Helmsley Escarpment and Farmland Loop

A short loop with a dramatic opening: a fast run over open moor to the edge of an escarpment, then a steep, hairpinned descent to the flat farmland of the vale below. After that the ride settles into tidy stone villages, hedged lanes and low wooded hills on the way home.

The descent is the point of the ride and deserves respect, with a very steep gradient, tight bends and caravans banned. Beyond it, most of the riding is quiet village lanes with frequent junctions and a few short main-road links, so the pace is moderate. Fuel is only at one town about two-thirds of the way round. Best on a dry day from spring to autumn.