Adventures - Mountain Biking
Mountain Bike Routes
The Settle Area has a variety of Mountain Bike routes.
Some lie within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and others within the Forest of Bowland.
Below is a selection of some of the best routes, ranging from a 4 mile circuit of Malham Tarn
to a challenging 36 mile route around Pen-y-Ghent.
Settle Loop
Start and Finish
Settle SD 818 636
Distance
10 miles (16km)
The first section of the Pennine Bridleway to be opened in the Yorkshire Dales, the Settle Loop takes you on a variety of tracks; gravel, natural grassland and rocky limestone sections. It also gives great views out over the southern section of the Dales. It may be a short route but it involves a big climb out of Settle so expect to do some hard work.
CLICK HERE for full route details including map, gradient profile, downloadable PDF and GPX files >>
Settle - A Long Loop
Start and Finish
Settle SD 818 636
or
Malham SD 900 627
Distance
21 miles (35km)
If you’ve been around the Settle Loop and want to extend it, here is one option. It adds in a section of Mastiles Lane and a loop to Malham past Gordale Scar,
before a testing climb up Stockdale Lane and a long descent to Settle taking in an extra off tarmac section.
CLICK HERE for full route details including map, gradient profile, downloadable PDF and GPX files >>
Horton - Over the Stake
Start and Finish
Horton in Ribblesdale SD 808 725
Distance
36 miles (59km)
Don’t be put off by the 36 miles distance – this is doable.
The route is on good quick stone tracks and minor roads and you should be able to do a reasonable average speed.
But it is a day out – pack plenty of food!
CLICK HERE for full route details including map, gradient profile, downloadable PDF and GPX files >>
Horton - Tour of Pen-y-Ghent
Start and Finish
Horton in Ribblesdale SD 808 725
Distance
17 miles (27km)
The tour of Pen-y-Ghent is a well known classic for good reason.
A short road warm up is followed by a climb up a track on to the shoulder of Pen-y-Ghent.
Then it is along another great track, Dawson Close, to descend into Littondale.
A quick breather and then on to Foxup – a few short climbs and then a great traverse and descent back to Horton.
CLICK HERE for full route details including map, gradient profile, downloadable PDF and GPX files >>
Clapham Tunnels and Bridges
Start and Finish
Clapham SD 745 692
Distance
12 miles (19km)
This mountain bike route really does have a bit of everything that is best about Dales mountain biking – walled lanes, stone tracks, grassy tracks, rock slabs, fords and old clapper bridges. To add to it all from the top of the route you have one of the best views in the Dales looking out over the limestone pavement of Thieves Moss to Pen-y-ghent.
CLICK HERE for full route details including map, gradient profile, downloadable PDF and GPX files >>
Malham Tarn
Start and Finish
Water Sinks car park at Malham Tarn
Distance
4 miles (7km)
This is a short and fairly level introductory cycle route which goes around the spectacular Malham Tarn.
It is half on good stone tracks with the other half following very quiet tarmac roads.
There is also the option to try out your mountain biking skills by adding in a section across the grassy limestone terrain.
CLICK HERE for full route details including map, gradient profile, downloadable PDF and GPX files >>
Gisburn Forest - The 8
Start and Finish
Cocklett Hill Car Park
Distance
11 miles (18km)
Red Grade • Difficult
Black Severe (optional features and sections)
Laid out in a figure of eight. Highlights include the volunteer built trail of Home Baked, the gnarly Whelpstone Crag
and the roller coaster ride of Hully Gully – as close as you can get to dancing on a bike.
The trail includes forest road and red & blue grade single-track.
There are optional black grade sections and features on the way. Enjoy!.
Gisburn Forest - Bottoms Beck
Start and Finish
Cocklett Hill Car Park
Distance
6 miles (9.5km)
Blue Grade • Moderate
Suitable for novices and younger riders.
Drop down to the causeway over Stocks reservoir and bounce along Eggberry Road.
A mellow section of green grade trail follows an old rail line beside Bottoms Beck.
Flow along the funky blue single-track of Park Wood, before swooping down from the top of Cocklet Hill.
Park Wood can be by-passed by staying on the forest road.
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