Things to Do
Cycling the North York Moors
Few places pack in this much variety for cyclists: a world-class mountain-bike trail centre, some of England's most feared road climbs, a traffic-free coastal railway path, and around 150 miles of waymarked moor-and-forest routes. Whatever you ride, the moors deliver.
Mountain biking: Dalby Forest and beyond
Dalby Forest is the star, a purpose-built trail centre with graded, waymarked trails for every level, run from the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, where you can hire bikes including e-bikes:
- Green (easy, about 8 miles) and the Ellerburn family trail (easy, about 2.5 miles) for beginners and families.
- Blue (moderate, about 8 miles) to step up.
- Red (hard, about 21 miles). The longest red trail in the UK, fast, flowing single track.
- The World Cup trail (severe, about 4 miles). Dalby has hosted UCI World Cup cross-country racing.
- Dixon's Hollow Bike Park and a skills area for jumps and technique.
Beyond Dalby, Guisborough Forest and Sutton Bank are the other main off-road centres.
Road cycling: the climbs and the quiet lanes
The moors are laced with quiet lanes and punctuated by some genuinely iconic climbs:
- Rosedale Chimney Bank, one of England's steepest roads at around 1-in-3, a bucket-list ascent.
- Sutton Bank, a relentless 1-in-4 escarpment topped by the “finest view in England”.
- Carlton Bank and White Horse Bank, more moor-edge tests.
The North York Moors Cycleway links quiet roads into a signed road route, and the area's Tour de Yorkshire heritage speaks to the quality of the riding. Many of these roads are the same ones our Classic Car Country routes follow.
Traffic-free and family riding
- The Cinder Track, the former Scarborough-to-Whitby railway, now a traffic-free trail along the coast: gentle, scenic and ideal for families.
- The Ellerburn Green Trail at Dalby, an easy forest spin beside Dalby Beck.
- Gentle sections of the wider network make relaxed, safe days out with children, and on the quieter routes, the dog can come too if you are visiting the moors with dogs.
The Moor to Sea Cycle Network
For longer adventures, the Moor to Sea Cycle Network strings together around 150 miles of off-road loops linking Scarborough, Whitby, Dalby Forest, Pickering and Great Ayton, moorland, forest and coast, ridden as a day-loop or over five or six days.
Bike shops, hire and repairs
Beyond the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, two independent bike shops serve this side of the moors from the market towns on the A170. Neither is in Dalby Forest itself:
- Big Bear Bikes, Pickering. An independent bike shop at The Co-Op Building, 2 Southgate, on the main A170 through Pickering, which describes itself as being on Dalby Forest's doorstep. It carries over 150 bikes in stock and hires mountain and road bikes, with a large free car park at the rear used for test rides. The workshop is staffed by Cytech-qualified mechanics and can often offer same-day service, and the shop also offers guided rides, bike fitting and suspension servicing. It is listed by both the North York Moors National Park Authority and Visit North Yorkshire. Check opening times and hire rates directly with the shop.
- Northern Ride, Malton. A cycle shop in Malton that positions itself as a bike shop for cycling in the North York Moors and near Dalby Forest. It has a servicing and repairs department and is an authorised Fox suspension service centre. Check the address and opening times directly with the shop.
For the village end of a Dalby ride, including the cycling businesses in Thornton-le-Dale itself, see thorntonledale.org, our sister guide to the village.
Practical
Hire bikes and e-bikes at the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub; refuel at forest and village cafés and pubs; pack for changeable moor weather; and base yourself centrally, see where to stay.
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I mountain bike in the North York Moors?
- Dalby Forest is the main trail centre, with graded green-to-black trails, a bike park and a cycle hub with hire and e-bikes; Guisborough Forest and Sutton Bank are the other main off-road centres.
- Is the Cinder Track suitable for families?
- Yes, the Cinder Track follows the old Scarborough-to-Whitby railway, so it is largely traffic-free and gently graded, making it one of the best family cycling routes in the area.
- What are the best road-cycling climbs in the North York Moors?
- Rosedale Chimney Bank, at around 1-in-3, is the most famous and one of England's steepest, with Sutton Bank, Carlton Bank and White Horse Bank close behind.
- Can I hire bikes in the North York Moors?
- Yes, the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub hires mountain bikes and e-bikes, and is the natural base for exploring the forest's trails.