Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a wonderful destination for cyclists, with lots of gorgeous scenery, traditional villages and interesting sights to take in while you’re here. At 814 square miles (2179 sq km) it’s a big area with lots of quiet roads, country lanes and bike paths to choose from – so to help you choose a suitable place to get out on your bike we’ve picked out a handful of the best cycling routes in the Yorkshire Dales. 

In this article we’ve focused on road cycling routes along with some of the best easy Yorkshire Dales cycle trails for families and casual cyclists. If you’d prefer the challenge of off-road trails, have a look at our guide to mountain biking in the Yorkshire Dales instead.

Scenic Yorkshire Dales road cycling routes

Pedalling your way around the roads of the Yorkshire Dales can be a fantastic experience for road cyclists, as long as you pick your route well, avoiding main roads and understanding what sort of hills you’re letting yourselves in for. We’ve chosen a few of the best cycle routes in the Yorkshire Dales here, ranging from short challenges to long scenic rides and all suitable for road bikes.

Buttertubs Pass

Start: Hawes

End: Muker

Distance: 7 miles (12 km)

It’s not just the memorable (and immensely satisfying to say) name that’s made Buttertubs Pass one of the best-known roads in the Yorkshire Dales – it’s also an extremely scenic place, with far-ranging views across the high moorland in the north of the national park. Many drivers choose a route through here just for the views, pulling over at the top to take in the scenery and see the natural potholes that gave the pass its name. It’s said that farmers passing here on their way to the market in Hawes would place their butter into the potholes to keep it cool.

For cyclists, the pass found new fame in 2014, when it formed part of Yorkshire’s Le Grand Départ route for the Tour de France. There are several routes around that will help you follow in the tyre tracks of the professionals, but this seven-mile linear route from Hawes is one of the best, as its short length makes it relatively easy to fit into a visitors’ schedule. Easy in general, however, it is not – this is a serious climb that’s likely to challenge even the most experienced cyclists. The sense of achievement is huge though, and you'll be able to reward yourself with a drink or cake in Muker before the return leg.

Local tip: If you don’t want to continue on to Muker, you can just go as far as the viewpoint at the top of Buttertubs Pass and then head back to Hawes. Or, if you’ve got more time on your hands, look out for a circular route that takes in more of the countryside en route back to town.

River Ure circular

Start/end: Hawes

Distance: 23.5 miles (37.5 km)

With a little bit of gentle ascent and descent, and a whole lot of fabulous scenery, this moderately difficult trail makes a lovely way to spend a few hours on your bike. The route follows fully paved roads all the way, with a couple of A-road sections but the majority on smaller local roads. Starting in Hawes and passing through Bainbridge, Aysgarth and Askrigg along the way, there are plenty of options for rest and refreshments if you’d like to take it easy.

The major focus of this route is the River Ure, which you’ll see from all angles as you cycle close to both the north and south banks and take a view from above as you head down from Countersett. The highlight is likely to be Aysgarth Falls, roughly halfway along the route – stop here to wander through the woods to the dramatic sights of the three stepped waterfalls.

Local tip: Hawes has a couple of great attractions, so you could bookend your day out with a trip to the Dales Countryside Museum, to learn about the area before you set off, and a tour of the Wensleydale Creamery when you return, perhaps with a cheese-based snack in the café to reward your efforts too.

Hawkswick, Arncliffe and Foxup Circular

Start/end: Hawkswick

Distance: 16 miles (26 km)

Here’s one to try out if you like your cycling routes to take you off the beaten track a little bit. The tiny hamlet of Hawkswick is your start and end point here, with the moderately challenging route taking you along quiet lanes roughly following the course of the River Skirfare. There are no major sights or attractions along this route, so it tends to stay very peaceful and simply allow cyclists to soak up the scenery at leisure.

There's a little bit of climbing towards the far end of this out-and-back route, but nothing too strenuous, so it should all be fairly accessible for most relatively experienced cyclists. 

Local tip: Passing through Arncliffe, you might like to stop for a drink at the lovely Falcon Inn – not only does it serve great local ales in an attractive setting, but it’s also found fame as the original location for the Woolpack, Emmerdale’s iconic pub.

Yorkshire Dales Cycleway

Start/end: Skipton

Distance: 130 miles (210 km)

Looking for something more ambitious than these short single-day outings? Set yourself the challenge of completing the full circuit of the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway, a fully waymarked and completely paved trail that takes you around many of the most scenic parts of the national park. This is a long trail and a fairly challenging one, with a lot of ascent and descent as you make your way up hill and down dale – but it's also full of stunning scenery to help ease any pains, and there are plenty of places to stop and rest.

Most people plan to cover the full trail in five or six days – that allows plenty of time to stop off along the way to explore places of interest like Malham Cove and Tarn, walk the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail and see Bolton Abbey and the Ribblehead Viaduct. As you’ll pass through lots of welcoming towns and villages (including Malham, Grassington and Hawes), it's easy to tailor the schedule to your own interests and fitness levels, and to find meals and places to stay along the way.

Local tip: If 130 miles isn’t quite enough to satisfy you, try out the extended version of the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway, which was mapped out in 2016 after the national park acquired a new area. This new route stretches out to 156 miles (251 km) and includes a trip to the Tan Hill Inn (Britain’s highest pub).

Family-friendly cycle routes

You’ll probably have different criteria if you’re looking for places to go cycling in the Yorkshire Dales with kids. If you’re taking the children out cycling, you’ll need trails that are fairly short and not too challenging – but also full of interest to keep them pedalling along. With that in mind, we’ve chosen a few of the best family cycle routes in the Yorkshire Dales – and they're highly suitable for occasional cyclists looking for easy rides too.

Swale Trail

Start: Reeth

End: Keld

Distance: 12 miles (20 km) one way

The purpose-built Swale Trail follows the route of the Swale river, following the valley at a low level along tracks, lanes and roads, and many locals tip this as one of the best easy cycle routes in the Yorkshire Dales. As it's an out-and-back trail, you can choose how much of it you feel like doing, simply turning round and heading back when you feel like you've done enough.

You’ll need mountain bikes rather than road bikes for the Swale Trail, as it starts out along an easy mountain bike trail from the first section from Reeth, with a few climbs and stony sections. There are a couple of harder climbs as you head towards Keld in the second part of the route, but there’s nothing too demanding – and the views are fabulous.

Local tip: If you don't have suitable bikes, you can hire them from the Dales Bike Centre, which is handily located next to the Swale Trail.

Malham Tarn family cycle trail

Start/end: Watersinks car park

Distance: 4.5 miles (7 km)

This family-friendly trail is one of the best easy cycle routes in the Yorkshire Dales, with only one small incline on its route and plenty of interesting things to see along the way. There’s one small section of road cycling, but the majority of this 4.5-mile trail sticks to traffic-free grass and gravel tracks – so again you'll need mountain bikes rather than road bikes here. 

The main focus of the trail is a circuit of Malham Tarn, a glacial lake that’s now a National Nature Reserve. It’s a popular spot with both resident and visiting birds, so look out for ducks, grebes and widgeons around the lake – and look upwards to see if you can spot birds of prey hunting. If you'd like to get right down to the water’s edge you can leave your bikes and take a stroll on the boardwalk at the far end of the lake.

Local tip: You’ll pass by the elegant Malham Tarn House on this route – this place welcomed guests including Charles Darwin and John Ruskin during its Victorian heyday before becoming a field studies centre more recently. It’s currently undergoing restoration so it’s closed to visitors – but it’s handy to know that there are still public toilets available.

Ribblehead Viaduct from Ingleton

Start: Ingleton

End: Ribblehead Viaduct

Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5 km)

The huge 24-arched Ribblehead Viaduct is one of the iconic sights of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and well worth a visit to see its impressive Victorian structure rising 104 feet (32 m) above the surrounding moorland. You can get directly to the viaduct by car or train, and hiking trails also run close by, but if you’ve got older kids who are comfortable with a bit of B-road cycling a nice way to get there is to cycle up from Ingleton.

The whole 6.5-mile ride takes about 45 minutes each way, but you’ll want to leave plenty of time to explore the viaduct and take photos around the viaduct too. From Ingleton as far as Chapel-le-Dale you’ll be riding on a well-made paved farm lane before joining the B6255 for the final approach to the bridge. With very little climbing or navigating to do and well-made road surfaces, this is an easy route but the presence of cars means cyclists will need to be fairly confident around traffic.

Local tip: Ingleton makes a great base for a family holiday or a day out, with several attractions within easy reach, including the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail and White Scar Cave.

Bolton Abbey Family Cycle Zone

If you’ve got younger children that aren’t ready for long bike rides yet, the Bolton Abbey Family Cycle Zone is a real winner. Open from May to September, this dedicated kids’ bike area is a place where smaller children can zoom around on their bikes in safety and hone their skills at the same time. Tracks have been cut into the grass, with miniature versions of real-life road furniture to negotiate: traffic lights, give way signs and level crossings among them. The whole thing is a great fun way to build confidence and teach kids some of the skills they’ll need out on the roads in future.

Local tip: There are plenty more fun things to do at Bolton Abbey, so plan to make a day of it. With a beach area, a woodland adventure playground, ancient stepping stones across the river and the mysterious money tree to see, you should find plenty to fill your time with.

Essential tips for cycling in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

A little bit of preparation goes a long way in making sure your Yorkshire Dales cycling trip is an enjoyable experience. Always make sure you pick a route that suits your skill level, fitness and bike – and check the local weather forecast before setting off, as conditions can change quickly once you’re out in the open. We’ve also listed a few tips here to help you have a safe and comfortable ride:

• Make sure you understand the outline of your route in advance, bringing a GPS device to help you find your way, and having a paper map as backup in case of patchy mobile reception

• Check your tyres, brakes and gears are all in good working order before setting off

• Always wear a bike helmet and high-visibility clothing to help keep you safe in traffic

• Carry plenty of water and snacks, along with a basic bike repair kit

• Always follow the Highway Code and be aware of extra dangers like wildlife, livestock or uneven surfaces while cycling in the countryside

• Stick to designated paths both for your own safety and to protect the environment you're cycling through

• Take all litter home with you and generally leave no trace of your visit

Planning your trip to the Yorkshire Dales

Whether you’re making cycling the sole focus of a holiday, mixing it up with a few other activities or just planning a day trip by bike, the Yorkshire Dales is a great place to explore on two wheels.

 If you’ve been inspired to grab your bike and head for the hills, perhaps you’ll also need a place to stay overnight between rides? Pitchup’s collection of Yorkshire Dales campsites and glampsites helps visitors maximise time spent out in the open air soaking up the gorgeous scenery. Whether you want a wallet-friendly basic pitch, a stylish cabin with a hot tub to help soothe your aching muscles, or something somewhere in between, we’ve got something suitable for most visitors.