Along time ago, pretty much another life now, I live near York and kept my horse in the Howardian Hills, I really loved it round there, but didn’t think much about it after I left. But last year, my husband and I went back for a weekend camping and a spot of food at the excellent Black Swan at Oldsted.
It was so good, we went back again this year, and it’s really cemented its place in my heart. The roads are so quite, the people are lovely, the cycling is tough but beautiful, what’s not to love!
I have to say, I wasn’t in the best shape for cycling the weekend we were up there, but still managed to tuck some miles and climbing away. We stayed at the lovely campsite in Husthwaite, which has lovely loos (very important when camping) and allows fires (also very important when camping!). The weather was AMAZING! sunshine all weekend long – so lucky.
One place that is definitely worth the cycle to is Byland Abbey, you can get really close to the ruins. And the ruins are enormous it makes you think just how big they would have been before they were destroyed. History really is all around you in Yorkshire, it’s so evocative. Then it was onwards and upwards to White Horse Bank (a top 100 climb), last year I managed to navigate the off road path up here (by accident), so the 25% on tarmac was easy (ha!) and the view at the top was stunning.
From here in, the route headed to the moors, and the scenery changed dramatically, becoming the epitome of bleak moorland, that made you think so much of Jane Austin novels. Last year we turned for Rievaulx Abbey, and then Castle Howard – an excellent route which can be found here. The road to Castle Howard is a must, it goes on and on and adds new meaning to the word undulating, with rolling crests each gaining more elevation.
The Yorkshire Moors are an amazing place to cycle, and one I would whole heartedly recommend #loveyorkshire
