New Cycle Route Opening Ride

 

At 9.30am on Sunday, September 2^nd, 12 cyclists – all of them supporters of Sustrans, the creators of the National Cycle Network - gathered outside a very wet and windy Tan Hill Inn to open a new cycle route.

 

The new route, NCN Route 71, runs from Tan Hill Inn, via Langthwaite, Reeth and Grinton, then eastwards along Swaledale, before turning south and into Wensleydale via Barden. From there it crosses the A684 and turns east again, following quiet roads through Newton-le-Willows to Bedale. After Bedale, the route runs towards Aiskew, before turning north again to cross the A1 at Roughley Bank. It then continues north, passing through the villages of Great Fencote and Kirby Fleetham, before crossing the River Swale near Great Langton. The route then continues along quiet roads through Thrintoft and Romanby, before finally arriving at Northallerton  - a total distance of 46 miles.

 

This route forms a link between the new Walney to Wear and Whitby long distance route (W2W), and the routes which run north and south through the North York Moors and the Vale of York.

 

After the wet start at Tan Hill Inn, and aided by a good tailwind and a long descent, we soon reached Reeth, where the weather improved, and for the rest of the day we had sunshine and showers.  After some 25 miles or so of very pleasant cycling, we reached our lunch stop, just east of Newton-le-Willows, where the support team were waiting with food and refreshment.

 

After a short lunch stop we continued on to Bedale and Northallerton, with the ever- present tail wind giving us a boost all the way. We finally arrived at Northallerton station after a very enjoyable ride.

 

Sustrans Liaison Ranger Brian Chandler and Ranger Tony Keates thanked everybody who had turned up to help us open the route and suggested that perhaps we should ride the route in the other direction next year for more of a challenge!

 

Check out the photos. Click on 'Gallery' on the menu on the left , then select the 'Route 71 Opening Ride - Sep 07' link