[Closed] Critique my route...Yorkshire Dales gravel

The climb over Stake Moss will be a push in that direction.
Its a green lane, so that part is loose, but either way off the top is/was hardpack

The sections over the Melbecks (the moon) are mostly hardpack and you might be able to work your way around on tracks, but there is a steep shoot down from the ruins which is worth it on a hardtail.

There arnt any unpaved routes between Swaledale and Wensleydale, unless you go out east to Castle Botlon (theres a great pub in Carperby)

Cant remember if the way you have picked out of Hawes is the massive boulderfield?!?
I'd be tempted to go further east of the way out and then pick up the Roman Road to bring you back over to Ribbleshead on the way back.

The climb out of Stainforth will be another push (from memory), so once on the moors, you might as well follow the tracks to Langcliffe, up the steep road, and pick up the BOAT across to Malham Tarn. If you're lucky theres an ice-cream van at the carpark (take cash).

The decent down from Weets Top to Calton is great, then i'd be tempted to take the track to Bell Busk and then onto Gargrave that way.

Unless you're staying in Clapham I wouldn't do that descent, I'd bear left down the excellent grassy downhill into Wash Dubs and then Wharfe. At Wharfe go right and descend down to the road right again for a short way and then left onto the bridleway into Feizor. From Feizor go north and rejoin the road to Little Stainforth.

I'd also use the northern section of the Settle Loop from above Langcliffe.

Here you go this is easier: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38520570

Thanks guys. We don't mind a bit of a push if the downs are worth it. Cutting the corner off at Clapham is fine as it was originally somewhere to stop but isn't now. I'll have a play around later this evening.

I would be inclined to incorporate Apedale which is a great whizz. After you turn right off the road from Askrigg, head straight on (rather the the left turn you have plotted). Go down to the crossroads and head north to Greets Hill then down to Grinton.

Heading south from Hawes you could follow the Pennine Bridleway all the way across to where you are joining it south of Selside. That would would avoid the road section from Gearstones to Selside.

Agree with the Wharfe/Feizor option. Really nice around there. Probably nicer on a gravel bike than Clapham too. You'll need to sort out a route across to Langcliffe from where you can take a track along the northern side of Langcliffe Scar to Malham Tarn (as mentioned by Chew). Alternatively the Pennine Bridleway takes Stockdale Lane from Settle to Malham Tarn but there's a stiff rocky climb which I don't think would be any fun on a gravel bike.

Unless you have a burning desire to drop down to Malham and climb back up to the Weets I would head east from Malham Tarn past Street Gate then down to Lee Gate and the splendidly named Smearbottoms Lane.

A few points (hopefully in order along your route), and it depends whether you're looking for extra off-road bits to break up the tarmac.

Skipton to Buckden - you could head up from Grassington through the mines and across the moor, dropping into Conistone via Scot Gate Lane. You would have to lift over a gate, and officially it's not allowed, but I've never had any bother. Perfect gravel riding.

After Askrigg, my preferred route would not be The Fleak road climb. A little way up out of the village, there's a bridleway heading east towards Carperby - just above the village you'll meet a track which runs up and over towards Reeth. Again all perfect for gravel bikes.

The section out of Healaugh will involve a short push, and you will find the descent into Gunnerside Gill unrideable on a gravel bike. You'll be pushing up out of the other side as well. I'd probably be tempted to either go up the tarmac from Feethams and go up past Winterings to meet your route from there (or miss that bit out entirely and just go via the Swale Trail and Muker!)

The section over Cam Fell. I don't like the road from the Station Inn to Horton, so I'd recommend not going down to Gearstones and staying on the PBW past Ling Gill and across the Ribble.

Go on the BW from Thieves Moss down to Wharfe, as recommended.

When you've pushed up from Stainforth, pedal up to the road and turn right, descend a little, then go on the Settle Loop crossing all the way to Cove Road, then straight across to Malham Tarn. From Weets Top, I'd also recommend the BW from Airton to Bell Bush, then Mark House Lane to Gargrave.

Phew, that was a lot!

It's definitely a gravel rather than mtb route. White Lion in Cray at the top of Wharfedale does great food and posh rooms (not stayed there myself as it's not that far from us) and would be a good day one stop. If I was starting from scratch I'd want to take in the western dales/howgills and more mtb terrain. But that would be a different route.

Thanks for that. I've camped at the White Lion and have a vague memory of them doing a very good pint of Copper Dragon. The plan is to get as far as Reeth area for night one, then Malham for night 2 leaving an easy ride back to Skipton for onward journeys home. Incorporating most of these changes increases the off road parts but shortens the overall route a little so its spot-on.

...if anyone was feeling particularly fit and wanted to do a big hill add on, you could take the Cam Head road out of Kettlewell (tough washed out climb I'm pleased to have cleaned a few times on a light hardtail) and then either straight back down to Starbotton - good mtb descent - or the horrendous boggy schlep over Tor Mere Top before the path improves at the top of Buckden Pike, or best would be to follow the faint in places but ridable bridleway round the top the Cam Gill Beck valley, then push (unless superhuman) up to Buck Pike ridge from the mineworkings at the end. Bridleway down buckden pike is fun (would be more so without gates lower down), then contour the pennine journey BW to above Cray and rejoin your route.

The track you've included on your revised route just past Grassington is the Dales Way footpath, not great for riding, as it has a number of stiles, IIRC. The one I mentioned climbs Moor Lane up to the lead mines, then follows good tracks around to Mossdale.

Worth checking out the track from Carperby to Reeth, the climb up from Castle Bolton is a bit of a grassy pig at times.

if anyone was feeling particularly fit and wanted to do a big hill add on, you could take the Cam Head road out of Kettlewell

Sadist!

You seem to have gone from Wharfe Wood across to Little Stainforth by footpath. Is it a goer?

I would go with martinhutch's suggestion of the Swale Trail from Grinton. Are you staying at the Dales Bike Centre? Good food at the Bridge Inn almost opposite.

Oh and you have plotted another FP from Grassington to Conistone. I think what martinhutch
had in mind was going up past the mine workings on Grassington Moor then across to Mossdale.

EDIT - Ah yes, he's just mentioned it.

You seem to have gone from Wharfe Wood across to Little Stainforth by footpath. Is it a goer?

Good spot, that definitely won't work for OP. I normally go on the road between Wharfe and Little Stainforth. If you're dead set on going along Henside Road and round the back of Malham Tarn, there's an argument for climbing directly over the back from Helwith Bridge rather than bother with Stainforth at all. It probably involves no pushing (Although it has an extra short tough tarmac climb on Henside).

EDIT: Something weird just before Askrigg as well, just go on the road.

No bogs - I hate bogs! That last bit of Jennride last year almost killed me and I was ready to give up and wait for rescue! 🙂

I was tired and emotional last night when I amended the route, after watching the football. I really needed to do it with an OS Explorer Map besides me. It's not my intention to do cheeky footpaths if we don't need to but if they offer a convenient link....;). Hope there's less pushing than Jennride @robbo1234biking, although a bit of bogtrotting just makes you appreciate the sweet singletrack more:)

Think I’ll keep an eye on this thread. I’ve been meaning to ride longer routes in the Dales and North York’s Moors the last couple of years, but never got round to it.

Usually just end up doing a 17-25 mile route. Obviously, fitness has got in the way a bit as well, but I’ve told myself this is the year (not getting any younger)!

Hope there’s less pushing than Jennride @robbo1234biking,

I can assure you there will be a lot less pushing than the Jennride...

We're planning on doing this route soon and the choice of bike raises its head again. At the minute I am leaning towards my gravel bike with WTB Senderos (47mm) on. @stumpy01 is planning on riding an MTB with a rigid fork. I am just looking at the route and there seems to be a descent called Stags Fell which diverts on a bridleway off the top of Buttertubs above Hawes and traverses the hill in an easterly direction before dropping south to Shutt Lane and into Sedbusk. Anyone ridden it and can advise how techy it is and whether a gravel bike will kill me or not? Cheers.

Yeah I've done it, mostly grass and not techy so you should be ok. I can second what martinhutch say about the climb above Carperby. Perfact gravel riding with great views from sweet william hut and views riding east along pickerstone ridge. Mutch better than contiueing along to castle bolton and climbing up boggy bolton park.

For your descent to the old youth hostel I'd be inclined to cross the road when you've come down greets hill and take the track down cogden moor and have a look at the cogden smelt mill while you're passing.

Just looking at your route from stake moss to askrigg. It's a nice enough descent down to stalling busk but I'm not sure about that bit from the end of semerwater to low force farm, Didn't even know it was there to be honest and never seen anyone on it. It's all pasture land and watch out for the crazy dogs at low force. Alternatively, you could miss the descent to stalling busk and turn right at busk moss and follow the track to carpley green. The views up there and along the carpley green road are ace and it would miss out the nasty road climb up the carpley green road that you have now. Also, that bit from worton bridge to askrigg is footpath.

Thanks @Jordan I know the Lakes a lot better than the Dales so really appreciate your local knowledge. That descent off Busk Moss towards Aysgarth looks a good un and about 7km long.

FYI since the original link above was posted, I've split the route into 2 and a bit days so this now just shows day 1 but it's this part I'm less familiar with so your comments really help.

@slowpuncheur Yeah, that descent is a good one and mostly fairly smooth and more often than not the wind will be behind you. If you decide to take that you can see that it splits half way down into a higher and lower track. I would stick to the high one. There is a short bit of footpath at the end that takes you north to the track towards aysgarth but I've had no problems using that. I usualy push along it anyway. Once you hit the road from Thornton Rust to Aysgarth you can either turn right for a short road section into Aysgarth, take the first left for a short quick down hill road section to the footbridge which is wide enough to ride across the Ure then turn right for a short road section to Carperby and previously mentioned climb north out of the east end of carperby. Or, turn left towards Thornton Rust for half a mile or so and take the track labeled Richmond gate(can get a bit overgrown in summer) north past Hawthorn farm to the A684 then right for a short road section the the footbridge over the Ure.

I'd agree with this. That descent to Semer Water is on tarmac, it makes no sense not to go via Carpley Green.

Just to restate that heading up Peatmoor Road from Carperby is far superior to dragging up from Castle Bolton, even though it's not marked as a right of way.

even though it’s not marked as a right of way.

It's open access up there.

I had looked at those tracks but the OS map I have doesn't even show it as access land (its a really old map!). I think it's similar in the Forest of Bowland where the 'shooters tracks' aren't technically rights of way/bridleways but no-one really bothers you? Seems a shame not to use them! I've revised the route, thanks to your suggestions:

RwGPS

Those tracks up there are very well used by walkers and riders. Bolton Estate even welcome people to overnight in sweet william hut.

Grassington is worth a visit, but you can knock a corner off and reduce road riding by heading up the bridleway from Hebden via Hole Bottom (missus) to join the leadmines section to Conistone. A lot of gates but lovely valley and nice riding.

Other ways from Hebden to the leadmines include via bank top fp or the obvious bridleway to grimwith then singletrack (not on the map but on the ground). On a long day carrying stuff I'd probably do Hole Bottom be tbh. There a decent cafe in Hebden for an early refuel.

(By "leadmines" I mean the track on the OS map marked as going thru Bycliffe Hill. Descent to Conistone - all be - is more fun on a mtb, but what isn't? All perfect gravel riding though.)

Descent to Conistone – all be – is more fun on a mtb, but what isn’t?

It turns to tarmac just before the bottom, then back into baby-head rocks for about 100 yards just after a steep bit. Worth noting for gravel tyre preservation. 🙂

Thank you for all your advice. We did the ride this past weekend. It was bloomin' ace. More to follow when I get a sec..