Red Kite Mountain Bike Trail

7th August 2022

The Red Kite Mountain Bike Trail is a 20-mile mountain bike ride on bridleways, starting and finishing in Wetherby.

It goes along field edges and through woods, and there is the odd sharp climb. Some parts of the route could be rather muddy in Winter.

There are red kites in this area, and I saw a lot over a field where hay was being cut.

Red Kite Mountain Bike Trail: Map & GPS

The map above gives an overview of the Red Kite Mountain Bike Trail.

This is the ride on Plotaroute; you can download a navigation file from there.

Red Kite Mountain Bike Trail: Route Notes

Start from the old railway station car park in Wetherby, just off Linton Road.

This is the south western corner of the railway triangle in Wetherby, and was on the Cross Gates to Wetherby line (1876-1964) - see York's Old Railways.

From the car park, join the Harland Way railway path, following signs to Spofforth.

The railway path ends at Spofforth. Go up East Park Road, cross the A661, and take Park Lane. Bear left on a bridleway called Whins Lane, which runs past a Christmas tree nursery that belongs (I believe) to Stockeld Park.

Next there's a short stretch on the road at Sicklinghall before you continue south on Geecroft Lane.

In Old Wives Wood, the track skirts around a Carmelite Monastery and the Wood Hall Hotel. Little red kite markers show the route.

Descend to the Wharfe and cross it on Woodhall Bridge.

The other side of the river there's a climb up to the A659 between Collingham and Harewood. Cross it and take Crabtree Lane to East Keswick.

Leave East Keswick on Moor Lane, then turn left onto a bridleway that descends to Keswick Beck.

Next, the Red Kite Mountain Bike Trail takes you past Gateon House Farm and Rigton Moor Farm.

There's a very short stretch on Wike Lane, then continue steeply uphill on Spear Fir. At the top of the hill turn left on Blackmoor Lane, which leads to Tithe Barn Lane. Pass houses at Wayside Gardens, then cross the A58.

Head east on a bridleway which crosses the disused Cross Gates to Wetherby railway line.

There are two woodland sections, at Hetchell Wood and Stubbing Moor.

Now you skirt round Wothersome Lake, at the edge of Bramham Park.

It's steeply uphill to Thorner Road. Turn left on it, then left on Thorner Lane. The site of the Medieval Village of Wothersome is to your left here, but there's nothing to see except a field.

Next it's north on Dalton Lane, through woods initially then between fields (main photo at the top of the page).

At the end of Dalton Lane you reach a busy roundabout junction with shared use pavements. The GPS file sends you east across a number of motorway slip roads. There's then a path to Wetherby immediately east of the A1M.

Alternatively, there's a tarmac path next to the A168 which comes out at the same place - a roundabout at the southern entrance to Wetherby.

On the road now, cross the Wharfe on Wetherby Bridge.

Down by the river at Weir Garth, there are picnic tables and there's often an ice cream van. There's also a café called The Cottage.

Turn left on Market Place which becomes West Gate. These are busy roads. Fork left on Linton Road, then turn right at Station Gardens to return to the old railway station car park.