Introduction
The route is in the eastern portion of the National Park near Scarborough. It’s short enough to be a good summer evening ride, and compared to most of the other routes it is not very hilly. Most of the ride is on gravel tracks and not very technical, although there are some nice descents. We would recommend this route for more inexperienced riders. More experienced riders can add bits from other routes to make a longer route.
Conditions
As always, bits will be muddy after rain, or in winter, but the majority will be rideable all year round.
Alternatives
There are many variations as you can connect to many other trails which go through Hackness or Langdale End.
The route
Park in Burniston village, and proceed north west along Lindhead road, until you see a minor road join from the left. Take the farm track which continues ahead along the side of the stream. Continue past Kirkless Farm, on the BW which runs along the edge of a field to a small wood. The BW turns left at this point and starts to climb. You will then pass through Surgate Brow Farm to arrive on a minor road.
Turn right onto this road and then cross the steeply climbing road (you can also climb the hill on this road and rejoin the route at the top) to the gate. Cross the gate, and follow the grassy track from the gate for 200 yards along the fence. You’ll then need to leave the track to turn left across the field, heading for the gate at the upper NW corner of the field. There is not an obvious trail so you’ll just need head across the field in the right direction.
Once through the gate and into the woods, follow the obvious track which climbs steeply to the left, not the one which contours around the hill. Once at the top, turn right on the level grassy track which heads north west along the top of the hill. You will arrive at a road, by the small car park on Reasty Hill Top (SE 964 944). Often on many weekends you’ll find a caravan serving snacks, tea and coffee in the car park.
Cross the road and find the SE trending gravel track which starts near the car park on the other side of the road. There are several different tracks so ensure you have picked the right one, one clue is to look for the track which has wheelie bins at the start. Carry on along this track ignoring any turns, and after ¼ of a mile the track descends steeply. Carry on downhill, and before long you will be out of the woods and at a junction of tracks by Whisperdales Farm. The area around here is wonderfully isolated and this farm, along with a few others in the area, doesn’t even have mains electricity.
Take the BW which starts from the gate and runs parallel to the hedge along the bottom of the valley. A mile after Whisperdales Farm, you will approach some farm buildings and a ford. Cross the ford and carry on down to the junction with a road. Continue in the same direction down the road, ignoring the right turn. The road will often be under water in winter or after rain, and care should be taken as the surface is really slippery. If the water looks too deep you can push your bike along the footpath which runs parallel to the road on the left hand side.
As the road climbs slightly from the stream you will see a turn to the right with a sign prohibiting motorized traffic. Follow the sunken lane, which is more like a stream at first, upwards until the track levels out and you approach the farm buildings at Broxa.
At the minor road turn left, and go past the hamlet of Broxa, until just after the descent starts and the road turns left, you should see a narrow gate to the right and a metal pole with ‘Bridleway’ marked on it. Go through the gate and start to descend steeply through the scrubby woodland until you reach a gate and a road.
Turn left onto the road and follow Broxa Lane for 1.5 miles, past a hotel until you reach a small hamlet. At the 3 way junction take the left turn, and head northwards towards Hackness. Once in the pretty estate village of Hackness, carry on along the road following signs for Scarborough, until ½ mile past the church is a sign for a BW on the left.
Leave the road and follow the BW over a stream via a ford. Then go due north to the edge of the scrubby woods and up into the woods. Eventually you’ll emerge from the woods and can follow the edge of a field to Thirlsey Farm. Pass the farm on the track and head NNE to arrive at the road.
Turn left at the road and head north west for 0.6 of a mile to where the road descends slightly and a track to the right can be seen. Don’t confuse this with a similar track 0.4 miles since you started the road. Follow the BW down a steep, rocky gully and through the woods. Some of the rocky slabs can be very slippery in winter so care needs to be taken. After emerging from the woods, carry on down the fence line until you see a track ahead of you near Silpho Brow Farm.
Turn right onto the track which follows the base of the hill. The surface varies between mud and gravel, but after 0.6 miles from where you joined it, the track turns to tarmac. 1.3 miles from the start of the track you will arrive at a road junction after passing some farm buildings. Turn left at the junction and head down downhill in north east direction, passing through a junction with a north/south road. Three quarters of a mile after the last junction, the road arrives back in Burniston.