faqs

What is the technical level of the riding?
There is tremendous variety in the technical level of the trails from easy routes on hard stone tracks, through to gnarly single track descents.  So you know what to expect we have worked with Harveys Maps to grade the trails in the Dales for difficulty.

What are the trails like?
The trails open to mountain bikers have developed over centuries and include old packhorse routes, drovers roads, monastic ways and Roman roads.  There is everything from walled lanes with firm stone surfaces to grassy singletrack.  You can take on rocky descents and climb high over the moors. Most of the area is on limestone which drains well, but after heavy rain there are areas of peat bog high on the moors which are best avoided.

What should I ride and what should I wear?
Don't worry about your bike, as you'll enjoy riding any regular mountain bike. A suspension bike might make you faster down some bits and a hardtail might make you faster up others, but as usual it's more a question of skill and fitness. The same applies to tyre sizing or any favourite tread patterns you may have. Just make sure the gears are working and there's plenty of life left in your brake blocks.

What is the weather like?
The Yorkshire Dales forms part of the Pennine chain up the spine of England, and the weather is part of its wildness.  You can find yourself riding in glorious sunshine and worrying about slapping on the suncream, or putting on those layers to keep hypothermia at bay.  Come prepared.  Because loads of the trails drain well you can enjoy biking here year round.  A cold winter’s day with the tops covered in snow can give an unforgettable experience.

Do I need to be able to map read?
The Dales is not like a forest centre – working out the routes is part of the experience.  To make life easier use the selection of routes on this site with their descriptions, but if you are going up high you should still know one end of a map from the other and be able to take a bearing if the cloud comes down.

Are the routes ever closed?
The only time routes get closed is for major essential maintenance work.  This is happening in some places as work on the Pennine Bridleway continues.  See the news section to see if anything is happening at the moment.