Airton Circular

Explore the quiet villages and lanes between Airton and Gargrave

Linking two National Cycle routes, this ride passes through beautiful scenery which includes the grounds of Eshton Hall.

You'll visit, or passes close to, the lovely Dales villages and hamlets of Airton, Otterburn, Bellbusk,
Eshton, Gargrave, Flasby, Hetton, Winterburn and  Calton.

if you cycle in the spring, the meadows will be full of as many lambs as you could ever wish to see!

 


Distance

Short Route: 9½ miles
 takes a shortcut from Eshton to Winterburn

Medium Route: 12½ miles
omits the diversion into Gargrave

Long Route: 15½ miles
includes the diversion into Gargrave
 

Climbing
404 metres, long route

Terrain
Easy to Moderate
Mainly undulating quiet roads with some flatter sections

Starting Point
Airton, Gargrave, Otterburn or Hellifield.
Route description starts in Airton and goes anticlockwise but can be done in either direction.
If you are starting in Hellifield, take the road to Otterburn for 1¾ miles and join the route there.

Refreshments
Town End Farm Shop

Make a longer day of it ...
Link with Routes 

Directions

1.

From Airton crossroads, take the road heading south-west towards Otterburn
2.
As you descend into Otterburn, turn left before the bridge, signposted Bell Busk. This is a mainly flat road alongside a riverbed.
3.
As you leave Bell Busk, at a T junction, turn left over a bridge signposted Airton and Malham soon after there is a sign as the road passes into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Continue until you reach another T junction.
4.
Turn right towards Gargrave, soon passing over a bridge. This great road passes through the grounds of Newfield Hall (on the left) and the magnificent Eshton Estate. 
Note: This short section is along one of the main tourist routes to Malham and so is likely to be busy with cars and motorbikes at weekends and holidays. Take extra care.
5.
Short Route: As you drop down into Eshton, a left turn on a right-hand bend, signposted to Winterburn, takes you across for the shortest route, re-joining the main route at the narrow humpback bridge at Winterburn. This little road passes the Friar's Head House, quite a sight! - go to 8.
6.
Dropdown into the Eshton Estate taking in the views of the grounds and the main house on your left.
 
Long Route - Diversion to Gargrave: After the hall at a right-hand bend you can take the optional diversion to Gargrave for refreshments or pottering, 1½ flat miles each way. When you are ready, return to the point you left the Standard Route)
 
Medium Route: Take a left turn along the Eshton Estate signposted to Hetton. This undulating road passes Flasby and has some fantastic views of Embsay Moor.
7.
At Hetton take a sharp left (either before or after the village green triangle) to Winterburn. This is part of National Cycle Route 688.
8.
As you pass out of the hamlet of Winterburn take a sharp right over a narrow humpback bridge towards Calton and Airton. This becomes National Cycle Route 68. Stay on this road, keeping to the main road turning left at Calton to take you back to Airton.
9.
Town End Farm Shop & Tearoom , just 100 metres along the road to Malham, is the perfect place for some refreshments.

 

CLICK HERE to view the route on STRAVA >>

CLICK HERE to download the route as a GPX file >>

CLICK HERE to download the route as a PDF file >>

 

Town End Farm Shop & Tea Room

Enjoy traditional home-baked cooking and a wide range of refreshments at our farmhouse tea room, and delight in the splendid views of Malhamdale. Food is prepared daily from  .