Cycling the North York Moors

Every route we have written up

Type of riding, grade, distance and whether it is traffic-free, shown up front. Use the filters to narrow the list. Every route is written from what is already published here and none of them has been ridden by me yet, which the tiles say plainly.

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. The green and Ellerburn family routes are the gentle end, the Jubilee Blue is the step up, the Red is the longest red trail in the UK, and the World Cup trail carries Dalby's UCI cross-country heritage. Dixon's Hollow Bike Park and its skills area sit at the far end of the forest. 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 is the bucket-list one, around 1-in-3 at its worst and one of England's steepest roads. Sutton Bank is a relentless 1-in-4 escarpment topped by the “finest view in England”, and Carlton Bank and White Horse Bank are the other 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, is 21 traffic-free miles along the coast: gentle, scenic and ideal for families. The Ellerburn Green Trail at Dalby is an easy forest spin beside Dalby Beck, and gentle sections of the wider network make relaxed, safe days out with children. Horses share the Cinder Track and the bridleway network; our horse riding guide covers where riders can go across the park. 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. The Cycle Hub also keeps adapted cycles for a range of abilities, which our guide to accessible days out covers alongside the rest of the park:

• 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.