Description
Mountain biking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an enormous area of sweeping limestone hills, moorland singletrack, historic green lanes and stone-track bridleways. The terrain is predominantly natural, with over 900km of bridleways, byways and green lanes criss-crossing the national park — more than three times the entire 7 Stanes network in a single area. Trails range from relatively accessible loops to long, committing days out, with most routes built on a mix of Roman roads, drovers' tracks and old mining ways. Expect long climbs, fast descents and outstanding scenery. Come prepared with navigation skills and the right bike.
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The nearest trail centre is Gisburn Forest Bike Trails, just over the border in Lancashire.
The Yorkshire Dales Trails
- The terrain covers multiple distinct dales including Swaledale, Wensleydale, Wharfedale, Ribblesdale and Dentdale, each with its own character and network of bridleways.
- Riding is predominantly on stone tracks, grassy moorland trails and green lanes. It is less technical than areas like the Lake District but no less challenging, with serious climbing on most routes.
- The limestone bedrock keeps many tracks fast-draining and rideable year-round in fair conditions.
- The Pennine Bridleway passes through the national park, offering waymarked long-distance off-road riding.
- The Three Peaks area around Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough offers some of the most iconic and demanding routes in the Dales.
Recommended Trail Resources
Yorkshire Dales National Park — Mountain Biking
- The official resource from the national park authority. Covers what to expect from the terrain, access advice, biosecurity guidance (Check Clean Dry) and downloadable routes across all the major dales. A good starting point for any visit.
Cycle the Dales — MTB Routes
- Run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, this site has a dedicated MTB section with a range of graded circular routes. Each route includes a description, map and GPX download. Covers classic loops such as the Pen-y-Ghent tour, Wether Fell, Malham Moor and Mastiles Lane.
Dales Bike Centre
- Based at Fremington near Reeth in Swaledale, Dales Bike Centre offers a bike shop, cafe, bike hire, guided rides and accommodation. Their MTB page has four downloadable GPX routes ranging from 30km to 41km covering classic Swaledale loops including Pinseat and Apedale, School Master and The Edge, and the Edge, Hurst, Gill and Swale Trail. Open seven days a week.
Pedal North
- A well-maintained resource with around 40 routes graded Easy, Moderate or Hard, presented in a clear format with descriptions, turn-by-turn instructions, maps and GPX downloads. Covers the full extent of the Dales as well as the Lakes, North Yorkshire Moors, Lancashire and Northumberland.
MTBDales
- A route guide site focused on the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria and Lancashire with a good selection of routes covering Wharfedale, Ribblesdale, the southern Dales and beyond. Includes routes around the Three Peaks, Kettlewell, Mastiles Lane, Nidderdale and Grassington.
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