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Just idly thinking of an idea for next year. If I was after a wee village with a good pub and some accommodation, with some nice, enjoyable road riding nearby (enough for maybe 3 days) without getting into the Lake District, where would you recommend. Needs to be north of the M62/A64.
If it was gravel rather than road, what other options might present themselves?
Thanks
Eden Valley would be ace. Armathwaite has a lovely pub.
Some good pubs with rooms in the Dales, obviously.
Lister Arms in Malham or Blue Bell Inn in Kettlewell are decent, and there is a wealth of road/gravel near either.
Wooler, Rothbury (both small towns though but plenty villages closer by) anywhere in the North Pennines AONB that suits the size of place you're after for road, probably the northern end/fringes bias for gravel and better pubs.
I know it's boring how many times I say it, but you could do a lot worse than Settle.
Forest of Bowland is brilliant for road cycling.
^^
Easy access to Forest of Bowland from Settle (plus loads of other options in the Yorkshire Dales for road and gravel from Settle). You're very close to Gisburn Forest as well, I've done bits of that on my gravel bike.
Only thing is that Settle is not "a wee village", it's a small market town. It's very nice, I love it there but if the OP is indeed after "a wee village" then you'd be looking at Austwick or Clapham (both also lovely).
I had a cracking stay in the Forest of Bowland staying in an Airbnb in Waddington a few years ago.
Great riding and walking and village has 3 good pubs. I'm looking forward to going back in the not too distant future.
North York Moors. Lots of quiet country lanes, some decent climbs and amazing scenery. There should be some gravel to be had as well using fire roads and access tracks for some of the estates. There’s an old stage coach road that goes from York area up to the north (Teesside) but I don’t know the exact route.
Northumberland is awesome.
and i know a bloke who will join you for a few days riding and showing you some good stuff.
Pick a location and do some of these.
https://lostlanes.co.uk/product/lost-lanes-north/
Some cracking routes - we really enjoyed the rides we've done in the northelakes and the in the whitby area. I'd a rough plan to do the three north of hexham at some point over a long weekend, should be easy enough to find a way to link all three as a point-to-point ride, staying in B&Bs...
Blue Lion, East Witton (in the Dales) is what you're after.
We stayed at cottage some way away for several holidays in a past life - would cycle over from Bellerby to East Witton, evening meal with couple of pints. After a couple of visits (months apart), the barmaid saw us walking in and said "pint of Landlord, yes?" Sold.
Plenty options up and over Buttertubs, Hawes, back lanes. Had several great bike-based holidays there.
Some great ideas there for me. I'll do some research.
I'm not ruling out Settle. Being larger it might offer a few accommodation options fitting into everyones budget/space/quality requirements.
Anything to say about Sedbergh? I recall going there many moons ago as a group of motorcyclists.
Sedbergh is ok. the route around the howgills is a nice days ride, mainly on lanes and a bit of b/w.
also a nice ride down one side of dentdale and back up the other side.
Forest of Bowland was on my mind when I mentioned Settle. I usually head into the Dales but have had a few great days out in the opposite direction. Recently over to Bentham via Keasden etc, south over Lythe Fell/Cross of Greet, cafe stop in Slaidburn, back over Bowland Knotts. Flatter alternatives are available. Also Salter fell road from Hornby to Slaidburn is some of the best gravel around, only problem is the amount of road to make a loop. Out and back may be best.
There's more than that in the other direction of course.
I'm sure you can stay somewhere else in the neighbourhood if you want to avoid such a huge metropolis 🙂
Lord Crewe at Blanchland. Straight out onto the North Pennines and some of the best road riding in the country, plus gravel options (Waskerley Way etc)
From Sedbergh you can also pick up the pennine bridleway at Garsdale head. Hawes would also give options for that plus rides over Fleet Moss and Cam High Road one way and the Buttertubs the other.
I’d also second the North Pennines, but also would consider Teesdale as having options in all directions - Alston; Barnard Castle (to check your eyesight natch) via the railway path in the other then The Stang to Langthwaite; over to Weardale on the TdF route then back over to Cow Green from Ireshopeburn. Middleton has plenty of places to stay.