Cycling is possibly the best way to explore the beautiful landscapes and villages of our corner of Yorkshire.

And Skipton is the perfect destination for cyclists, with loads of riding options from tough terrain to easy cycle paths, quiet back roads and stunning off-road routes. The countryside surrounding Skipton almost dares you to tackle its steep-valleyed  landscape – but beware, some routes are not for the faint hearted!

In this section we list some of our favourite cycling routes in and around Skipton. Some are short and easy, whilst others are longer and more challenging.

Skipton cements its place as the heart of Yorkshire Dales cycling with the annual Tour de Yorkshire with the town featuring on the race route for the fourth year running, while it also played host to the 2014 Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

Set on the very edge of Yorkshire Dales National Park, there’s easy access to some of the best cycling and mountain biking routes in the county, plus lots of cycling-friendly businesses in the town – from hotels and cafés, to cycling shops and sports therapists.

You can get more information from Skipton Tourist Information Centre. tel: 01756 792809 or check out someof the articles below.

PENNINE CRUISERS

Overnight boats are available for short breaks and longer holidays on board a narrow boat. No previous experience is required as the full boat handling instruction [read more]

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GARGRAVE TO EAST MARTON

An easy going ride, suitable for beginners and families, taking you along quite country lanes, good quality bridleway tracks. Option of also riding along the Leeds [read more]

GRASSINGTON TO KETTLEWELL

This route is based in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, starting in the traditional rural town of Grassington and taking you to the [read more]

Grassington to Burnsall

This spectacular route heads south down the Wharfedale Valley to the beautiful village of Burnsall. It then loops back on the north side of the River [read more]

LONG PRESTON TO WIGGLESWORTHY

This circular route heads out west of Long Preston on quiet country lanes to Wigglesworth and on to Halton West. It returns via the main road [read more]

Long Preston to Tosside

This route takes you across the Ribble Valley and up towards Gisburn Forrest at Tosside. You then loop back to Long Preston on very quiet lanes. [read more]

Long Preston to Settle Loop

This route takes you north out of Long Preston into the Yorkshire Dales National Park before descending steeply into Settle. You return via flat quiet lanes [read more]

   BIKE SHOPS   

  BUY / HIRE / PARTS / HEALTH  

Don’t have a bike? No worries. In Skipton, we’ve got you sorted with a range of different cycles to get you around the Yorkshire Dales at your own speed.

So whether you’re a lycra-clad pro looking for something speedy, a beginner who needs hills assistance with an electric bike, or even a couple after a tandem – Skipton has a hire shop just for you.

Most of those shops also sell gear and nutrition, and the town has specially trained sports therapists, just in case you get injured and need a little TLC.

Chevin Cycles, Skipton

Chevin Cycles is an award-winning small local chain of shops that originated in neighbouring Otley [read more]

JD Tandems

Where’s the largest supplier of tandems in the UK based? Why in Skipton of course [read more]

Dave Ferguson Cycles

Dave Ferguson started his first bike shop in a small lock-up off Gargrave Road back [read more]

ROADSIDE THERAPY

So you’ve arrived in Skipton to take on some cycling in the Yorkshire Dales and [read more]

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