6.42 kilometres (3.99 miles)
Ascent 89 metres (292 feet)

This ride is set in a Designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, traffic free and involves very little climbing. All riders, regardless of their level of riding experience are always inspired by the setting for Scar House Reservoir and the sheer splendor of the 71 metre (233 feet) high - 600 metre (1,968 feet) wide stone dam, completed in 1936. Ideal for novice riders, family groups and perfect for mixed groups of riders and walkers.

9.82 kilometres (6.1 miles)
Ascent 230 metres (755 feet)

This ride starts in Bolton Abbey at the southern end of the National Park. The route climbs gradually on a quiet back road for 3.5 kilometres (1.86 miles), allowing inexperienced riders to settle down before the route goes off-road with just 1.38 kilometres (0.86 of a mile) of climbing left. The panoramic views from the mid-point are reward enough for most riders but the real bonus comes from the fact the second half of the ride is almost completely downhill and off-road back to the start. A great proving ground for riders whose confidence is beginning to develop.

15 kilometres (9.5 miles)
Ascent 275 metres (900 feet)

This is a real appetiser for Dales riding and although quite short it really is a Classic Ride. For novice riders with experienced companions it will be quite challenging and for the more seasoned riders an absolute delight, ideal in fact for setting bikes up for the next day's ride. It also makes a great night ride and in full winter conditions the same route can turn into a mini epic.

35.4 kilometres (22 miles)
Ascent 763 metres (2,502 feet)

From professional riders to those with limited experience the one thing that you can be certain of is that all riders regardless of their riding experience make time to fit this ride in with each return trip to the Dales. The views are stunning and with miles of descent there is no escaping one of the Dales key signatures CLIMBING. The mix is well balanced and the scenery alone is worth the hard work on the main climb over Rylstone Fell which rewards every rider with over 6.5 kilometres (4 miles) of descent down to Bolton Abbey.

24.21 kilometres (15.04 miles)
Ascent 691 metres (2,267 feet)

A great all weather route that you can start from either Ramsgill or Scar House Reservoir and by riding the route clockwise you will always finish with a quality downhill. The descent from Scar House Pasture is semi-technical with more photo opportunities than any professional photographer could wish for whilst the final descent to Ramsgill is very fast and flowing. As for the main climbs, Moor Lane out of Middlesmoor and over to Scar House is a teaser rather than testing and cleaning this section without dabbing is the name of the game. Where as the short climb out of Woo Gill is the preserve of only the strongest and most technically proficient riders.

19.6 kilometres (12.2 miles)
Ascent 500 metres (1,640 feet)

For the climbers of the mountain bike world, Mastiles Lane is a classic climb with 226 metres (741 feet) of ascent in the first 4 kilometres (2.49 miles). For less seasoned riders the fact that you can see most of the climb ahead of you is daunting to say the least, naturally leading to the early onset of apathy and premature stops. Take heart though, with good line selection the crux of the climb lasts for only 2-3 bike lengths. In ancient times this lane was a major thoroughfare for the Romans and later the monks of Fountains Abbey. As you approach Street Gate you will in fact ride through the middle of a Roman Marching Camp and then turn right for the final climb of the day up to Hawkswick Clowder. You will then be rewarded with one of the best green lane descents in the Dales and more than adequate payback for any rider.

25.9 kilometres (16.1 miles)
Ascent 783 metres (2,568 feet)

You can start this ride in either Malham or Settle but always ride the route clockwise and if you do start from Malham allow sufficient time to also have a walk up to Malham Cove and if time permits Goredale Scar as well. This upland limestone landscape is simply spectacular, but this beauty belies the sinister side of limestone, always remember it takes no prisoners in wet conditions. On the climb over Langcliffe look out for Victoria Cave and then give thanks to the National Parks Officers for the improvement work they have carried out to the boggy sections that were once un-rideable, in all but the driest of conditions.

37.7 kilometres (23.43 miles)
Ascent 891 metres (2,923 feet)

From Appletreewick you start with a lengthy climb up onto Pock Stones Moor and although you are faced with the steepest part of the climb at the start of the ride you are still on tarmac. From the high point of 430 metres (1,411 feet) you get a tremendous view over to the Vale of York as well as the white domes of RAF Menwith Hill (photographing this installation is prohibited) and on clear days you can just see York Minster 50 kilometres (31 miles) away as the crow flies. This is a very harsh environment and as you descend into the Washburn Valley it is worth remembering that back in the 17th century Scottish Drovers would drive their cattle and sheep along this track to a Droving Fair held in Appletreewick every October. For the drovers of bygone years boggy sections were to be avoided at all costs but this is not always the case for mountain bikers. Occasionally, peat bogs really can be great fun and for 800 metres (875 yards) of Braithwaite Moor experienced riders will love it with their line selection, speed, balance and power being constantly challenged. At the mid-point in Pateley Bridge you will find tea rooms, pubs, provision stores, bakeries and two very good butchers with a wide selection of food for ravenous riders, the pork pies are to be recommended. Do not eat too much though as you have a very interesting climb up through the old lead mine workings of Ashfold Side Beck and over Greenhow Hill, so save a little food for the top of the climb. As you pass Stump Cross Caverns bare in mind these are some of the best show caves in the country and worthy of a post –ride visit when you are not so mucky. You finish with a descent of Kail Lane which is always a pleasure but remember you have moved from grit stone and onto limestone, so take care.

27.2 kilometres (16.9 miles)
Ascent 600 metres (1,968 feet)

This route can easily be made into a Black Route by simply starting in either Clapham or Buckden but as a Red Route we traditionally start this route from Littondale which gives you several options for a mid-point break in Horton in Ribblesdale. The views of Pen-y-ghent on the ride over from Litton are so good you are bound to stop to take photos before you start an enjoyable descent into Ribblesdale with its working quarry. Pen-y-ghent Café is an iconic pit stop for all outdoor enthusiasts but on the occasions when the café is closed you can still get hot beverages from the local village store nearby. On the return leg over Horton Moor the bridleway passes very close to Hull Pot. So abandon the bikes for a short while and walk over to this wonder of nature, you will soon appreciate how it got its name but stay well back from the lip of this pot hole. The isolation of Foxup Moor with its subtle technical sections really heightens the sense of wilderness riding before you make the final descent to Littondale. As this slope gets steeper the ground conditions are normally very wet and treacherous, so show great caution before the final fast approach to Foxup.

13 kilometres (8.06 miles)
Ascent 596 metres (1,955 feet)

Although, the Walden Road is regarded as one of the best natural downhills in the country this is a route for pure climbers and all-rounders, the downhillers amongst you will hate the climbs. Only the strongest and technically proficient riders will clean Top Mere Track and as for the rest of us mere mortals you will be left with a deep sense of sheer frustration which becomes quite crushing if you are lucky enough to witness a clean ascent. Fortunately, the humbling nature of this climb is short lived and soon followed by a very enjoyable traverse around to the Walden Road. From this high point you drop 330 metres (1,083 feet) in 2.61 kilometres (1.620 miles) on this descent to Star Botton. Although, you start on some derelict track and finish on very steep loose limestone track most of the descent is on grass. However, this can encourage a false sense of security so beware of the wet patches, the drainage runnels, the hidden drop-offs' and the monster tractor ruts. The route continues on the other side of the Dale and when you enter the trees on the second and final climb of the day its time to dismount and carry the bikes for 0.5 kilometres (0.31 miles). Your labours will be more than justified by the amazing views you get of Kettlewell and Starbotton, a great spot to have a break. After some easier climbing you are then faced with the final trial and a rough stone track descent that is not for the faint-hearted. As the track finally levels off a natural water course runs down the track, first of all on a section that has been concreted and then over limestone bedrock both of which are covered with green slime and are extremely hazardous to ride.

38.6 kilometres (24 miles)
Ascent 1,032 metres (3,385 feet)

Scenically, one of the most dramatic rides in the Yorkshire Dales and best saved for a sunny day with favorable ground conditions. This route requires total commitment from any rider possessing a full array of core trail riding skills and under no circumstances should be attempted by in-experienced riders. Technically, very demanding and relentless at times but the scenery is absolutely sublime with a fine example of limestone pavement above Twistleton Scars but always remember that limestone when wet is treacherously slippy and misty conditions occur frequently on the Three Peaks.

40.5 kilometres (25.17 miles)
Ascent 1,212 metres (3,976 feet)

The Howgill Massif lies between the Yorkshire Dales and the Cumbrian Fells, encapsulating the very best riding characteristics of both areas. Bram Rigg is just to the north of Sedbergh and one of four bridleways climbing up to the trig point on the Calf at 676 metres (2,217.8 feet). This route combination straddles the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary and for experienced riders is one of the finest all-day rides in the United Kingdom. You start from Sedbergh at a height of 133 metres (436 feet) and then proceed to climb for 543 metres (1,782 feet) over the next 9.6 kilometres (5.97 miles). This climb will tame even the strongest climbers amongst you and when the swirling clouds clear the views are spectacular, so, best kept for a fine weather day and exceptional company. The descent into Bowderdale is more than ample reward for the assault of Bram Rigg and is immediately followed by some of the finest technical single-track in the UK. Bowderdale itself is very remote, almost untouched by man and as close as it comes to Mountain Biking Nirvana. The second half of the ride although overshadowed by the start returns each rider to normality whilst maintaining a constant flow of stunning scenery.

46.8 kilometres (29.08 miles)
Ascent 1,664 metres (5,459 feet)

The network of cart tracks connecting the abandoned lead mines of Swaledale is so extensive that in spite of the length of this route the amount of road work is almost insignificant and yet the opportunity for alternative or escape routes is not compromised in any way. So if you feel confident about the distance of the ride but not so sure about the amount of climbing involved this route is still worth attempting. The stark beauty of these Northern Dales is a complete contrast to the Southern Dales and although the lead mining industry of the 18th and 19th centuries scarred the landscape irreparably, these same scars today add great interest to the ride and reflect the hardship of former mining communities that date back to the Romans. Abandoned buildings stand testament to a substantial industry and the great heaps of spoil waste from the mines can at times create a lunar landscape that just adds to the experience.

26.1 kilometres (16.2 miles)
Ascent 1,148 metres (3,765 feet)

This route is capable of putting any rider in their place and with a well balanced group of very experienced riders you will all have equal moments of elation, frustration and awe. Lack of preparation and respect for this route will only compromise a rider’s ability to complete the ride and avoid serious injury. The only casualty should in fact be the scenery which is truly spectacular but the likelihood is you will be too focused on the trail to really appreciate your surroundings. Starting in Kettlewell you open with a testing climb of the Top Mere Track followed by a great descent down to Starbotton on the Walden Road. 3.44 kilometers (2.14 miles) of level tarmac up to Buckden then allow you set yourself for the second and highest climb of the route over Firth Fell which involves a brief carry. As you re-group after the climb, have a break before you drop down Ackerly Moor to the village of Litton 336metres below (1,102 feet), this is a highly technical 2 kilometre downhill that demands finesse rather than an aggressive riding style. 3 kilometres (1.86 miles) of C road down Littondale to Arncliffe are immediately followed by the steepest climb of the day and one of the most intense climbs in the Dales. Once over Old Cote Moor you finish with another technical descent into Wharfedale but this time back to Kettlewell and the start. To enjoy this route each rider needs to be in top form and the ground conditions bone dry, so ideally wait for a prolonged dry spell in summer.