Road cycling locations in North Yorkshire you may not have heard about
With England entering into its third lockdown, I decided to reminisce about all the places new and old that I'd discovered on my bike during the first two. I've put together a little collection of local spots that I like riding to in case anyone who also lives nearby could do with some route inspiration or of course, Instagram content.
1. Fiish Pond next to Newburgh House
It’s not oversaturated, it’s just that colourful.
Situated on the road between Coxwold and Oulston, this pond (identified as Fiish Pond according to Google Maps) sits in a dip between the two villages. If you’re travelling towards Oulton there is a nice set of rolling climbs just after the pond that if you turn around to look, you can quite often see the White Horse.
The pond itself is quite serene and has benches and a wall you can sit on to observe the views. The hills you can see are the North Yorkshire Moors over towards Wass and Kilburn. If you fancy challenging your legs a little you could travel through Coxwold and turn right towards Kilburn or Byland Abbey and venture along the hilly back roads to the peak.
Wildlife often bustles here with swans and ducks often gathering on the wall. Make sure you take care if you ride over in the winter as the road isn’t exactly a main road so ice may appear if the gritters haven’t been out. Click here for a link to the Google Map location.
2. The White Horse
Yes, this is rather predictable, but you don't have to ride up the hill to see it. Thanks to its grand stature, the White Horse of Kilburn is visible for miles before you head to the hills. If you want the best view of it, you will need to subject yourself to roughly 7-15 minutes of climbing to get to the foot of it. I would recommend following the 100 Climbs Strava segment as the A170 route can be busy and you don’t get to ride past the car park at the base of the horse.
If you don’t feel like climbing, the horse can be visible from some flatter parts of North Yorkshire, in particular Hutton Sessay and the surrounding areas. Hutton Sessay is just across the A19 and is part of the flat area surrounding Boroughbridge and York.
Of course, if you do climb the White Horse make sure it's on a relatively clear day otherwise the views at the top will be quite dull. Make sure you pack a jacket for the descent – depending on where you're riding I would recommend the descent down Wass Bank, but please make sure your brakes are up to scratch beforehand. Click here for a link to the Google Map location.
3. Thorpe Lane/Yearsley Moor Bank
Thorpe Lane/Yearsley Moor Bank is one of the lesser-known climbs in North Yorkshire area, unsurprising given its local competition with local legends Wass Bank and the White Horse. However, its tranquillity makes it that much more appealing. The views at the top are not quite as exciting as at the top of the Moors, but if you’re after a quiet road with a bit of a sting, this is a great place to start.
Beginning with a descent out of Ampleforth, (which if you link up with Byland Abbey on the same road as Ampleforth is a great place to ride to in its own right), the climbing soon begins. The climb has an average of 6.7% although this isn’t steady and it does kick up in a few places. Each time I’ve ridden this climb it has been murky or grey so I’ve struggled to get a good picture. However, the climb ends up towards Yearsley with the woods on the right.
No, it’s not going to win any awards for the most difficult or most scenic, but it’s quiet and it can be as challenging as you make it so enjoy while the masses hurt themselves up Wass Bank and the like. Click here for the Google Map location.
4. Boltby Bank (or Sneck Yate Bank)
Evil.
If you don't like climbing then look away now. Boltby Bank (or Sneck Yate Bank) is one of if not the steepest climb I've encountered in my little part of North Yorkshire. The first time I tried to ride it I did so over-geared (for me) and made it about ¾ of the way up before having to unclip lest I fall over ungracefully. This climb is so steep it makes you question whether gravity will keep your front wheel on the ground, and you're too scared to look back and realise you're only 3 feet further than you were five minutes ago.
My legs hurt just looking at the graph.
Once you get past the steepness, Boltby Bank has some of the best views to offer in North Yorkshire. Boltby Bank is not a hill to tackle when the temperature has been steadily below zero for days, but wait until the mercury has risen to enjoy the fantastic sights at the top. The road is quite narrow so do be cautious of any traffic coming down the hill as you inevitably will end up needing to weave across the road to stay upright.
Boltby Bank is a little bit further West than the White Horse, but you can easily ride there from the top (or bottom) taking in Old Byland and Cold Kirby on the way. Click here for the Google Map location.
Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list of amazing places to ride in North Yorkshire, but these are just a few of the gems I've discovered or enjoyed riding to in the past year. Please do let me know your own favourite places to ride!
