Hi all, newish to the sport so where would be the best place to get a map and all the info on the embsay ride? or other rides around the dales.

cheers

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/outandabout/gettingactive/cycling/mtb/mtb-findaroute

Will get you started.

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/outandabout/gettingactive/cycling/mtb/mtb-findaroute/mtb-route-bardenmoor

Has some of it.

From Embsay, I’d go up Pasture Road to the main B6265, Turn R, up Bog Lane, pick up a BW over to Flasby, road up to Hetton then Rylstone, then pick up the BW over towards Bolton Abbey (as detailed on the route above). You can either drop down to Embsay from where it first meets the road, pick up the back road to Embsay from BA, or head across to Addingham then take the BW direct back W to Skipton.

Bit mucky at the moment, mind.

It’s all pretty obvious on the OS map.

The BW over to Flasby will be very boggy at the moment, it’s bad enough at the best of times. There’s a BW down to Halton East that can be used as well (head S from pt5 on the map from the second of Martin’s links), wasn’t too bad last weekend – is that the one you meant about “drop down to Embsay”? Also from BA, you can head to the station at the end of the heritage railway then pull up and through Draughton before taking the old roman road back to Skipton.

Stuart here

That, or straight down the road if he’s had enough!

You’re right it’s all in a bit of a mess at the moment. Worst time of year.

fair call there, if its a bit of a mess i might look else where for a ride I’m just hanging to take the new bike for a spin.

Are you limited to starting in Embsay?

If not then park up at Linton. Take the BW heading west, cross the B6265 and follow the BW round the back of Swinden Quarry to get to Cracoe. (the last bit of this will be muddy). Road to Hetton then take the track heading NW before a boggy section leads on to Boss Moor. Go N over Boss Moor and continue on a variety of tracks, some rocky, some armoured, some grassy to Height Laithe. Continue to Bordley Lane and turn left (west) then at the end of the tarmac turn right and head to Mastile Gate. Turn right again and go along the lane to a long fast descent to Kilnsey. Take roads to Conistone then the track heading up to Mossdale. From here there’s a high level track to the old lead mines at Yarnbury. Take the track that heads down Hebden Beck to Hebden. Roads back through Grassington to Linton or drop down to the Wharfe and cross it by a footbridge (legal) and pick up the road on the far side of the river and so back to Linton.

Basically all rideable at the moment.

Tunnels and Bridges is reasonable in winter, as in a lot of it is reasonably sheltered, most of it is lower level and most of the surfaces are reasonable. You can start from Austwick.

In addition to Martin’s ^above, there’s also MTBthedales (or might be mtbdales) and pedalnorth websites to look at.

The Scar House loop in Nidderdale, and the ‘Grand Day Out’ ones are also pretty OK all year round if you have a car to get to the start. Settle Loop is OK too.

There’s always Gisburn…