Cycling in the AONB

Cycling in the AONB

There are a network of bridleways and quiet lanes that are ideal for cyclists of all disciplines.

The Howardian Hills have become a Mecca for road cyclists, due to the gently undulating nature of the terrain. The Ryedale Grand Prix is a 185km Premier Calendar race, held almost wholly within the AONB. For cycle tourists and day-riders, the Sustrans National Route 65 (click here) crosses the western end of the AONB, whilst the National Byway runs the length of the Howardian Hills from east to west, with two loops off (click here).
As yet there are no AONB-specific 'guided' routes mapped-out, but the Malton and Easingwold Loops from the National Byway give a good introduction to the AONB and surrounding area.

Mountain bikers also have an opportunity to explore the AONB on a variety of guided routes. For routes in the Sheriff Hutton, Castle Howard and Kirkham areas please see:

North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds Mountain Bike routes

For the more adventurous, the SingleTraction specialist Black and Red routes in the Forestry Commission's Dalby Forest are only 25 miles away (click here).

Should your bike require repairs or spare parts during your stay there are a selection of outlets relatively close by. This list is not comprehensive and we cannot guarantee the quality of servicing/parts provided by those on it but hopefully it will provide you with a starting point in your search for assistance. It covers the areas surrounding both the Howardian Hills AONB and North York Moors National Park.