MTB Rosedale_Ramble

About trip

Character: A superb introduction to Rosedale's famous singletrack. I saw this route on the Muddy Bums website and had to ride it, so thanks guys. I've altered it only slightly, to bring in some more technical singletrack. It starts with a tarmac climb, before a gentle ride along the ironstone railway, that soon turns into a technical singletrack, with rock gardens, twists and drops. Crossing the moor again, the technical nature continues, requiring skill in balance, line and pedal power. A fast, swooping ride across Danby Moor Estate leads to more tarmac, before a final singletrack descent back to Rosedale. 

The technical nature of parts of this route make it a hard ride, so don't underestimate it. 

Route Description

1. From the car park in Rosedale Abbey village, turn right and right again at the next junction, signed 'Castleton'.  This road turns to the right on leaving the village, and climbs steadily, passing 'Bell End' - yes, I did say that - before taking the road to the left (signed as a Cul-de-Sac) at Low Bell End. Now there's a medical condition if ever I heard one! The road now descends to Hill Cottages, before climbing again. 

2. Passing the lines of terraced cottages, and immediately after the red telephone box to your right, take the bridleway to the right, which climbs to a series of farm buildings. Now go around the rear of the buildings and leave the bridleway, instead taking the Ironstone Railway. This smooth grassy track passes underneath historic mine workings before the smooth doubletrack gives way to twisting and rocky singletrack, that will test your handling skills. 

3. As the railway meets a BW crossing it, stay on the railway, avoiding these BWs, twisting around the scar on superb singletrack all the way to the Lion Inn at Blakey. Take a break here if you like. When I rode this route, a Search & Rescue helicopter had popped in for lunch! At the road, turn right and head along for a quarter of a mile before joining the singletrack bridleway to the right cutting across the moor at Rosedale Head. 

4. At the next road turn right and head along to the road junction signed 'Fryup', taking this narrow road to the left for a short distance, before a bridleway to the right at Trough House (Cut Road) speeds you down and across Glaisdale Moor.

5. As the path meets the road, turn right and cycle along, passing a minor road to your left and turning right at the next junction signed 'Rosedale 3m'. Take the next bridleway to the right (by a green metal gate), crossing the moor  and rolling down, before joining a shooting track which speeds you down to the road at Heygate Bank. 

6. At the road, go straight across onto a short single track leading to Hancow Road. Turn right on the road for 700mts to corner of forest. Turn left here at gate sign posted bridleway. The double track  gradually becomes a fast single tack to the gate at the bottom of Hartoft Rigg. Turn right on the lane for 800mts to Rock House. Turn right just before the building onto track into woods. A tough climb of 60 metres leads back up to the Hancow Road.

7. Cross the road diagonally to the right picking up a track leading into the woods marked with a black arrow. After 600 metres the track comes out into the open. Turn left after 70mts on marked bridleway down field and then right at the fence. Follow this to the top of Gates Plantation for a fast descent through the woods to gate at bottom. Go straight ahead at gate across field to road. Turn right on road to Rosedale Abbey.