KDCS route 23 - Orton, north to Yorkshire Dales National Park extension ride

Summary

38 miles ( 61 km) 2360' climb (720 m) Grade Hard
 The boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park were extended in 2016. This ride is almost entirely within the large extension north of the Howgills. Refreshments are not available until 24 miles (39 km)
 Start – Orton (shop, cafe, pub, wc) GR 622 082 OS - 91 Appleby – in - Westmorland (note – shows old pre – 2016 boundaries, at time of writing. The new extension is on the Government and Natural England websites).

Map

To view elevation details please use this link and select "Elevation Graph" from the top left hand side corner of the map.
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=619241

Description

From Orton head north on the B6260 towards Appleby, and the testing immediate climb up Orton Scar, where bear left at the top for the long drop to Crosby Ravensworth.

 Continue on through Maulds Meaburn, and a couple of minutes later bear right off the main road on the now boundary road towards Kings Meaburn. In a couple of miles (4- km) turn hard right (unsigned) at the main road just before Kings Meaburn, and continue south on another boundary road to join the main B6260.

 There turn right, and then the nearby next left to Drybeck. There are alternatives here – - either simply carry on to Great Asby - or follow the route which swings left (sign Hoff, Appleby) off the main road, and in a couple of minutes forks right onto an unsurfaced road to Rutter Force. The surface is good for touring bikes.

 Rutter Force footbridge is just below the waterfall and going right at the nearby main road brings the ride to Great Asby crossroads, where the direct way from Drybeck joins. The route goes left at the crossroads (Little Asby, Kirkby Stephen).

 From here a small detour to look at the village is possible by continuing straight on into the village, crossing the beck by the pub and then back alongside the river to join the route.

 A steep hill eventually flattens and before long the Whygill Head crossroad is reached. Here turn left for the descent into and climb up from Water Houses, and continue to Soulby, going right at the crossroads.

 Leaving Soulby bear right up a narrow lane (Sustrans route signs only) and then left at the crossroads to follow signs into Kirkby Stephen. The town has all facilities. The route is now at 24 miles (39 km).

 Leaving Kirkby Stephen bear left at the lights (B6259, Nateby, Hawes) and in ½ mile (1 km) turn right onto Station Road, going left at the end onto the A685 by the railway bridge. This small detour avoids the busy and awkward A685 out of the town.

 Cross the railway bridge and immediately straight on to Jubilee Park and up the shared path (sign) towards the railway station (the main road swings right). The path soon turns right and on to Kirkby Stephen station (on the Settle – Carlisle line).

 Here the route joins the gently climbing A685 for half a mile (1 km), then goes left at the Sedbergh A683 turn, for a generally flat road.

 In 2+ miles (4- km) and ½ + mile (1 km) after the Mallerstang turn on the left the route bears right onto a small unsigned lane (another small lane soon joining from the left) for a long steady drop down to Ravenstonedale.

 There turn right past the Black Swan, left at the nearby T, and just before the A685 join the new shared path running alongside it. At the end go left into Newbiggin (garden centre cafe) and cross the A685 (on foot via the pedestrian refuge is safest) and immediately left, to Kelleth, 3 miles (5 km) along this old road.

 Immediately after Kelleth turn right to Raisbeck and then the final couple of miles back to Orton, turning right to the starting point.