Coming up on Thursday night for the Ard Rock and looking to do xc riding on Friday and Saturday – any suggestions for great all day loops pref with a cafe in the middle

Pop into the Dales Mountain Bike Centre at Reeth and ask, they have various maps that cover both sides of the dale plus the benefit of local knowledge, they will tailor recommendations to your requirements

Plus they’ll know where the stages for the weekend are so you can ride a different patch on the Friday.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/any-swaledale-locals-able-to-offer-some-good-mtb-routes-1

On the thread linked to by @yorkshire89 there’s some maps. On the second of those instead of heading up Fremington Edge (that area is likely to be part of the event) go up the road towards Langthwaite then pick up the route from there. Generally steady riding except for the descent in to Gunnerside Gill (but that can be avoided by taking the <ahem>footpath</ahem> leading leftwards from the top of the hushes)