The 21 Dales Day

The below list are The Dales officially recognized by the Dales National Park.
Thats 21 in total. (I know there are others) these are the ones recognized by the National Park.
I have had a look at the map and I found a route that covers all 21 of them. It was cracking ride out showing there is more to the Dales than a blast to Hawes. It is not a route for speed a lot of the roads are single track with passing places. Total mileage for the full route is 220 ish.
The route is almost circular so, when I started from Masham our more Northern members could start into the circle at Leyburn our west coast members could start at Kirby Lonsdale. Or if you are here for a holiday join at the closest point to your digs.
So leave Masham on the A6108 to Leyburn, from Leyburn up to Reeth then Tan Hill, Tan Hill to Thwaite.
Thwaite over the Buttertubs to Hawes and the A684 left onto the A684 then Right up to Burtersett , Countersett and worth a look at Semerwater. From Semerwater back down to Bainbridge on the A684 and right towards Leyburn.
Right on the B6160 towards Kettlewell. Go through Cray then right for Hubberholme and Hawes.
Up over the tops and drop down through Gayle (Wensleydale creamery). Left on the A684 towards Sedburgh. Through Appersett past the right turn for Kirby Stephen. Then next left (no sign post but if you see the sign on the right for Grisedale you have gone to far) and up past the station (steep and hairpins) on to Cowgill then right to Dent (Dentdale is stunning).
Dent is a charming small village with narrow cobbled streets. Out of village on the Sedburgh road then left for Barbon (left) up the steep hill from the junction. Through Barbon and left on the A683 to Devil’s Bridge at Kirby Lonsdale.
From Devil’s Bridge short squirt up the A65 to Ingleton (BP petrol on A65). Into Ingleton then on the B6255 (sign post Hawes) up to Ribblehead viaduct then right onto the B6479 sign posted Settle. Down through Selside into Settle then at the Market Place opposite the Naked Man left for Airton and Malham. Follow signs for Malham then in Malham keep left for Arncliffe. Over the tops past the Tarn and stunning views to drop down to Arncliffe.
From Arncliffe right to Kilnsey on the B6160 under the crag down to Threshfield and left to Grassington from Grassington take the B6265 to Pateley Bridge. Then from Pateley Bridge take the B6265 towards Ripon.
Ripon and complete the circle back towards Masham on the A6108.

So that is 23 in total the official Dales and two extras. Enjoy

RS

Love the route and will attempt it - any way to prove I have done it?

By the way are you the same RS as on the Boundry site?

Pete

Roadsweeper....Nice one.....

Now, for all the idle b*****ds here, could someone with plenty of time on their hands, please bung it all into 'Mapsource' and post the gdb route file .......Thank you....

Good one....................I have done it................but not all joined up and together

Thanks

A nice route, I have attached a Garmin GPS version

Sooty09 said:

A nice route, I have attached a Garmin GPS version

Click to expand...

Thanks for that....

Done it, but not all in one go....Food for thought.....

What a great idea for a couple of days ride...

Thanks Roadsweeper,

Looks like a fantastic day out.

I plotted it in Google Maps as best I could - take a look http://j.mp/c6ubIN - looks even better in Terrain view (under the "Moor" button at top right)

Let me know if I got any of it wrong - I'll transfer it to MapSource at some stage.

Having spotted this thread earlier in the week I downloaded Sooty09's file and went for a pootle today. I left Newcastle at 8.30ish, joined the loop near Richmond and went round anti-clockwise. I eventually got home at 4ish.

The route's fantastic - a nice mixture of road and surface types with plenty of excellent views. It was made better by the fact that whilst the South seems to have entered monsoon-season, the Dales had excellent weather all day. I'd thoroughly recommend this route.

Thanks to Roadsweeper for the idea and Sooty09 for the GPS file.

robroy said:

Thanks Roadsweeper,

Looks like a fantastic day out.

I plotted it in Google Maps as best I could - take a look http://j.mp/c6ubIN - looks even better in Terrain view (under the "Moor" button at top right)

Let me know if I got any of it wrong - I'll transfer it to MapSource at some stage.

Click to expand...

Spot on on the route i published. the route from Ripley on the A61 to ripon can be varied by going back roads if you have the time. taking a NNW direction through the villages back to Masham.

RS

Just spotted this.
Jo and I have put it down as a must do for this year may incorporate a nights stopover.
Many thanks Roadsweeper.

Steve

Day off on Saturday..... think I might have found something to do!

Done this weekend fantastic time added a couple extra ones in do it before the tourists start flocking

Thanks gents - haven't been up for a while - a definate in the next few weeks

Finally got round to doing this ride yesterday. FANTASTIC! The scenery is just as good as anywhere else in the world, the roads are great, and despite being a warm Sunday virtually traffic free.... plenty of nice places to stop and take cake and keep the speed moderator happy (Mrs Deano)!

Just got back from what turned out to be around 290miles of dales instead of 180.

Started at Rippon did the lower loop and the hawes loop in the middle I got a little lost a few times, and then Majorly lost around Leyburn (GPS died! ) got a little carried away, and by the time I realised I wasn't heading towards Rippon I was almost at Darlington, so figured make the best of a bad situation, and looped back across to Stainmoor and ran down to Kendal before returning home via Skipton.


8 hours of riding, man my back aches, next time must remember to charge gps!

Looks great! Thanks!