Cycling Holidays in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Yorkshire dales provides a great environment for cycling holidays. The scenery is beautiful and there are several cafes which specifically welcome cyclists.

There are some stiff climbs throughout the regions, so to get the most out of cycling in the Yorkshire Dales, it is advisable to have a good gear selection or be very fit.

The River Wharfe runs from high up in the Valleys down to Buckden and then down to Ikley. The Wharfe valley is a popular entry into the Dales. The road up the Wharfe valley is relatively flat and offers a good steady ride. The road passes through several attractive towns and villages. Ilkey is just outside the Dales, but provides a good starting base. The road then takes you to Bolton Abbey. The ruins of Bolton Abbey are a popular tourist attraction and it is relatively easy for cyclists to visit. At Bolton Abbey there are also 2 roads either side of the river. The main B road, is generally busier with cars. On the other side of the river, the road is much narrower, but quieter. The two roads provide the opportunity to travel up one side of the river and then return the other side. Other towns and places along the road worth visiting include, Barden Tower, Burnsall, (with a good cafe, popular with cyclists. It is opposite the green by the span bridge), Grassington, Kettlewell and Buckden.

Gargrave, is another popular destination for cyclists. The Dalesman cafe has a special room for cyclists and is often packed on Weekends. From Gargrave there is a good ride to Malham. The climb up from Malham over to Settle or Malham Tarn is very testing. It reaches at least 20% and climbs about 200 metres.

From Buckden there are 2 options. The main road goes ontowards Leyburn. The other road forks towards Hawes, via the difficult Fleet Moss climb. The road is often closed in the winter months, so it gives you a good idea of how difficult it is.

Other attractive, but quieter valleys include Covedale and Swaledale in the North, between Muker and Reeth. These valleys are less popular, but equally stunning in their scenery. They are definitely worth visiting, but, both have very challenging climbs. The climb out of Kettlewell towards Leyburn is one of the hardest in the Yorkshire Dales, reaching 25% gradient on the hairpins.

• Cycle Yorkshire Dales 

• Cycle Paths in Yorkshire - Sustrans