[Closed] Day ride from Skipton - anything goes!

I can only speak about off-road, of course.

Is it a seven hour maximum pass, or is there a bit of leeway there? And would you prefer to ride from Skipton itself to maximise that?

Bear in mind TdY is going through town on Sunday 5 May if you're fancying a roadie, as it were.

7 hours tops I'm afraid - just fits inside school run dropoff and pickup!

And yes, ideally riding from in or near skipton to maximise riding time

Thanks!

Done most of those routes, neat choice either way TBH.

Cross route is more exciting, but it isn’t a gravel blast more a rutted flag stone hop and wiggle. So, much slower than anticipated. Bolton Abbey around the back of Simons Seat over Bardon Moor back down into the woods behind Bolton Abbey is a very neat way to spend 3-4hrs. Could extend it by adding in the off road route from Hebden back to Grassington then hack back to Skipton along the road .. or pop in the pub at Appletreewick 🥳

We did a nice 50 miles loop the other day via Skipton, Malham, Water Houses, Kettlewell, Hebden, Bolton Abbey. Road, link below.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2304383420

Seven hours? Hmm, get your (1:25k) map out!

Skipton up the road to Rylstone, across to Hetton then up Moor Lane to the end of the track, go right to Boss Moor Lane, across Boss Moor and Threshfield Moor to Malham Moor Lane, along this towards Bordley. Mastiles Lane all the way to the end, Malham Tarn, pick up the Settle Loop and take the northern part of this to Settle. Back up Mitchell Lane (steep) then Lambert Lane to join the main road over the top. Just after Scaleber Force go right at a bend on Langber Lane. When the BW ends just keep going in the same line down to Otterburn. (This bit isn't technically legal on a bike but it was going to be upgraded to a BW and I've never heard of anyone having trouble). Otterburn to Bell Busk is on road. From the bridge in Bell Busk take Markhouse Lane directly to Gargrave. Canal tow path back to Skipton.

Gisburn relatively close if you just want to go round and round and round (if the weather's horrid on the tops).

Road - Halton Gill loop over to Settle and back through Wigglesworth and Nappa takes me four to four and a half hours plus cafe stop in Settle.

Slightly longer and a little harder would be up the Dale to Kettlewell, over Kidstones in to Bishopdale then Wensleydale, up this to Hawes then back over Fleet Moss.

How early can you start? Primary or secondary school drop-off and pick-up in Skipton?

I ask because this is exactly my situation, and I know exactly what you can do in that time allowing for speed and mechanicals!

Thanks all. Martinhutch - is 8:30-3:30 in Silsden so I have a few miles to add!

Whitestone's cross bike route looks like a winner! Thanks v much

There are some great suggestions above - thanks!

okay, you've a million routes, road, xbike or mtb, but here's an xbike one from Silsden

up the road towards Cringles, then right onto Brown Bank Lane. At the top resist temptation to turn right towards the great trails of Ilkley Moor, and turn left down Lippersley Lane, marked as a bridleway, which starts as a tarmacked drive. Then left down Cringles main road (A6034, actually you could've just cycled up this) for a few 100m, then first right down Cringles Lane, next right up Bank Lane, and follow this until you cross the Dales High Way bridleway, which you turn left down and follow to Skipton along the roman road.

Out of Skipton along the B6265, Then first left after the roundabout up the unpromissingly named Bog Lane. Follow the bridleway from Bog Lane corner up Sharp How, then down to Flasby. There are also cheeky ways to do this. Then road to Hetton, Rhylstone, and up the classic Barden Moor track. Tough but ridable climb, well-used moorland singletrack, then blast down to the road and cattle grid, cross this and blast down the bridleway along the ridge to Bolton Abbey.

Last time I rode this the farmer had ruined an excellent fast descent at the end of the ridge by putting cows on it. Great finish at the moment through woods with bluebells down to the valley at Bolton Abbey, then road back to Silsden. You could miss the Bolton Abbey bit by following the track descent from the cattlegrid down to Halton East, then up through Draughton to rejoin the route out.

That would be a reasonable half day. Could extend by going Bolton Abbey up to Skyreholme, then over Pockstones track to the Wwashburn, road to Blubberhouses and up to Timble woods, tracks up through the woods to Lippersley Ridge, down to Denton (three or four different ways to do this, not all obvious on the map), road back to Silsden. That would make it a long one.

I've ridden all this stuff a lot more than 500 times.

Check out the routes for the Fat Lad at the Back sportive for some road ideas from Ilkley

From Silsden, John's suggestion has to be the one. There are various other ways to get to the DHW (roman road) to Skipton. Great little slightly techy descent through the woods at the end.

There are three ways to cross Sharp Haw. If you're in a hurry, or it's wet, keep on the wide track all the way around the left side until you get to the FP turnoff through the woods to a locked gate. I've never been challenged, be considerate of the cows in calf in the next field though.

Bit drier, turn off on the BW and head directly to the top of Sharp Haw, and straight over the back onto a great little descent that ends at the same gate.

Slower but OK - the actual BW to the R of Sharp Haw. Avoid if wet.

The climb out of Rylstone is the tough bit, you can either head straight across and on to Bolton Abbey as described or if you're short of time, turn right at the moor summit and head over to Embsay Crag for a proper descent to the reservoir (follow the right flank of of the fell rather than exactly where the BW suggests on the map) From there head back to Skipton and pick up the canal towpath back to Silsden.

From Bolton Abbey, there are some other options which don't add too much time. Take the road to Beamsley on the other side of the A59 and climb up towards the Beacon. There's a track which skirts the L side of the Beacon (visible on aerial) which is mostly rideable with a short push to hit the ridge which gives a fun descent back down to the road. From there you can pick one of the BWs which go down towards Addingham and cross at the FB marked on OS, back up through Addingham and over to Silsden via Lippisley Lane and the BW which goes through the forestry on the edge of Ilkley Moor.

Other options for easy short rides include canal to Bingley then Bingley Bash (loads of options for adding fun stuff) then canal back - shouldn't be more than a few hours total.

Also once you realise how easy it is to get out onto Ilkley moor, there is stacks of good riding and descending on the side which faces Ilkley - Rocky Valley, Cow and Calf etc. Just mix and match based on Strava popularity, and which bits are on fire.

If you hop in your car and start from somewhere like Rylstone, then some really good loops open up past Kilnsey and Grassington which are doable within school hours if you get a bit of a move on. Let us know if you want any details.

The other, fabulous option is using Settle/Carlisle railway to get further out, although recent timetable changes have buggered it up a bit. Basically, if you have a SE or E wind, you can blitz as far as Settle or Clapham stations - you have to make it to Settle by 12.34 which I reckon is just about doable from Silsden, or if not, Clapham by 1.24, Giggleswick by 1.30 or Long Preston slightly later to return by just after two to Skipton, or direct to Silsden/Steeton possibly.

If it's a westerly, I think there are trains to Settle/Horton or Clapham leaving Skipton (and again, possibly S&S) at 9ish which allow you to be tailwind assisted all the way back.

My lad is in school on Otley 8:45 to 3:15. Rides I know I can do in a day (and I always make sure I’m allowing plenty of time include:

Basildon Moor, Shipley Glen, Buck Woods - can do this from home
Bingley Bash
Oxenhope Ogden Water
Round of Nidderdale
Grassington,Mastiles, Weets Top
Barden Moor and Bolton Abbey
Gisburn (only time for one lap + Hope Line)

The thought of what his mother would say if I was late for pick up doesn't bare thinking about!

If he’s got an after school club till 4:30 or 5 then there’s loads more.

We need a Strava South Dales Don't Stay at Home Parenting group.

I've done the train to dent before and ridden home via swaledale - that was great but I fancy riding from home this time. I don't often get a kid and obligation - free day! Strava group sounds good!

This is becoming a great ride directory!

Came to add something but my favourites have been covered.

From silsden I'd probably go up Cringles, across Skipton Moor, over Sharp Haw following the summit route, road to Rylstone via Hetton, up and over Bardon Moor then either
1- BW to Bolton Abby then BW to Draughton followed by road to Draughton Moor then back to Silsden or
2- Straight down to Halton East from Barden top folled by road to Draughton then as above or
3- road to Eastby from Barden, BW over Embsay Crag, up though the quarry woods from the Cavendish car park then back to Silsden via canal from Skipton.