Esk Valley 30km Mountain Bike Loop

The route follows the Esk valley railway in the north of the National Park. The route follows the Esk Valley walk in place as well quiet and mostly flat roads. The offroad riding varies between easy gravel tracks, woodland single track and some interesting stone slabs in the woods. The climbs tend to be short and steep, but there are none of the huge climbs you find on the moorland routes. Despite the length, the lack of technical difficulty makes parts of the route suitable for beginners, especially as there are frequent pubs, shops and cafes in the many villages on the route.

Instead of a loop the train is used to return to the start. The train service can be infrequent, especially on winter Sundays, so some planning is required to coordinate with the train timetable. If you are running late, don’t worry too much as you can always board at one of the many intermediate stations. It’s worth printing out the time table and taking it with you so as to be able to judge your progress against train times.

As there are many flat road sections it is easier to ride to the route with the wind at your tail. As Kildale is higher than Sleights, and the prevailing wind is from the south east, the route is described from west to east. If there is a strong easterly wind it is recommended you ride the route in reverse.