Following the success of the Golden Rule Adventure Club rides, London to Paris and Land’s End to John O’Groats, we decided to take it easy with a 120k ride through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, taking in a section of next year’s Tour de France Grand Depart route.
Nidderdale
Starting in Knaresborough (a destination on the day 2 route) we headed out along the River Nidd towards Ripley, just a few miles from day 1’s finish in Harrogate… an opportunity for Mark Cavendish to take the Yellow Jersey?
We then headed through some beautiful Nidderdale countryside, even taking in the unexpected site of a herd of Llamas going for a walk. In the Market Town of Pateley Bridge we met our first challenge. If you’ve ever been to Pateley Bridge you’ll know that almost every route out is a severe climb. On this occasion we chose to tackle Greenhow Hill, a 5k, category 2 slog up some brutal sections to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundry.
After a brief rest for a photo opportunity we stopped at Stump Cross Caverns’ Café to refuel.
Wharfedale
Once we reached Grassington we were in site of the TDF route, just across the river on the other side of the Wharfedale Valley. At Kettlewell we joined the route, taking in our second major climb of the day, Kidstones Bank, which climbs up alongside Buckden Pike, a slightly less brutal 3.5k, category 3 climb.
Wensleydale
We then rode to Aysgarth for a very nice sandwich and pint at the George and Dragon Inn. After lunch, rather than following the route along the busy A684, we crossed the river at the famous Aysgarth Falls and followed the Wensleydale Valley through Askrigg and near Hawes to our final (and probably hardest) categorised climb, Buttertubs Pass. Although the name doesn’t suggest it, this was another undulating assent with some serious 17% gradients. At the top however it all seemed worth it with stunning views across Swaledale, if only the weather was a little brighter.
Swaledale
Then, following a hairy descent, came a fast rolling section through some pretty villages in the Swaledale Valley, before reaching our destination, Reeth.
Following a prize giving ceremony for King of the Mountains winner Stewie O’Graemedy, a good hearty meal and a few well deserved pints, we all got some much needed rest in various hotels, B&Bs and campsites in Reeth.
The next morning a select few carried on the route with another tough climb out of Grinton, through Leyburn and Masham before breaking off the route to take a quieter road back to Knaresborough.
I, however, took the opportunity of camping in the Dales to invite the family for a day out in Hawes, where we enjoyed the Wensleydale Creamery and the Dales Countryside Museum, with Graculus Sculptures outside. The kids then had a play in the park and an ice-cream with the many hundreds of bikers in the Market Square.
A fantastic weekend for cyclists and none cyclists alike, which has given us some good ideas for where to watch next year’s Grand Depart from. Now we just need to book our accommodation.
