ny rides Hovingham Hub

Business and Environmental Services

Contact us

North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8AD Our Customer Service Centre is open: Monday to Friday8.30am - 5.30pm (closed weekends and bank holidays). Tel: 0845 8727374 Email: paths@northyorks.gov.uk

Website: www.northyorks.gov.uk/paths

If you would like this information in another language or format such as Braille, large print or audio, please ask us. Tel: 01609 532917 Email: communications@northyorks.gov.uk

At a glance

How far? 11 miles (19 kms)

How hard? Moderate (3 steady climbs)

Which map? OS Explorer Map No.300

Starting at? Hovingham SE6675

Buses? Traveline 0871 2002233

Parking? At Hovingham

Any facilities?

Ample choice of refresh-

ment, accommodation ,

& parking, in Hovingham

Scenic, rolling quiet lanes &

bridletracks with only 3 gates to open &

close - Allow 1-2 hours (longer in

Winter/wet or if family fun-ride)

What you can see

Located to the east of Malton and fairly central within

the County of North Yorkshire, the pretty village of

Hovingham has long served as a hub, starting point,

and refreshment stop for leisure visitors exploring the

many attractions found in the Howardian Hills

- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Although hilly and utilising many off-road tracks and

bridleways, this relatively easy cycle ride provides a

fine overview of the best of the AONB and might offer

you the chance to spot a whole myriad of wildlife, as

well as appreciate some of the vernacular architecture

on display as you zoom through this stunning

landscape.

Sitting on Jurassic limestone and carved by glacial meltwaters, the landscape of the Howardian Hills was designated as an AONB in 1987. Its complex system of ridges, hills and valleys are criss-crossed with woodland, rolling arable fields, small pastures, hedges and walls. A particular feature is the high number of large country houses, such as Castle Howard and Newburgh Priory, with their designed parklands.

Photo & text credits:

NYCC, David Ottaway

North Yorkshire County Council Business and Environmental Services

1. After parking on-street within the

village, find the stream which runs

through Hovingham and cross over

onto the northern bank.Turn left onto

Brookside and then follow the road

(which becomes a track). Continue

along what forms part of the Ebor Way

for just under 2 miles, to Cawton.

2. Just beyond the last building in the hamlet

bear left up the steepish track and stay on

this route for 1 mile until its junction with

the tarmac road, just beyond the Syke

Gate Farm complex.

3. Turn left onto the quiet lane and after

about 100 yards you have the option of:

4. Turning right and following a more

strenuous off-road track through Coulton

Moor (Forestry Commission Woodland -

Open Access) or

5. Staying on the lane and continuing to

the crossroads at Coulton. Turn right

and follow the road (off-roaders rejoin at

forest’s southern boundary with road)

for 1 mile ignoring first exit to the right,

bear left towards Brandsby where the

road splits, then left again onto a

signposted bridletrack shortly thereafter.

6. Stay on this well-marked track for some

2 ½ miles – it becomes a tarmac road

again just near to Scackleton Grange Farm.

7. Cross over the village street in Scackleton

and continue on the quiet lane until it again

turns onto a bridlepath (at the sharp bend –

bear right). Follow the grass track up to the

gate just before the Hovingham >

Terrington road.

8. Turn right onto the road, then look for the

first left onto a farm access track/bridleway

in the direction of Airyholme Farm.

9. The route skirts to the north of the farm

out-buildings, then look to almost double

back on yourself at a short distance beyond

the farm. Follow the stream-side bridleway,

passing through a couple of bridlegates,

and onto a forest track (South Wood) which

leads you back to the edge of Hovingham

village with its café, Hotel, Pub, & general

store. © CROWN COPYRIGHT. North Yorkshire County Council. Licence Number 100017946 (2011)