Good length route, starting in Skipton, "The Gateway to The Dales". Was the major part of an mbr killer loop, which says something about its quality. It unfortunately gets very wet in places in the winter.

There're quite a few car parks in Skipton, best placed is the one off Coach Street, near the canal (SD987517) - access this by entering Skipton from the west at the roundabout with the Little Chef then turning right at the 2nd mini roundabout.

1. Head up to the mini roundabout and turn right, then turn left at a T-junction. Head up hill then take a left fork and follow this road to Stirton (SD971528). Turn right at a cross roads and climb until the road zigzags. Take the bridleway track on the left at the 2nd bend to the right (SD975539). This bridleway takes you up over Sharphaw, you need to branch right off the track when signed.


2. I love the Sharphaw downhill (and have a little route especially for it), you can head right to the top by following the obvious path left to maximise this, or just continue on the bridleway. Great single track and some farm track drops you to Flasby (SD946566) where you need to take the left road out (one way system!) then turn right onto the road to Hetton. Here, turn right after roads join from the left (SD961587) onto a signed single track bridleway, which crosses a fun little bridge on the way to Rhylstone.
   
3. Turn right onto the road under the railway then right again onto the main road towards Skipton. Look out for the bridleway to the left off the road (SD971582) and follow this, then take the second bridleway left along here. Hard climb coming up! It's on a mostly reasonable surfaced track, but it can get a bit loose and rough in places. Good views up to Rylstone Cross. Reaching the top, you're rewarded with some fast flowing, surfaced single track over the moor. This becomes rough and rocky after a while, and then joins some double track (SD996571).


4. There's a little gentle climbing to reach the high point, from where you can take in the view down to the Barden Reservoirs. The descent on double track is very fast and fun, but be careful as there are some rough patches and it can get quite popular with walkers up here. The bridleway actually leaves the track to the right as you approach the road (SE033555), but I nearly always miss is! However you join the road you need to turn left, cross the cattle grid, then turn right onto the bridleway to Bolton Abbey (SE038555).


5. Follow this grassy track up then down across fields towards Westy Bank Wood (SE067549), where there's a nice section of wooded single track (look out of walkers). Drop down into Bolton Abbey, stop for refreshments at the tea rooms if you fancy, then follow the road to the Devonshire Arms pub where you need to follow the old road through a gate on the right (SE070531) (they've just reclassified the old bridleway here, so we have to take a slightly longer route). Follow this for a while before turning left, crossing the main road and heading towards an old aqueduct and railway. Along the edge of the railway for a bit then over a bridge and up on grass (SE065530). This is a bit of a slog across fields to Draughton (for which a 1:25k map is very useful) - if you want to avoid this you can follow the road to Addingham (see map).


6. Join a farm track (SE048523) and follow into Draughton, then keep turning left up the hill to the main road. This is very busy and people drive too fast, I suggest walking the short distance left before crossing and following the lane (SE043520) (signed Silsden) up the hill. Towards the top, turn right onto the bridleway to Skipton (SE040510). This starts as a good track, before becoming quite rough, rutted and loose - hard going!


7. Becoming rough single track, the descent to Skipton really begins (SE005510)! It gets very steep, loose, rutted and is covered in tree roots - very difficult, I'd give this section a black (severe) rating. Entering Skipton the track becomes a road, which you need to follow down all the way to the bottom of the high street (go straight over at a mini roundabout). Here, head left at the roundabout then immediately right, then right again to take you back to the car park.

There're plenty of good pubs in Skipton for a post-ride pint. You'll also have cycled past the Bizzie Lizzie's chippie, which won some awards a while back.

Any comments or suggestions about this route? Pop em in the forum where I'm sure others will be interested to read them.