, with a handy tea room at the halfway point for a well-earned sandwich or cake

• The Paradise Trail – the most challenging trail on the list, with a steep climb, rocky singletrack and some great natural technical features along its 17-mile length

Local tip: As well as the main routes, Sutton Bank Bike Centre also has a skills area and a pump track, and you can hire bikes if you weren’t able to bring your own along.

Road cycling routes

Getting around on two wheels is a wonderful way to see some of the fabulous Yorkshire scenery and get between attractions and towns. Covering short rides and longer outings, we’ve chosen three of the best routes for road cycling in the North York Moors here.

North York Moors Cycleway

Start/end: Pickering 

Distance: 173 miles (276 km) for the full loop

Following quiet roads through forests, across moorland and along the coast, the North York Moors Cycleway is a real favourite of cycle enthusiasts in this area. Seaside towns, ancient abbeys and all sorts of gorgeous views feature on the route, and there are lots of great places to stop for a picnic, or a break in a traditional pub or a classic tea room.

At 173 miles long, the full figure-of-eight loop is quite a challenge, although the difficulty lies more in the length rather than anything too technical. Handily, however, the route breaks down well into seven shorter sections of 11 to 35 miles, so you can tailor the length of the ride to suit your schedule and ability. Officially the route starts in Pickering, but it also passes through Whitby, Helmsley and Osmotherley so you can pick up the trail in any of these places. Castle Howard, Whitby Abbey and Roseberry Topping all feature on the route – how many will you tick off?

Local tip: Some of the route’s sections link up with the Esk Valley Railway, which stops at 17 stations along its 35-mile route. Cyclists can take bikes on the railway for free, so it's a handy option for one direction of an out-and-back day.

Tour de Yorkshire cycle routes

The Tour de Yorkshire cycle event sadly became a casualty of the Covid pandemic, having been a popular event across the years 2015 to 2019. The annual event was inspired by the success of the Tour de France’s 2014 Grand Départ, which saw riders race through some stunning Yorkshire scenery as they made their way from Leeds to Harrogate. 

Although the race itself is no longer running, you can still follow in the pro cyclists’ tyre tracks by following the route of one of the stages used across the years. Several of the routes have been detailed on the Cycle Yorkshire website – the best options for taking in the fantastic North York Moors landscapes are 2015 Stage 1 and 2016 Stage 3. Don't forget these are designed to provide a challenge for trained athletes, so they’re not to be taken lightly – they do, however, make a great test for experienced cyclists who’ve ever wondered what it would be like to take part in these races.

Local tip: If you like the competition or camaraderie of an organised cycle event, check out the listings for North York Moors cycle events and see if there's anything that takes your fancy.

Rievaulx Abbey to Helmsley Castle 

Start: Rievaulx Abbey

End: Helmsley Castle

Distance: 3 miles (5km) one way

Linking two of the best historic attractions in the North York Moors National Park, the cycle route from Rievaulx Abbey to Helmsley Castle is short, simple and suitable for families or less experienced cyclists getting to grips with road riding. The route is all on well-paved roads, with only a small amount of climbing to be done, and it's easy to follow – although, as with all road cycling, you'll need to have your wits about you.

Although the ride itself will probably only take about 20 minutes to half an hour in each direction, you can easily turn this into a full day out by exploring both of the historic attractions and having a good walk around Helmsley – ideally on a Friday when the market is in town.

Local tip: Take a look at the national park website for suggestions of family-friendly and/or easy cycle routes in the North York Moors.

Tips for cycling in the North York Moors

Whether you're heading out on a short family bike ride or a long day of cycling, a little bit of preparation is vital to make sure you have a safe and comfortable day on your bike. Our simple tips below should help you have a good bike ride, whatever your plans are.

7 tips for cycling safely and responsibly

• Check your brakes, tyres and gears before setting off each day

• Carry a repair kit, tyre pump and spare tubes so you can deal with any mishaps along the way

• Always wear a bike helmet to protect yourself, and high-visibility clothing to help other road or trail users see you

• Stick to roads and designated cycle paths to protect the national park’s delicate ecosystems 

• Be mindful of other people and animals, be it drivers on the roads or deer on forest trails, and always follow the Highway Code

• Use a GPS device or location-enabled app to help you find your way, and ideally bring along a paper map in case you lose reception

• Pack a good supply of water and snacks – even if you don't think you'll need them, it’s best to have some on hand

Organising your North York Moors cycling break

Ready to start exploring these fantastic landscapes by bike? There are lots more North York Moors cycling routes to try out, whatever your requirements are – take a look at Komoot and AllTrails for more suggestions of places to go, or see what the national park  has mapped out for you.

If you're looking for budget-friendly places to stay in the North York Moors National Park, have a look at Pitchup's full range of North York Moors campsites and glampsites. With prices starting at around £15 per night for two people, making your cycling break happen can be surprisingly affordable.