The best cycling routes around Harwood Dale

There are over 140 touring cycling routes in the Harwood Dale area, offering a diverse range of experiences from easy coastal paths to more challenging moorland trails.

Yes, Harwood Dale offers around 30 easy touring cycling routes. A great option for beginners is the Moor to Sea Cycle Network: 2b Ravenscar to Whitby (Cinder Track). This route follows a disused railway line, providing a relatively flat and smooth surface with coastal views.

For longer rides, consider routes that connect towns or explore more of the North York Moors. The Robin Hood's Bay Village – View from Common Cliff loop from Burniston is a challenging 57 km trail that offers extensive coastal and inland views.

Yes, there are several circular routes. A popular choice is the View of Robin Hood's Bay – Robin Hood's Bay Village loop from Ravenscar, which is a moderate 16.4 km ride offering scenic coastal landscapes.

Touring cycling in Harwood Dale provides a mix of landscapes. You'll find open moorland, dramatic coastal views, and sections through wooded areas. Many routes, like those along the Cinder Track, offer expansive vistas of the coastline and the North Sea.

The area is rich in natural beauty and interesting spots. Along your rides, you might encounter highlights such as the Simon Howe Bronze Age Cairn, the tranquil Dalby Forest Crossroads Rest Area, or the stunning View of Scarborough from Oliver's Mount. For a unique natural feature, seek out the Hayburn Wyke Waterfall and Beach.

Yes, the Harwood Dale area is close to some beautiful waterfalls. You can visit Falling Foss, which also has the charming Falling Foss Tea Garden nearby. Another option is the Newton House Plantation Forest Path and Waterfall.

The routes in Harwood Dale are highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 4.4 stars. Reviewers often praise the varied terrain, the stunning coastal views, and the accessibility of former railway lines like the Cinder Track, which provide smooth and enjoyable rides.

Harwood Dale offers a concentrated experience of the North York Moors, with a strong emphasis on coastal paths and former railway lines that provide relatively accessible cycling. While the wider National Park encompasses more extensive and rugged moorland, Harwood Dale serves as an excellent gateway, blending coastal scenery with the park's characteristic rolling hills and wooded sections.

While Harwood Dale itself is a rural area, many routes connect to coastal towns and villages like Whitby and Scarborough, where you'll find numerous cafes, pubs, and other amenities. For example, the Moor to Sea Cycle Network: 1b Ravenscar to Scarborough leads directly into Scarborough, offering plenty of refreshment stops.

The spring and summer months generally offer the most favorable weather for touring cycling in Harwood Dale, with milder temperatures and longer daylight hours. However, the coastal paths can be enjoyed year-round, though some moorland trails might be more exposed to wind and rain during autumn and winter.