Introduction
This route is mostly on grassy farm tracks, with a few very quiet roads, and one or two sections of really good singletrack. The first part of the route is not very hilly, before the route climbs up onto the western edge of the wolds. There's quite a lot of road riding involved, as there's just not that much bridleway in the area. This shouldn't put you off as the roads are not at all busy. There's a good variety of different riding surfaces, making this an ideal route for the beginner who wants to try and push themselves a little bit. Easy access to both the A 64 and A 166, and a good supply of pubs enroute make this a great after-work ride in summer if you live in the area.
Conditions
In summer, this route will be reasonably dry. Summer is not without problems, as some farm tracks can be rather overgrown with nettles, so shorts may not be such a good idea. In winter things are a different matter: most of the tracks will be very muddy. The mud is rarely bad enough to be unridable. We'd recommend this route as being suitable for beginners in dry conditions, but when wet, we'd suggest leaving it to the hard core of riders who aren't detered by mud.
Alternatives
There are plenty of minor roads in the area which allow you to cut short the route where ever it suits you. If you fancy extending the route, the northern part can be merged with part of the Kirkham Leavening Loop.
The route
Park on the road in the village of Buttercrambe, taking care not to block access to any resident's driveway. Head north-east on the road, and over the narrow stone bridge. At the crossroads, turn left, and follow the road to Scrayingham. Pass through the village, and 300 yards after the road turns right, look for a sign posted bridleway to the left. Turn onto the BW and follow it down a gravel track. The track passes along the edge of some fields, before dipping down into a small wood. After crossing the bridge, take the middle path (ignoring left and right turns), and climb up a slight incline through a willow plantation. You will then pass into another small wood, before crossing a stream, and emerging into a field. Follow the left hand edge of the field, up a gentle incline, until you reach a road at SE 740 626.
Turn right on the road and head along the road until after 0.25 of a mile, you will come to a right turn signposted for Oxfield Farm. Turn onto the track, and carry straight on when the main track turns right. The green lane can be quite muddy, and covered in nettles in summer. You will then reach a road at SE 756 626. At the road take the road directly opposite, signposted for Leppington. Follow the quiet road until after 0.75 of a mile you will come to a T junction. Take the left hand turn, which is signposted for Leavening. Carry on until you reach a cross roads, just after the Leavening sign. Cross over the road (if you want to visit the village pub you need to turn left instead), and follow the small lane through the village, until it ends at the main street of the village. Turn right, and head up the steep hill. Although it looks hard, it's not as long as it first looks. Carry on until you reach a right turn at SE 793 632.
Directly opposite the right turn is a gate on the left hand side of the road. Go through the gate, and descend straight down the hill, taking care not to accidently follow the BW which turns right. After a steep descent, pass through two gates, before the slope eases. After you reach a flat field you will meet a well surfaced track. Turn left on this track, and head towards the village of Burythorpe. After crossing a small stream, climb upward briefly before reaching the road. Carry on in the same direction through the village, until opposite a road on the right, you'll see a left turn on to a track sign posted for the village church. Follow the track to the church, and then go slightly to the left of the wall around the church. Head downhill across a patch of rough grass, and then follow the left hand side of the field until you reach a road at SE 785 651.
At the road turn right, and head down the road for half a mile, until just after the industrial buildings on the left, you will see a BW on the left. Follow the very sandy track towards a gate. Just before the gate, the BW turns off to the right into Fox Covert Plantation, and heads down through the wood on some very pleasant single track. After coming out of the wood, the ground becomes softer again. Keep following the track until you reach a road. On the opposite side of the road, slightly to your right is a farm track sign posted for Manor Farm. Take this track and follow it towards the farm. After passing the farm, and a cottage on the left, the track becomes grassy and quite soft. Follow the track under the power lines until you reach a road at SE 770 667.
Turn left on the road and head west for 0.6 of a mile, towards Kirkham Abbey, until you reach a farm track on the left. Turn left onto the farm track leading to Grange Farm. When you reach the farm, turn right and follow the track alongside the edge of a field until you reach a minor road leading between Westow Church and the village. Turn left and follow the road up into the village of Westow. At the cross roads in the village turn right and head towards the centre of the village, and then turn right towards the pub.
Pass the pub and then turn left at the road sign posted for Kirkham Abbey. Look for a track on the right after 100 yards. Take this track along the hedge, and then down a green lane until you arrive at the road opposite the turn Firby at SE 746 661. Turn left on the road, and head west toward Kirkham Abbey. The road will descend steeply until you arrive at a T junction. Turn right at the junction and head down the hill past the abbey, and over the bridge, then the railway. Climb up the steep but short hill until you reach a junction. At the junction turn left, which is sign posted for Crambe. Head down the hill, until you reach a right turn into the village of Crambe. Pass the church and follow the road around to the right, passing through the village, until the tarmac gives way to gravel. Keep heading along the gravel track, which starts to climb again, before heading downhill steeply. At the bottom of the hill, turn right where the track joins another track, and head to the level crossing. Cross over the railway, taking care to watch for trains on this unmanned level crossing, and head towards Barton-le-Willows. Turn left where the road forks on the edge of the village, and carry straight on, ignoring the turn to the left. When the road turns to the right back into the village, look for a grassy track dead ahead. Take this track, and follow it for 0.25 of a mile, until you reach a tarmac road.
Turn left onto this road and follow the road to Harton. At the first crossroads in Harton, turn left, and head east for 0.4 of a mile, until you reach a small road on the right (with no signs). Follow this road, which is so little trafiic it has grass growing down the middle, until you reach teh village of Bossal. At the cross roads, take the road ahead which is sign posted for Buttercrambe. Follow this small road, which passes through a wood before climbing a short hill, and then descends down into Buttercrambe. Turn left at the road and return to where you parked the car.