In our traffic-heavy city, the only suitable option is to travel by bicycle. York is home to a plethora of cycling routes, spanning a wide range of areas from peaceful greenery to more bustling metropolitan spaces…
Rowntree Park to Beningborough Hall – Rowntree Park is a beautiful spot to enjoy your lunch before you make headway with your ride. You’ll pass through National Cycle Route 65 and continue peacefully onto a generally quieter country road after you’ve ditched the riverside, finally landing at the National Trust’s historic Beningborough Hall.
Millennium Bridge to Acomb Wood – A traipse through the suburbs might not sound like the most bike-friendly route, but this quick and easy ride will let you rest your legs as you glide down Hob Moor, and onto your choice of woodland areas or calmer meadows in Acomb Wood. An ideal route for newer cyclists.
Micklegate Bar to Clifton Ings Trail – Starting from Knavesmire Gate bus stop, you’ll pass through Micklegate Bar and the new Scarborough Bridge, which now bears a separate (conveniently smoother and wider) walkway since its 2015 refurbishment. Along the banks of the Ouse, you’ll find the Clifton Ings Trail, a pleasant breather from the city. Please note that this route includes stretches where you’ll need to carry your bike, including over stairways.
Millennium Bridge to Naburn – Passing the Ouse in the summertime, you’ll see people enjoying the sunshine while you skim towards the Knavesmire, which makes for the perfect spot for a quick pit stop. All of this pales in comparison to the magnum opus that is the solar system. Reaching all the way to Naburn, these giant planetary monuments are well worth the trek, and were always the reason I begged my family members to take me on this route. With the imminent reopening of Askham Bog, this trip could also include a detour through the much-loved, ancient peatland area.
Foss Islands to Murton Park – For another family-friendly trip, why not start your day at the Railway Museum and continue through the Foss Islands cycle tracks to your final destination at Murton Park? If your family is less cycle-happy, Derwenthorpe children’s park is a closer alternative that’s sure to keep them content.
Dunnington to Stamford Bridge Viaduct – Normally completed as part of a longer ride, this route’s proximity to various farms, swings, and picnic spots makes it a great route for cyclists with younger children. Beginning just off Intake Lane and passing through Balloon Tree Farm and Cafe, this route offers various extensions or shortcuts, allowing bikers to curate the experience to their preference.
What’s YOUR favourite hidden cycle route in York? Email info@yourlocallink.co.uk and let us know!
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