A challenging 100-mile ride with over 6,000ft of climbing this route is aimed at the more experienced keen cyclist & is not for the faint hearted! Our routes take you through some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful country side, stunning scenery, iconic landmarks and charming market towns. Leaving Carlton Lodge our riders head off west along the same lovely quite lanes as the medium route, the terrain is fast & flat through Snape to the feed station at Thornton Watlass. From here the route gets a little more undulating as you head towards the pretty market town of Leyburn & passing through Castle Bolton where you might see race horses heading off to the gallops. More undulations follow as you loop back towards Thornton Watlass –you know all roads lead to Thornton Watlass, right?
Our new route for 2022 takes us to the lovely market town of Masham, famous for the Black Sheep Brewery but sorry you won’t have time for a pint – maybe on the return though! It gets a bit lumpy if not gruelling on the road to Grewelthorp, Kirby Malzard and Ripslith…phew! Where you might pop into G&Ts, but only for an ice cream. We turn right here, up a nice little incline and left past the amazing Brimham Rocks formations; enjoy the down as the road will soon kick up again! Next stop Pateley Bridge where you will need take on some fuel. The road along the reservoir to Lofthouse provides a welcome rest bite and lovely scenery. Heading out of Lofthouse you know you’re in Nidderdale as you take on the iconic Trapping Hill climb – it’s a toughy, rated 7/10 in the Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire so get in the granny gear and remember – its Nobbut a chuffing hill, get thi’sen up it Lass! The views are wonderful, and the descent even more so. Trapping hill dispensed with & the climbing done, well most of it, you head back to Masham & return to Thorton Watlass for a final feed stop before rejoining the short & medium routes. The usual warm welcome awaits you at the finish where you’ll be presented with your finishers medal, cup of Yorkshire tea and a piece of cake and a massive cheer!