Update – 13-1-13 We’re going to do the ride a day earlier now – Saturday 19th Jan.  Still aim to arrive in Richmond at 9:00 to finish before lunch. I’ve added the elevation data for the ride below the route map.

This is the first ride proposed for this year; it is a 20km loop to the north of Richmond.  It starts at the south-west side of Richmond and goes across farmland and through woodland as far north as Gilling West (almost) before returning via an army shooting range (helmets mandatory, flak jackets optional) to the start point in Richmond.  Most of the climbing is on roads or firetracks and most of the downhill on bridleways or singletrack.  It should be an easy warm up for riding in the dales even if it is not strictly part of the dales national park.  Use the “leave a comment” section at the bottom to let me know if you are coming or alternatively put in your lame excuse for not making it like “I’ve got to go to work”, “My wife’s got me doing the decorating” (although Paul that bedroom ceiling could do with a coat of paint), or “I’m on the other side of the world” Pah!

1.  The ride starts at a public car park next to a caravan site on the Reeth road.  We take the farm track (Green Lane) until we come to a T-junction where we turn left and head through Whitecliffe Wood then back out onto Applegarth.
2. At High Applegarth we follow the farm track up the hill until we reach the main road at Deepdale Tree.  We turn right at the main road, ride past two pylons on the left before turning through a gate into Richmond out moor (a wooded area).  We ride through Richmond out moor and take the eastern path at the crossroads upon exiting.
3. We then follow the path out past the northern edge of Black Plantation before turning left then almost immediately right into and through Gilling Wood.  After exiting Gilling Wood we follow the farm track until we come to a left turn after about 500m.
4. We take the left turn and follow the track past the bottom of Hartforth Wood until it rejoins a tarmac Road at Washton Hag.  We ride through the settlements of Washton and Kirby Hill, taking a left turn onto a farm track shortly after exiting Kirby Hill.  This track climbs past a couple of farm buidings before coming to a road (inside the army firing range!).
5. We turn left onto the army road and follow it down to the junction with Sturdy House Lane, fork right onto Sturdy house lane then take the next left onto Green Lane.  We follow Green Lane for around 2.5km until it joins Hurgill Road.
6. At Hurgill Road we turn right then left and follow the tracks back down to the car park.  Easy!

Cheers – Ian