Rievaulx Loop Route Details

The route is made of two distinct sections; Wooded, hilly tracks in and around the valleys and a return leg along the Cleveland Way to the north of Sutton Bank. The length of the ride and amount of climbing means riders have to be pretty fit, so it’s a route suited to intermediate or experienced riders. Despite this, the route is mostly technically easy. The route could be done in reverse if you wanted. In case you were wondering Rievaulx is pronounced Rye-Val, and refers to a nearby Abbey of the same name.

Many of the woodland sections can be unpleasantly muddy in wet weather; but with care, the route should be rideable all year.

If you wished to extend the route you could incorporate the ‘Sutton Bank Short Loop’, or even parts of the ‘Hawnby Loop’ to make this an all day, hard riding epic.

There are no special hazards to be aware of, although the section along the top of Sutton Bank requires care near the cliffs and the brief moorland section can be confusing in poor visibility.

Either park in the layby off the A170, at SE 539 821, opposite Camm Grange farm; or near the road junction at SE 596 811. In either case, ride along the A 170 to the start.

Look for a farm track leaving the main road at SE 559 817. Head north down a farm track towards High Lodge farm. Once past the farm, follow the rough grassy track north, across the fields. The BW follows an ancient sunken lane and you can still see a slight hollow across the field. A few parts can be overgrown with nettles and long grass can sap your speed. Despite this you should soon arrive at a gate by the edge of the wood. After the gate the track becomes steeper and quite rough in places, before it arrives at the bottom of the hill and a road.

At the road, turn right, and go towards Ashberry Farm. Turn left at the road junction and go over the bridge, and towards the farm yard. The road then turns to the left again away from the farm, and towards a narrow wooded valley. Just before the road starts to climb steeply, look out on your left for for a BW heading into the woods. Follow the BW into the woods, and alongside a stream. This part can be very boggy. 1/3 of a mile after leaving the road, the BW leaves the level track and starts to steeply climb to the right. Follow the BW to a minor road. An alternative route: descend the other BW to the west, and arrive at Old Byland, then use the BW at 557 859 to return to the route. Carry on up the road for 100 yards until a tarmac track appears to the right.

Turn right and go down this well surfaced track which undulates along the side of the valley. Just before Tyla Farm, is a gate on the left, which marks the start of a BW. Turn left on to this BW which climbs though woods on pleasant single track. At SE 544 866 the BW joins a minor road. Turn right, and follow the minor road down to the ford at the bottom. Once past the ford, go up the very hard climb on the other side of the valley. Carry on along the minor road until you see a track and a BW marker on the right, before the farm buildings at Murton Heights. The next section can be missed if time is short and you can rejoin the route at Peak Scar Top.

Follow the rough farm track along the top of the valley, until just before an abandoned barn at SE 558 878, a track joins on the left. Turn left, go through the gate, follow the muddy woodland track west along the top of a hill, until you reach the road near where you left the road previously.

 

Turn right and follow the road towards the farm. At the road junction, look for a track on the opposite side of the road. Go through the gate, and descend the track. After ¼ of a mile, just before the woods, start to slow down. You’ll need do this, as the waymark on the right is easy to miss at full speed!

Turn right at the waymark, and follow path downwards to the bottom of the steep part of the hill. Carry on down, across the edge of a field, until you arrive at Dale Town farm. Then pass through the farm yard in a northerly direction. Shortly after the farm, the track curves to the left, but the BW carries straight on. At this point you need to go straight down across the field, towards a ford and a gate at the bottom of the valley. Although there is a legal right of way, there is not much of an actual path you can follow. After going through the gate by the stream, head due north and directly up the slope, not up the old track which heads up the hill to the right. You will find it hard going, but after crossing another two field and gates, you will reach a farm track. Carry on along the farm track towards the right hand side of the barns. There is a sign here to help you pick the right track. After the barns, the BW turns left to rejoin a farm track which heads in a westerly direction and steeply uphill.

Once at the top of the hill, follow the obvious track west past a barn. A mile after the barn, you will arrive at a gate at the edge of the moors. After the gate the path forks. You will need to take the left fork heading in a south westerly direction. After a pleasantly rolling grassy track you will arrive at a gate with a four armed wooden sign. You should turn right immediately before the gate and follow the west bound track along the wall. When you reach a junction with several BWs converging; take the leftmost turn and head south down the Hambleton Road until you reach a junction with a minor road.  If you have had enough of offroad riding, carry on down the Hambleton Road to the visitors centre.

Turn right on the minor road and head downhill until you see signs for the Cleveland Way to the left. Turn left onto the Cleveland way, go through the gate, and head uphill along the edge of the bank. Keep on following the Cleveland Way south, taking care of the large cliffs on your right. After several miles of hard but rewarding singletrack, you will arrive at the end of the BW following the Cleveland way at SE 507 838. Turn left, away from the edge, and head along the edge of a field to arrive at Dailstone farm. Turn right at the minor road running past the farm. When after 50 yards you reach a junction with another road, cross this road and take the BW heading along a track between fields towards a clump of trees. Continue along this BW, passing several farms and a race horse training track. The surface then changes to tarmac at the edge of the woods. Climb up the hill to arrive at the A170 next to the Hambleton Inn.

If beer and food doesn’t prove too much temptation, turn left and head along the A170 for half a mile until a minor road forks to the left. You could also stay on the less pleasant but quicker main road if in a hurry to finish. Take the minor road left, and follow this road down a slight incline. After a short climb you should see the start of some pine woods to the right. 1 mile after leaving the main road, look for a forest track on the right side of the road. Follow this track until you reach the main road. Turn left and go a further ¾ of a mile to the start point, and then head for where you parked.