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Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Scarborough

Danby

Esk Valley East and Egton Bridge — North York Moors National Park

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Scarborough

Danby

Esk Valley East and Egton Bridge — North York Moors National Park

Moderate

5.0

(1)

riders

Esk Valley East and Egton Bridge — North York Moors National Park

01:57

34.5km

540m

Road cycling

For a taste of the best and most varied scenery in the Esk Valley, head out by bike on the eastern road circuit from Danby Lodge National Park Centre.

The villages on the first half of the route, in particular – Lealholm (this one is just south of your actual route, though), Egton and Egton Bridge – are some of the most charming in the whole valley, with stepping stones, sleepy greens and traditional pubs. Give yourself time to appreciate this most cherished area of the North York Moors, where people have shaped the landscape for thousands of years, whether clearing the scrub for riverside pastures, managing the woodlands or building ancient packhorse bridges and stone trods.

The second half of the route returns over high moorland, climbing away from the gentler reaches of the valley, before sweeping back along the river flats towards Danby. In particular, Egton High Moor is what you could call "quintessential North York Moors experience" with sweeping far-reaching view over the heather-clad countryside. It is also worth stopping at Glaisdale Rigg and admire the fascinating Glaisdale Moor to the east, Egton High Moor to the south and Eskdale to the north. An unforgettable aesthetic experience!

by North York Moors National Park

Last updated: June 12, 2024

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

152 m

Danby Lodge National Park Centre

Highlight • Parking

Danby Lodge was previously known as the Moors National Park Centre. There is plenty of parking here if you want to use it as a base for a ride, plus the Park Life Café, open daily from 10-5pm.

For further details, have a look at their website northyorkmoors.org.uk/visiting/see-and-do/danby-lodge-national-park-centre

Tip by

12.6 km

Egton Village Green and John Foster Monument

Highlight • Settlement

This is one lovely village to make a stop at. The views from the High Street (particularly towards the south) are fantastic. There is a wonderful green, with a few seats and an interesting monument in memory of John Foster (although at first sight it looks like a war monument). There are pubs and inns, too, to have some food if you'd like.

The village is quieter than Egton Bridge (not that the Bridge one is Oxford Street precisely!) and makes a perfect place to stop for a bit and re-energise.

Tip by

14.0 km

Egton Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The pretty village of Egton Bridge in the North York Moors National Park is characterised by its charming river crossings. The bridge after which the village is named was washed away by floodwaters in the 1930s and was sensitively rebuilt in 1992. There is also an ancient stepping stone crossing to the west of the village.

There are a number of good accommodation options, including its two pubs, the Postgate Inn and the Horseshoe Hotel. Egton is a stop on the Esk Valley Line between Middlesbrough and Whitby.

Tip by

16.7 km

Egton High Moor Lone Tree

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

Egton High Moor is famous for the lone tree, which is often photographed in a sea of purple heather.

The climb from the north-east out of Egton Bridge is long at 6.7km and very steep at first (think 33%!), but turns much more shallow once you pass through Delves. It's a beautiful climb, starting in the valley and emerging into high moorland, so is worth the initial grind.

Tip by

28.7 km

Glaisdale Rigg Trig Point

Highlight • Natural Monument

Amazing moorland views from here: Great Fryup Dale to the west, Glaisdale Moor to the east, Egton High Moor to the south, Eskdale to the north, and heathery paradise wherever you look, basically. If you find yourself here in the spring and summer, the purple colours of the moors will amaze you.

Tip by

34.5 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

34.4 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

17.7 km

16.7 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (360 m)

Lowest point (50 m)

Weather

Monday 13 July

18°C

12°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

December 30, 2023

For a taste of the best and most varied scenery in the Esk Valley, head out by bike on the eastern road circuit from Danby Lodge National Park Centre.
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The villages on the first half of the route, in particular – Lealholm (this one is just south of your actual route, though), Egton and Egton Bridge – are