Lastingham Loop Route Details

After starting with a punishing climb up onto the moors, you will soon be rewarded with a steep technical descent and some of the best rolling single track in the area. You can try it at any time of the year, but it’s ideal for a summer evening ride. It’s also an good night ride, as it’s short enough to complete before the batteries are discharged on most lighting systems. The technical nature of the route, plus the comparatively short distance makes this a great XC ride for people who normally ride jump and DH.

The route will be muddy in wet conditions, and some parts are never fully dry, but for the most part this is an all weather route. In late summer and early autumn bracken can nearly cover the trail in the valley section, and if it’s even slightly wet you will get soaked by brushing past the bracken. A grippy tyre suitable for rocky and rooty conditions is recommended.

If you wanted a longer ride, you can carry on around the Rosedale Railway Path, a permissive BW, from the top of Rosedale Chimney. Once you reach the end of the railway you can reach Hollins Farm via Rosedale Abbey, for a total distance of about 22 miles. You can also extend the ride by adding on the BW which runs from Cropton Bank Wood to Appleton Le Moors and thence by farm track back to Lastingham for an extra 4 miles.

There are no special hazards to be aware of although the technical nature of some of the ride makes this unsuitable to complete beginners.

Park on the High Street in Lastingham and climb the road past the Lastingham Grange Hotel and though the gate onto the moors. Then follow the BW which climbs north over the moors.

After 1 mile of steady climbing you will reach a faint path forking to the right. Either take this track and follow it NE across the moor, or carry on further north and look for a more distinct track heading the same direction. There are a lots of tracks and sheep tracks over the moors so make sure you are heading in the right direction .

Eventually you will get to SE 733 936 and will be able to find more distinct track which starts to descend east and then north as it curves round the hill. There are a lot of different sheep tracks here, and there’s a big choice of lines down the hill. Depending on the exact line you take, this can be a very technical descent which can be more like ‘freeride lite’ than cross country. As you get lower down the hill, the track seems to get stronger as lots of smaller tracks merge into one.

When you get the stone wall at the bottom of the descent, turn right and follow the gloriously varied single track south along the side of the valley. It varies from fast roller coaster like sections to natural rock gardens and is sure to be a memorable ride you wish to do again. In late summer the bracken can choke the path but it’s still perfectly rideable.

All good things come to an end and after short rocky descent, the track parallels a wall, crossing a series of new culverts over a ditch. When you reach the gravel track, turn left, and follow the gravel farm track climbing up from the valley. Follow this south to a junction with the road, and then turn right at the road. After a mile of easy road riding you will be back at the start point.