Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire
The Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorskhire is 21 easy cycle
routes across the county. It was launched at the time of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in 2014.
Cycling in Yorkshire
Cycling in Yorkshire
The Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorskhire is 21 easy cycle
routes across the county. It was launched at the time of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in 2014.
This urban route along the Wyke Beck Way, follows Wyke Beck and goes through parks and greener areas within Leeds, as well as some housing estates. It takes you from Roundhay Park to Temple Newsam.
Read about Stage 1, Roundhay Park to Temple Newsam.
Stage 2 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire takes you from Garforth, past RSPB St Aidan's, to Woodlesford Lock. It's a pleasant ride along the Linesway (former railway), then by the river Aire. It can be quite muddy.
Read about Stage 2, Garforth to Woodlesford.
Stage 3 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire is a 14-mile (one way) ride along the Leeds & Liverpool canal from Leeds to Saltaire.
It's pleasant being by the canal, the views keep changing, and there are plenty of cafés and pubs where you can refuel.
The destination, Saltaire, is interesting and has several attractions. Highly recommended.
Read about Stage 3, Leeds to Saltaire.
Stage 4 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire is a nice ride along the Leeds & Liverpool canal (and back) between Keighley and Saltaire.
Five Rise Locks at Bingley is interesting and impressive, and there's also a good café there. The rough surface of the towpath makes this more of a mountain bike ride than a road bike route.
Read about Stage 4, Keighley to Saltaire.
Stage 5 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire starts on a busy road out of Skipton, but is on quiet roads from Embsay to Bolton Abbey.
Bolton Abbey estate is free to visit by bike, the river Wharfe is beautiful, there are several points of interest, and plenty of places for tea and cake.
Read about Stage 5, Skipton to Bolton Abbey.
Stage 6 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire is a nice ride on quiet back roads from Settle to Clapham. There's just enough hill-age to make it interesting. Typical Yorkshire Dales scenery makes for picturesque surroundings in good weather. There are plenty of options for a cup of tea or a pint of beer.
Read about Stage 6, Settle to Clapham.
Stage 7 is the Nidderdale Greenway, from Harrogate to Ripley. It's on the trackbed of an old railway line, so it's flat. Perhaps the highlight is the crossing of the Nidd Viaduct, with views of the Nidd Gorge.
Read about Stage 7, Harrogate to Ripley.
Stage 8 is a great cycle route from the centre of York to Beningbrough, partly on tarmacked path by the river Ouse, and partly on quiet roads. It ends up at Beningbrough Hall, an C18th National Trust property (where cyclists are entitled to a free cup of tea).
Read about Stage 8, York to Beningbrough.
York to Naburn is part of the longer York to Selby route. It includes a section called 'Cycle the Solar System', with scale models of the planets the correct distance (proportionately) from the sun and each other along the path. Most of the route is on the trackbed of an old railway line.
Read about Stage 9, York to Naburn.
The Bradford City to Bowling Park bike ride is a short ride - just 4 miles there and back.
It takes you from the city centre to Bowling Park, in the south of Bradford.
Read about Stage 10, Bradford City to Bowling Park.
The Hebden Bridge to Brighouse bike ride is mainly on canal towpaths.
It's 24 miles there and back, but if you prefer you can ride one way and let the train take the strain on the way home.
Read about Stage 11, Hebden Bridge to Brighouse.
A ride from Ossett via Dewsbury to Oakenshaw, south of Bradford. There and back it's 22 miles.
Much of the ride is on the Spen Valley Greenway, which is quite wide with a good surface.
Read about Stage 12, Ossett to Oakenshaw.
Start from the station in Huddersfield and head into the countryside. Pedal via Mirfield to Dewsbury.
There and back it's 18 miles. The surface is good all the way.
Read about Stage 13, Huddersfield to Dewsbury.
This is quite a short (6 miles each way) ride from Barnsley to RSPB Old Moor. It's on a disused railway, so it's quite flat. Old Moor is an RSPB Reserve rich in birdlife.
Read about Stage 14, Barnsley to Old Moor.
This is Stage 15 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire. It's an easy, family-friendly ride on the trackbed of the old Great Central Railway, and it takes you to the edge of the Peak District.
Read about Stage 15, Penistone to Dunford Bridge.
Stage 16 is perhaps my favourite of the urban rides in the Slow Tour of Yorkshire. The backdrop to the route is a great mix of industrial and natural.
Read about Stage
16, Sheffield to Rotherham.
This ride is quite pleasant but much of it is on poor quality paths, and a mountain bike is best.
The destination is Conisbrough, with its impressive castle ruins.
Read about Stage 17, Doncaster to Conisbrough.
The Humber Bridge is at the heart of this ride, from Barton-upon-Humber at the south end to North Ferriby on the north bank of the estuary. The bridge is impressive, but the ride across it is noisy and polluted.
Read about Stage 18, Barton-upon-Humber to North Ferriby.
This ride has a lot of natural advantages.
It links a big city with a nice seaside resort. It's over flat terrain, and a lovely wide railway trackbed provides the perfect place to put a quality bike path.
Unfortunately the builders and maintainers of the path have not made the most of these advantages. This ride is only really suitable for mountain bikes.
Read about Stage 19, Hull to Hornsea.
This is a ride on quiet country roads from Driffield to Bridlington.
It's 19 miles each way, so 38 in total (or take the train back).
One of the highlights is riding along Bridlington Promenade when you reach the seaside.
Read about Stage 20, Driffield to Bridlington.
Stage 21 from Scarborough to Hayburn Wyke is simply a selected part of the longer Cinder Track route. The Hedgehog guide is to the whole Cinder Track.
Read about Stage 21, Scarborough to Hayburn Wyke, on the Cinder Track page.