6. Draughton Moor, Kildwick, Farnhill, Cononley, Skipton, Embsay, Halton East, Bolton Abbey

22.9 miles, 3870 feet of ascent (36.8 km, 671 metres of ascent)

A ride with a climb up the Roman Road over Draughton Moor to Kildwick, Cononley and Skipton in the Aire Valley, before returning via Embsay, Halton East and Bolton Abbey.

Ride up the village and then take Moor Lane to cross over the bypass to the Roman Road. Cycle all the way up the Roman Road until it becomes a bridleway. For 3/4 of a mile uphill the bridleway  is suitable for mountain and hybrid bikes but will be very rough for touring or road bikes. Pass through 4 gates arriving at the Draughton to Silsden Road, making a left to follow this road downhill and then turn right onto Jowett's Lane. At the T-junction turn right onto Walker's Lane, follow this and just past the entrance to Stake Hill Fishery on the right take a left and then immediately a right to go down New Lane. 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 right, signposted Carleton. Follow this road all the way into Skipton where, at a T-junction with traffic lights,  turn left towards the centre of Skipton. Here you will find, as expected, many cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops. Our route avoids the High Street, turning left on Swadford Street, and then next right on Coach Street, to pass Skipton Marina on the Leeds/Liverpool canal, and onto a mini-roundabout at the junction with Water Street. Turn right here and also right at the next T-junction and continue to the roundabout at the top of the High Street. Take the first exit here past Skipton Castle on the left and cycle up the hill to take the left turn to Embsay.

Follow the road through Embsay past the Cavendish Arms and Embsay Steam Railway Station on the right. At the junction with Shires Lane turn right and cycle past Embsay Cricket ground, before turning right again onto Low Lane. Follow this road to Halton East. Before reaching there you pass Billy Bob's Ice Cream parlour on the left (pop in for a delicious ice cream or breakfast/lunch). Follow the road up with a steady climb through Halton East to follow a gated road over the hill and back down to Bolton Abbey. On the way down passing Hesketh Farm Park on the right.

 Turn right at the bottom of the hill to follow the road back to Addingham (note this road can be very busy on weekends, bank and summer holidays).

To display a larger map and see the option to download the gpx file please click on the GPX Track link above.