Introduction
Combining easy forest tracks with some great moorland single track, this is a good ride for intermediate level riders. There are facilities near the start and about half way round for an ideal lunch stop.
Conditions
The moorland part can be boggy, and the woodland sections can get muddy, so the route is best attempted in the dry, but should stay rideable all year. The final section is best attempted on tyres about to cope with rough and rocky surfaces.
Alternatives
The route could be shortened by cutting east via Muffles Bridge and east via a series of BWs to reach Hollins farm. If you want to extend the route there’s plenty of easy forest tracks in Cropton forest, or you can add on the Rosedale Railway path (see Lastingham loop for more details). You can also follow part of the Grosmont to Pickering ride to avoid the Rosedale section.
Hazards
There are no special hazards to be aware of although the technical nature of the last section of the ride makes this unsuitable for complete beginners. Navigation in the forest can be tricky especially when the waymarks are missing as the map fails to distinguish major and minor forest tracks.
The route
Park near cross roads with minor track to the north of Lower Askew (SE 743 897), and head south to Lower Askew. At junction head left (east) and over bridge to a further junction around 0.8 miles from the start. Turn right and go over the bridge and climb the steep hill towards the village of Cropton. Just before the top, as the road curves right, a steep track heads of to the left. Follow this track (or stay on the road for an easier climb and then turn left at the junction), and you will arrive on the northern edge of the village.
Turn left at the minor road and carry on north until the road curves right. ¾ of a mile after the bend, on a very straight road, a road joins from the left. Turn on to this steeply downhill road and ride down to cross a stream when the surface changes to gravel.
Follow the gravel track north past Sutherland Lodge, and continue north taking care to ensure you stay on the BW, and not get sidetracked on to any of the forest tracks which branch off. At the top of a climb the track meets a SW/NE trending track. At the junction, look for a narrow path on the opposite side of the junction. There is a waymark post which is easily missed. Follow the BW north into the woods on narrow and at times boggy track (you could skip this in bad weather by turning right on the SW/NE track and taking the first left to rejoin the BW). Then carry on along a forest track, before emerging from the woods by a small cottage. After 3 gates the gravel track fades away to a narrow grassy track running along the western edge of the forest which offers interesting technical riding. The track can become very boggy in places especially after it re-enters the forest. Eventually you will leave the forest via a small gate and pass out onto the moors.
Head up the hill on the left hand side of the beck over a rough pasture, the path can be muddy and hard to follow in places, but as you approach the fence and a gate a more distinct track starts. Go through the gate and carry on in the same direction across the moor before you reach a track on the left hand side of a stone wall. Follow the track until you reach a road, and a small parking area.
Cross the road and pickup any trail you can find going SW. After a few hundred yards the various small sheep tracks join into one stronger trail which gives some great riding on a narrow and at time rocky sheep path which carries on SW parallel to a the wall. You’ll then come to a small bridge over a stream.
After the stream, the path almost disappears again and you probably end up pushing, or even carrying the bike up the hill until you can find a path which runs between the grouse butts. This track will soon met a north-south path which you head briefly left (south) on, before another track heads right (west). Take the track to the left which dives downhill though a series of gates before reaching a muddy minor road by a barn. Turn left onto the minor road and head downhill. You will then cross and stream and start to climb steeply up again.
After 100 yards of climb from the bridge you will see a BW waymark on the left. Turn left on this and head down through fields to arrive at a footbridge over a stream. Follow the path along the stream until you see that the BW splits left uphill and away from the footpath which continues along the stream. After following the BW away from the stream you will come to a rough gravel track and which leads to Heygate farm. After the farm turn right on the minor road down to Rosedale Abbey.
There are several places to stop for food in the village. Turn left in the village and then right, following signposts for Rosedale Chimney. ¼ of a mile after leaving the village, after some steep climbing, turn left into the pub car park. Ultra tough riders can continue on up Rosedale chimney’s 1 in 4 gradients – reputedly the steepest in the country and rejoin via the route via Ana Cross.
Follow the easy gravel track south past several farms and houses. Then follow the BW as it turns right off the track and climbs steeply on grass as it goes round Hollins farm. You are now at the start of a really enjoyable, but technical section.
Follow the gloriously varied single track along the side of the valley. You meet anything from fast ‘roller coaster’ sections to natural rock gardens, plus a few water slashes. In late summer the bracken can choke the path but it’s still perfectly rideable, but can be unpleasant when the bracken is wet.
All good things come to an end and the track arrives at a wall and a series of recently constructed culverts over a stream. You will then turn left at a gravel farm track which climbs up from the valley. Follow this south to the road, and you will soon be back at the start.