Harwood Dale and Cloughton Route Details

The route is a short and easy one, in the eastern part of the National Park, near Scarborough. The route at first runs close to the sea, before looping inland through some forest and then back along the base of an escarpment. Although there are plenty of hills, none are really long or steep. The route is ideal for intermediate riders, and fit beginners.

A mixture of gravel track, road and some grassy singletrack. As with most routes, it will be muddy in winter, but should remain rideable all year.

The route passes close to several other routes in the area and could be extended easily as they are lots of places to ride. There are also a few places where particular difficulties can be by passed to make the route slightly shorter and easier.

None really, although route finding along the BOAT near Hayburn Wyke is tricky.

Park on a side street near the Three Jolly Sailors’ pub. Head east on Field Lane to join the Scarbough to Whitby Cycle Path which follows an old railway line. Follow the railway path for 1.6 miles until a road passes under the path near Sycarham Farm. Drop down onto the road via the steps and head east, briefly, until you see a BW to the left of the road. If conditions are muddy, you may prefer to stay on the railway path until past Hayburn Wyke.

Head along the grassy BW which heads north, parallel to the railway path, until you reach the Hayburn Wyke pub. Turn left, away from the pub, and rejoin the railway path. Then, turn right, and head north on the railway path. 0.2 of a mile after rejoining the railway path, look for a BW which crosses the under railway path. You can skip this section by staying on the railway until you reach the BW at SE 990 992. It’s best to access this BW via the left hand side of the railway path. Turn right on this path, head downhill across a field and then down into the woods, on a very steep and rocky descent. At the time of writing this path was partial blocked by fallen trees. Cross the streams at the junction of the two streams, and join the path on the right hand side of the valley.  Turn left on the path and climb up the side of the steep valley until you reach the top of the valley at the edge of the woods. Carry on until the path joins a farm track. Turn left on the farm track follow it until it ends at a minor road.

Turn right on the minor road and head north towards Whitehouse Farm. After the farm, turn right and follow the track which is marked as a BOAT, past East Side Farm, Rigg Hall farm and finally Prospect House farm. This is actually far harder than it seems, as the BOAT which is marked on the map is not very obvious on the ground. In places the landowners have placed signs which state the track ‘is not a footpath’ (which is correct - but misleading as there is actually a right-of-way).  To make matters worse, there is absolutely no way-marking. You could be forgiven for thinking that somebody really doesn’t want you to come this way. But fear not, if you follow the right of way marked on the map, you are not breaking any laws. Once past Prospect House farm the track turns into a tarmaced road. Carry on along this road to SE 996 996 where a BW starts on the left. Turn left onto this BW and head down the field towards the railway. Cross under the the railway and carry onto the road at Church House Farm up a very muddy, churned up hill. Cross the road and carry on in a south west direction until you meet Brown Rigg Road. Turn left on the road and carry on for a few hundred feet until you see a driveway to the right. Turn onto this track and head for Island Farm. Just before the farm, turn right onto a rough track that heads west. The surface soon turns to grass, as you follow the path along the edge of the fields. After a short distance, you will reach a minor road.

At the road turn left and head towards the A 171 main road. Cross the road and look for a BW which heads into the woods, slightly to the left of where you crossed, Follow the grassy BW into the woods and carry on south along the BW. This section can be very boggy in winter. Cross the wide gravel track at the edge of the woods and carry on south, downhill, along a gravel path until you reach a minor road. Turn right onto the road and follow the road around a sharp left hand bend and then down a long hill. After crossing a small stream the road climbs slightly to School Hill Farm. Look for a BW on the left hand side of the road just before the small chapel.

Turn left onto the BW and head downhill over fields until you cross a foot-bridge by a small pond. Climb away from the pond and towards Breckenhurst Farm. At the road turn left, and go uphill for 300 feet until you see a BW on the left hand side. Follow the BW along the side of the escarpment, through several small woods, before you eventually arrive at a road by Surgate Brow Farm. Carry on along the tarred road, in the same south easterly direction. Soon the surface changes to gravel, but after a mile it changes back to tar again, by Beacon Cottage Farm.

Carry on south east at the cross road to a further junction. Turn right and carry on for a few hundred feet until you see a BW to the left. Follow the BW west along the edges of fields until you reach the A 171 just south of Burniston. Turn left on the main road and head into Burniston and the start.