Two Wheels, One of England's Greatest Cycling Counties
Hutton Mount Retreats is perfectly placed for cyclists of every level. Ripon city centre is 5 minutes downhill on your bike, and from there quiet country lanes lead west into Nidderdale and the Yorkshire Dales, north towards Masham and Wensleydale, east across the flat Vale of York, and south towards Harrogate and Fountains Abbey. Whether you want a gentle family loop or a serious day on the Dales passes, the riding here is exceptional.
All three properties have secure, covered, lockable cycle storage with external water and hosepipes for washing down bikes after a ride.
FAMILY AND EASY RIDES — UNDER 15 MILES
1. Littlethorpe Short Circuit A short, easy loop on quiet roads just south of Ripon. A good first ride for families or those new to the area.
Download route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1389992
2. St Wilfrid's Procession Route A gentle circuit following the historic route of Ripon's St Wilfrid's Procession through the city and surrounding lanes. Flat and easy, suitable for all ages.
Download route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1318216
3. Ripon, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Loop 16 miles | Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes | Quiet country roads | Easy
A circular ride from Ripon passing through Studley Royal deer park and close to Fountains Abbey — one of England's great UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gentle climbing on quiet back roads. Suitable for any reasonably fit rider and a genuine highlight of cycling in this area.
View on Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/e916620384/fountains-abbey-studley-park-loop-from-ripon-nidderdale-aonb
ON-ROAD RIDES — 15 TO 50 MILES
4. Skelton-on-Ure Circuit A pleasant loop north of Ripon through the village of Skelton-on-Ure. Quiet country roads with gentle rolling terrain. A good half-morning ride.
Download route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1271090
5. Boroughbridge Circuit Flat and fast. A loop heading east from Ripon to Boroughbridge along quiet roads through Bishop Monkton and the Vale of York. Good for those wanting to ride at pace on easy terrain with minimal climbing.
Download route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2107508
6. Masham Circuit A ride north-west from Ripon to the market town of Masham, known for its breweries, sheep fair and strong cycling culture. Rolling country lanes with good views across Wensleydale on the approach into town.
Download route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1271530
7. Kirkby Malzeard Circuit 16 miles | Moderate
A ride west from Ripon through villages on the edge of the Dales. Quiet lanes with some climbing as the route approaches the Dales foothills.
RideWithGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53879447
8. Laverton Circuit A longer loop heading west from Ripon into the Dales foothills, passing through Laverton and Grewelthorpe. More climbing than the Vale of York routes, with open moorland views as reward.
Download route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1298630
9. Leyburn via Hutton Bank and Masham 47 miles | Hilly | Challenging
Out from Ripon via Hutton Bank, Wath, Thirn and Thornton Watlass, returning via the ridge road and Masham. Superb views up Wensleydale and across to Middleham Castle. Cafe stops available in Leyburn. A classic North Yorkshire road ride.
RideWithGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55188748
10. Richmond via the Dales 58 miles | Challenging
A long day ride heading north from Ripon through the Dales to the historic market town of Richmond on the edge of Swaledale. Organised regularly by Ripon Cycling Club, this is a serious ride with significant climbing but outstanding scenery throughout.
RideWithGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42744974
EPIC AND LONG-DISTANCE RIDES
11. Way of the Roses — National Cycle Route 688 170 miles coast to coast | Ripon is the mid-point | Quiet country lanes and cycle paths
The Way of the Roses runs from Morecambe to Bridlington and passes directly through Ripon, making the retreat an ideal base for tackling a day's stage in either direction. West to Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale offers more climbing and spectacular scenery with Fountains Abbey en route. East to Boroughbridge and York is almost entirely flat on quiet rural lanes. One of the most celebrated cycling routes in northern England.
Official website: http://wayoftheroses.info
12. Buttertubs Pass — Wensleydale to Swaledale 7 miles Hawes to Muker | Mountain road | Challenging Drive to Hawes — approximately 45 minutes from Hutton Mount
One of the most famous road cycling climbs in England. Buttertubs Pass crosses the high moorland between Wensleydale and Swaledale, reaching over 1,700 feet at its summit. It featured as a categorised climb in Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire. Named after the 20-metre-deep limestone potholes near the top, where farmers once lowered their butter to keep it cool on the way to market. Average gradient 6% with steeper sections near the summit. Spectacular in both directions. Best ridden spring to autumn — the road can be icy in winter.
Yorkshire Dales National Park: https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/buttertubs_pass/
OFF-ROAD AND MIXED TERRAIN ROUTES
13. Brimham Loop An off-road and mixed terrain route in Nidderdale, taking in the extraordinary rock formations at Brimham Rocks — a National Trust site well worth a stop. Suitable for gravel bikes and mountain bikes.
Download route: https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Brimham-Loop_web.pdf
14. Nidderdale Loop A mixed terrain circuit through Nidderdale AONB, one of the most scenic cycling landscapes in the north of England. Gravel bike or mountain bike recommended.
Download route: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks/trails/nidderdale-cycling-loop-
15. Tour of Nidderdale A longer off-road circuit taking in the full sweep of Nidderdale, from the valley floor to moorland tracks above the reservoirs. A serious route for experienced off-road cyclists.
Download route: https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tour-of-Nidderdale_web.pdf
MORE ROUTES
Ripon Together has compiled a comprehensive directory of cycling routes across the Ripon area for all abilities, including further off-road and mixed terrain options.
Full directory: https://www.ripontogether.com/useful-cycling-routes/
For GPS navigation and route planning, Komoot has mapped the top rides around Ripon with elevation profiles and difficulty ratings.
Browse all routes: https://www.komoot.com/guide/2778352/cycling-around-ripon
CYCLING CLUBS
Ripon has an active cycling community with clubs to suit every level. If you would like to join a club ride during your stay, all three clubs below welcome visitors and short-term participants — contact them directly to find out what is scheduled during your visit.
Ripon Cycling Club Founded in 2000 and affiliated to British Cycling and Cycling UK. Runs three grades of ride — leisure, intermediate and challenging — with a full calendar of local and longer routes. Rides typically meet at Ripon Leisure Centre car park at 9.30am. The ride calendar and contact details are on the website.
Website: https://riponcyclingclub.co.uk Ride calendar: https://riponcyclingclub.co.uk/ride-calendar.php
Moonglu CC A Ripon-based club covering road cycling, mountain biking and cyclocross, founded by the owner of Moonglu Independent Bike Shop. Welcomes visitors with up to three free rides before any membership commitment. Strong social ethos with regular cafe stops.
Website: https://www.moonglucc.club/
Ripon City Cycling Club Affiliated to British Cycling. A friendly and casual club for all abilities, running sportives, charity rides and mountain bike days. Contact via Facebook to find out what is on during your stay.
BIKE SHOP AND REPAIRS
Moonglu Independent Bike Shop, Ripon — the local independent bike shop in the city centre. Sales, servicing and repairs.
Website: https://www.moonglucc.club/
