Whether you are looking for a leisurely jaunt or something more challenging, Thornton-Le-Dale is a great place to enjoy fantastic cycling, quiet country roads and fabulous countryside scenery.
Pace Cycles have prepared these routes, which are suited to varying abilities and range from three miles to thirty miles, please note the distances and times are approximate.
ROAD RIDE
Thornton Le Dale to Pickering
(3.1 miles each way: 20 – 40 minutes each way)
This is the most cycle friendly route to ride to Pickering using the Moor to Sea Trail. This is a low level ride.
From the village centre follow road signed Malton. You should pick up the Moor to Sea Trail signs.After half a mile turn right – signed Moor to Sea and follow this little back lane out of the village heading west. This lane will bend sharp right up towards the A170.Cross this busy road and then turn left and cycle along the cycle path into Pickering. Total distance is less than 2 miles.You will follow the same return route to Thornton Le Dale.
ROAD RIDE
Thornton Le Dale to Low Dalby – Dalby Forest
(2 miles each way: 30 – 60 minutes each way)
This is an easy low level valley bottom ride.
Note that a small stretch of this passes a farm which can be wet and muddy in the winter. Much of this route follows the Moor to Sea Trail into Dalby.
Road bikes with wide section tyres or hybrid bikes would be suitable for this ride.
From the village centre at the crossroads ride North signed Whitby and pick up the Moor to Sea Trail which will quickly turn you right at the foot of the hill signed Ellerburn.Bear left again on a small lane signed Ellerburn.After a mile you will pass Ellerburn church and continue straight ahead following the lane over the stream, and pass alongside an old farm. At this point the tarmac finishes and a rough track starts.Follow this track and shortly you will enter Dalby Forest.Go straight ahead on the forest road which is a good and level track which will eventually bring you to Low Dalby.There is a café, visitor centre and Pace Cycles here.You will follow the same route to return to Thornton Le Dale.
ROAD RIDE
Thornton Le Dale/Dalby Forest/Forge Valley/Troutsdale
(Circular ride - 30 miles: 2.5 - 4 hours)
This is a relatively short but demanding road ride through beautiful forests and dales.
In village centre follow road signed- Whitby and Dalby Forest.After a mile or so turn right signed Dalby Forest and go through the Toll and follow the forest drive (there is no charge to cyclists).You will pass through Low Dalby & out into the forest (just past the main visitor centre look out for the white stripe - painted across the road which is the finish line for the Dalby Forest stage of the Tour of Britain).Climb up past the Pace Bike Park which is also the venue for the World Cross Country Mountain Bike Trail and continue through the forest for a few miles.As you leave the forest you will shortly come to a ‘T’ junction where you will bear right and down the beautiful Forge Valley. Check out the Moorcock pub at Langdale End.Shortly after the Moorcock you will see a right hand turn - signed Troutsdale. This is the direct route back to Thornton Le Dale (continuing straight ahead here will add an additional loop - please see Route 4 for this additional loop).Turn right into Troutsdale - this is a great rolling climb and when lane tops out there are fine views down to Ryedale. Continue to follow the lane which will bring you out to the A170 in Snainton. Turn right. If you are on a tight schedule, you could simply follow the A170 back to Thornton Le Dale. But if you have time follow the back lanes:Just outside Snainton heading to Thornton Le Dale you can follow the back lane route by turning left - signed Malton.Then after a mile or so take a right - signed Ebberston then an immediate left - signed Allerston.Follow the lane until you come to a staggered cross road, go straight ahead onto a cheeky little rough back lane which bears right climbing up into the village of Wilton on the A170.Turn left and follow the road back into Thornton Le Dale.
ROAD RIDE (additional loop to ride above)
Forge Valley/Harwood Dale/Suffield
(Circular ride - 16 miles: 1 – 2 hours)
This is a pleasant loop relatively close to the coast and adds approximately 15 miles onto ride number 3.
At the junction shortly after Langdale End village, go straight ahead and do not turn right into Troutsdale.Follow the lane down to Hackness, straight through the village and look for the 2nd left turn - signed Silpho.Follow this lane up a steep climb through Silpho village, turn left half a mile outside of the village, then left again and join a long straight road (Reasty Road) through the wood. This will bring you to a beautiful viewpoint at Reasty Bank.Follow the lane down the hill, after a mile bear right at a little ‘T’ junction, then right again at the next junction and climb up to the little hamlet of Harwood Dale.Follow this lane for about two miles and you will drop down a steep hill. At cross road go straight ahead.At the next cross road turn right climbing the hill to a ‘T’ junction (ignore any branching lanes).Turn left and then follow lane straight ahead through the hamlet of Suffield, and then desend back down into Hackness.In Hackness village don’t take the left to East Ayton but go straight ahead - signed Dalby Forest.Take the first left - signed Troutsdale.Then follow route 3 back to Thornton Le Dale.
ROAD RIDE
Thornton Le Dale/Pickering/Newton Upon Rawcliffe/Cropton/Hutton Le Hole/Marton/Pickering
(Circular ride - 30 miles: 2 – 4 hours)
This is an enjoyable high level country lane ride with some great views over the moors and forests.
Leave Thornton Le Dale and follow Route 1 to Pickering.At the roundabout go straight ahead to the traffic lights.Turn right at the lights and follow this lane for approx 3 miles to Newton-Upon-Rawcliffe.Pass through the village and at the junction a mile out of the village bear left - signed Cropton.In Cropton village there is a pub called the New Inn (with its own micro brewery), good for lunches & evening meals.From Cropton village turn right and go north heading towards Rosedale, dropping down a steep bank from the village.Turn left just after a hump back bridge - signed Lastingham.Lastingham also has a nice pub – Blacksmiths Arms.From here follow the lane in front of the pub and at the ‘T’ junction bear right - signed Hutton Le Hole.In Hutton Le Hole you will reach a ‘T’ junction, turn left - signed Kirkbymoorside and Keldholme. Hutton has a pub, cafes and museum.After three miles, you will reach the A170 and go straight ahead at this junction.In Marton village, turn left and pass through the village then look for a little lane (the second on the right) - signed Pickering.Follow this lane ignoring all of the little left and right branching lanes, going straight ahead to Pickering.When you join the A170, bear right and it will take you to Pickering town centre.Go straight ahead towards Thornton Le Dale following the same route back.
Cycle routes are courtesy of Pace Cycles Limited, Unit 1 Dalby Forest Courtyard, Low Dalby, Thornton Le Dale, YO18 7LT