Pickering Moor Ridge and Valley Loop

A loop of contrasts in the North York Moors. A quick main road gives way to a string of lanes climbing through stone villages onto a high, open ridge with heather and sky on both sides, then dropping into a wooded river valley and its small, steep villages.

It feels like three rides: quick main road, slow lanes, quick main road. The valley section is narrow, with several cattle grids and one short single-track stretch, so passing oncoming traffic needs patience, and the ridge is exposed in wind and cloud. The final moor road is fast and open. Fuel is limited once you leave town. Best in late summer, when the heather is out.