Hawes Moor Pass and Dales Loop

A Dales loop with one proper climb and a lot of easy riding after it. The opening miles leave town for a narrow, unfenced moor road over a high pass, then drop into a deep dale of stone barns, hay meadows and small villages, each a mile or two from the last.

The pass is the hardest stretch: a few cattle grids, open ground and sheep on the tarmac, so ride it at a measured pace. After that the valley road is wide, flowing and forgiving, with a short crossing of a busy market town before a fast, open run home along the next dale. Fuel is a long way from the start, so fill up first. It suits a clear morning from late spring to early autumn.