12. Turner Lane, Silsden, Kildwick, Farnley, Cononley, Lothersdale, Carleton-in-Craven, Skipton, Leeds Liverpool Canal, Bradley, Roman Road

26.0 miles, 3820 feet of ascent (41.9 km, 1164.5 metres of ascent)

Very much a moorside ride crossing the Pennine Way in Lothersdale, with a long descent into Carleton-in-Craven, and then returning via the Leeds Liverpool canal from Skipton to Bradley and over Draughton Moor, before the downhill Roman Road into Addingham.

Started by riding up the village and then taking Silsden Road to the roundabout on the bypass.  Go straight across the roundabout and take the first left up Turner Lane to the cross roads at the top, turning right, and then following this road all the way down Brownbank Lane to the  crossroads at the junction with the A6034 just outside Silsden. Go straight over the crossroads and follow North Street down into Silsden, passing the Co-op on the right, and then turning right onto Bradley Road at the Butchers Arms.

Cycle up Bradley Road until arriving at a left turn onto Hole Lane. Continue on Hole Lane to a T-junction with New Lane, take a left and follow New Lane downhill to the T-junction. At the T-junction turn right and follow the road past Kildwick Hall on the right and through Farnhill to the junction with the A629.  Very carefully cross the busy A629 and continue into Cononley.

In Cononley there are 2 pubs, The Railway Inn and the New Inn, both on the right. Just past the Cononley Village Institute turn left up Netherghyll Lane. Climb up the hill to the T-junction with Stockshott Lane and then turn left sign posted Lothersdale. Continue to a crossroads going straight across to follow the road down into Lothersdale.

Cycle through the village passing the Hare and Hounds pub and the school on the right and up the hill out of the village past White Hill Lane on the right, turning sharp left onto Winter Gap Lane until reaching Mitton Lane on the right. Cycle uphill to the T-junction and turn right sign posted to Carleton-in-Craven. Continue across Elslack Moor (past Clogger Lane on the left) and follow the road downhill all the way into Carleton-in-Craven.

Continue through the village passing the Swan on the left handside and follow the signs to Skipton passing a crematorium on the left, and turning right at the roundabout just after this. Arriving at a T-junction with traffic lights turn right and then immediately left into the hospital car park. At the back of the car park you will find access to the Leeds Liverpool canal towpath. Turn right onto the towpath and follow it all the way to a bridge crossing the canal into Bradley. Turn left over the bridge and cycle into the village.

On reaching the Methodist Church at a T-junction with the village shop on the right, turn right, and continue until reaching Silsden Road on the left. Take this left and cycle all the way up the hill onto Silsden Moor. Follow this road all the way to Cowburn Farm and then take the next left up Jowett's Lane and up onto Draughton Moor.

Where the road meets the Dales High Way at High Edge turn right onto the bridleway to descend an old Roman Road.  The first 3/4 of a mile of the bridleway is suitable for mountain and hybrid bikes but will be very rough for touring or road bikes, after that the bridleway is tarmac. If you don't want to use the bridleway either carry on to meet the Skipton Road  to cycle back into Addingham, or backtrack to meet the Silsden Road  at Cringles to drop down into Addingham.

At the bottom of the hill where there is a sharp right bend, go straight on through a gate to the main A65 road.  Carefully cross this road and go through the gate on the other side to cycle down Moor Lane to the T-junction with Skipton Road. Turn right here and follow Main Street back down to the Swan.

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