skip to main content

Enquire now:
Cycling the North Yorkshire Moors and Coast

Enquire now »

Cycling the North Yorkshire Moors and Coast

Single / Double

£2290/ £1275

Tour Period

April - November

Tour Nights

7

Show prices in
other currency

Tour description

A six centre self-guided cycle tour of the Yorkshire Moors and Coast in North East England. Includes 7 nights bed and breakfast in ensuite accommodation, 6 days cycling, luggage transfers, emergency back-up and route navigation. Also includes hire of a 21 speed all-terrain cycle. 

This tour starts in the mediaeval walled city of York, famous for its splendid Minster and ancient narrow streets. Pedalling out of the city provides you with a great sense of freedom, and you are able to savour this area of outstanding natural beauty, centred on the North York Moors National Park. Best enjoyed on a bike, the slower pace allows you more time to discover the hidden corners and beautiful landscapes of heather-clad moors, lush dales and a cliff-edged coastline. You will also experience many appealing markets and seaside towns, stone-built villages and historic abbeys and houses. The tour includes an extra night in Whitby to enjoy a day off the bikes to explore this beautiful part of England including a possible excursion on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway that runs steam trains through this stunning area. After Whitbey the route heads inland towards Darlington along the W2W. Please note: this tour can be further extended 2 additional nights, first to the Durham area and then to Newcastle, the starting point of the Coast and Castles routes further north.

 
 

Sample schedule

 

6 nights Biking Englands Cathedrals York to Durham
York Minster 6 nights Biking Englands Cathedrals York to Durham Inside York Minster

 

ARRIVAL DAY: York. Your 1st night's accommodation is in the mediaeval city of York, home to England’s largest gothic cathedral and old narrow streets that have hardly changed in centuries. There are many tourist attractions to see here including museums and a wall that can be walked around providing fantastic views of the city and the Minster. Overnight: York, England. It is also possible (and recommended) that you consider adding an optional extra night in York to allow a full day to explore the city.

DAY ONE: York to Driffield distance approx. 40 miles (64 km). After breakfast your bikes will arrive and you will begin the ride through York on a traffic-free cycleway allowing you time to take in the sights as you become familiar with your bicycle. You’ll ride along quiet country roads lined by dry stone walls through lush green farmland interspersed with market towns such as Dunnington and Pocklington where you will find opportunities for refreshments or lunch. There will be some hills on the second half of today’s ride as you cycle on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Moors. Overnight: Driffield, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY TWO: Driffield to Hunmanby distance approx. 40 miles (64 km).  Leaving Driffield, minor country roads lead to the North Sea and the popular seaside town of Bridlington, with many tourist attractions. Your navigation will also include a worthwhile optional add-on to take you to Flamborough lighthouse where you can do a short walk to see the "drinking dinosaur" rock formation The remainder of the cycle to Hunmanby follows mostly quiet country roads. Overnight: Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY THREE: Hunmanby to Whitby distance approx. 32 miles (51 km).  You'll depart Hunmanby heading north on country roads and then out to the coast to the popular seaside town of Scarborough. A favourite holiday destination for the Victorians, it is still a tourist haven today with an impressive seafront. You’ll head out of Scarborough on a disused railway line known as the Cinder Track.  This traffic-free section is one of the many highlights of the tour, with a beautiful coastline on one side and the North York Moors on the other. The route passes pretty villages like Cloughton, Ravenscar and Robin Hood’s Bay, all offering refreshments. Robin Hood’s Bay is a real gem, set in a cove with cliffs on either side where a walk down to the waterfront is worth the effort. In the 18th century Robin Hood's Bay was reported to be the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coast. Continuing along the old coastal rail line you will see the Abbey at Whitby made famous by Bram Stoker's book Dracula.  This busy tourist seaside town provides your next accommodation. It is also the terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors steam train, and a two night stay in this delightful fishing village is highly recommended. Overnight: Whitby, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY FOUR: Day off in Whitby. There are many options for your day off in Whitby. You may want to plan an excursion on the North Yorkshire Moors steam railway, take a walk along the world famous Cleveland Way coastal walk, or ride your bike a short distance up the coast to Sandsend and explore another section of the coastal walk. Or you could simply enjoy a quiet relaxing day exploring the shops and attractions of this quaint seaside town. You also have the option to reduce the tour length by one night by excluding this day off in Whitby.

DAY FIVE: Whitby to Great Ayton distance approx 30 miles (48 km). The route now takes you inland along the river Esk valley on minor country roads through an area of outstanding natural beauty on the northern edge of the North York Moors National Park. There will be some good climbs as you cycle past many quaint Yorkshire towns where the popular television series Heartbeat was filmed including Sleights, Danby, Castleton and Commondale. There are opportunities for extra excursions to towns like Grosmont, Glaisdale and Lealholm dotted along the Eskdale Valley Railway line should you have bounds of energy today. For those less interested in a lot of cycle climbs you'll have the option to spend some extra time in Whitby, taking the very scenic afternoon train through the North York Moors to Great Ayton train station where you will be met with your bicycles and you'll cycle the short distance to your overnight accommodation. Great Ayton is a busy market town with a plenty of cafes, tea shops, traditional pubs and restaurants. Overnight: Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY SIX: Great Ayton to Darlington distance approx 26 miles (42 km). Today is an easier cycling day leaving the hills of yesterday behind and following mainly quiet countryside roads west through the River Tees valley. You’ll follow cycle route 165 also known as the W2W. One village will follow another often on paved single track roads with plenty of opportunities to stop for a break at a village pub or green. You will stay overnight in the city of Darlington where your bikes will be picked up on your arrival. Overnight: Darlington, County Durham, England.

DEPARTURE DAY: Your tour with us will end after breakfast. There are good connections by rail from Darlington for your onward travels.

 

The type of Hybrid Bike hired for this tour: Giant Cypress LX (mans frame, ladies available also).

7 nights Cycling in North Yorkshire England. This is the type of bike we rent on this tour.

 

Travel Description

ARRIVING and DEPARTING by EUROLINES or NATIONAL EXPRESS COACH: This is by far the cheapest option for long-distance travel in England, Scotland, and Wales. There are very convenient buses from each major airport. National Express carries over 16 million passengers to 1000 different places in the UK every year, and thousands more from destinations across Europe and Ireland. You can purchase an e-Ticket where you print your travel ticket online in a matter of minutes OR you can obtain an m-Ticket and have your travel ticket sent to your mobile phone - no paper ticket required. You then present this to the driver on arrival.

ARRIVING BY CAR: Please ask for details.

Tour Start Location

Interested?

If you want to book this cycling tour, or chat about an altered schedule, please get in touch.

Enquire now »

Why book with us?

  • We've got 10+ years of cycling tour experience
  • Only the very best handpicked tours at competitive prices
  • We work with you to create the perfect holiday. Just ask!

Useful Links

If you can't see exactly what you want and we are unable to adjust our tour shown here - Google may be able to help !

Custom Search

 

 

Tours to suit

If you want to book this cycling tour, or chat about an altered schedule, please use the 'Enquire Now' tab above or contact us on richard@xplorebritain.com

Related Categories
Tour Code:

EW07

Options

Discount rail tickets to and from York

Grade

C

Grade Description

GRADE C: Between 9 - 12 miles (14 - 19 kms) a day. Strong waterproof walking boots are desirable. You will start walking about 9:30am and finish at approx. 5pm. These grades are for guidance only. For any grade, depending on weather conditions, it may at times be damp underfoot, so waterproof boots are preferable.

[open quote]

Richard - our trip is completed, and the "after-action" report is a big TEN!  You did an excellent job of selecting places to stay and just everything.  I could tell the people at the inns like you too, because they don't always let people stay for just one night.  We had good weather - cool, but great for riding, and no rain - everything went as planned.  We were always able to find our inns with a bus or public transportation , or walk, so we did fine on that.  We'll probably plan something else in another yr or so - so keep us posted of anything fun and interesting that you have that is new.  And the plus was when we got to Fort William they were having the World Championship Mt Bike event and we got to see the course and watch some of the teams practicing....I'm sure you planned that into the trip.  ???  ha
Take care and we'll keep in touch.  Jamie and Randall, Stanwood, WA, USA.

 

[close quote]
Jamie & Randall
Great Glen tour