Try rugged route

This mainly off road route encompasses some of the finest bridleways in Ryedale and some of the best scenery from the elevated part of the route.

If wet it becomes a serious test of riding skill to achieve any speed (and to avoid having a mud bath), if dry certain mountain biking skills are needed on some of the rougher parts of the track.

I made the start at Welburn village just off the A64. It has a wide main street for parking but best of all a good pub! If you don't wish to have the extra road miles park near the Great Lake at Coneysthorpe.

THE ROUTE

I will assume that you will need some refreshment at the end of the ride and start you off at Welburn. Leave the village away from the A64 with the pub on your right to the crossroads.

Turn right and enjoy the scenic ride through Castle Howard park past the Obelisk and Great Lake and in about two miles reach the gate posts and gatehouse to the park where there is a crossroad. Turn right here signed towards Malton.

One mile after passing through Coneysthorpe village and climbing a hill, look for the bridleway signs on the left to take you on a wide track into the wood.

In half a mile you climb up to a crossroad of bridleways.

Go left here and ride the ridge for two miles keeping straight on at all times and eventually opening out into a field to meet the road.

Cross the road and take the bridleway opposite along a wide track.

Keep on this track following blue waymarks to a gate at a crossroads. Keep straight ahead here to join another wide bridleway.

Eventually the track falls down a short hill to a clearing at the edge of the wood. Careful here! Turn right as directed by the blue arrow through a gate into the field and along the edge to shortly join a wide track.

Make sure you go into the field and not the wood!

The track takes you past Wath quarry to the road.

Turn left at the road, then on entering Hovingham just before the severe right bend take the first left up the hill.

Approaching the top of the hill take the wide track on the left, signed bridleway and Ebor Way. Uphill now then a good downhill sweep into the wood. Soon the track forks. Go left here following the blue waymark. Shortly look out for a waymarked wide track on the left down through the wood to a gate.

Still following the waymarks and signs for Ebor Way, pass through more gates into a field going left round the edge of the field following the stream on the left.

This is a difficult ride if wet.

Exit left still following waymarks through two gates then on to open land to meet a farm road.

Turn left following the blue arrow through a gate then just before the next gate turn right up a wide waymarked track to another gate at the top of the hill before arriving at a farm track at a T- junction.

Turn right following the waymark and after about a mile go left onto a forest road then straight ahead to meet the main road.

Straight on towards Coneysthorpe now, then at the crossroads turn right to return to Welburn and a welcoming pint at the Crown & Cushion.

FACT FILE

Distance:16 miles (25km)

Grading: Tough

Off Road: 60 per cent

Start/Grid Ref: Welburn, GR 719681

Map: OS Landranger 100

Refreshments: The Crown & Cushion at Welburn

Reference Book: Mountain Biking Around Ryedale, Wydale And The North York Moors by J Brian Beadle published by Trailblazer at £1.80 available from book shops, cafes, cycle shops and Tourist Information Centres.