Kirkby Stephen Three Valleys Loop

A compact loop of three valleys on the edge of the northern Dales, with high fells close on one side or the other for most of the way. The roads are open and sweeping, running beneath bare green hillsides with stone walls, scattered farms and the occasional pub or tearoom.

It is almost entirely A and B roads, so the riding is relaxed and the views do the work. The main thing to watch is a handful of cattle grids and sheep on the open stretches, especially in the first half. At around 35 miles it suits an evening or a short morning, and it combines well with a walk or a long lunch. Settled weather in summer shows it at its best.