Making up the mid-section of the Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales is a landscape of great contrasts, every dale different, for the cyclist the network of quiet roads and lanes fringed with cycle-friendly cafés and pubs offer many happy days exploring. This guide describes 23 day routes, graded by a combination of distance, climb and overall gradient, all suitable for road bikes and illustrated by detailed maps and profiles. In addition a six-stage tour takes in all the highlights, including Grassington, Leyburn, Hawes, Kirkby Stephen, Ingleton and Settle. And for those who really want to test themselves, the route of the Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France, a 206km loop from Leeds to Harrogate, is also included, with an option to close the loop without adding many extra miles. Appendices include a route summary table to help you choose your route, lots of information about facilities for cyclists along the routes, taking bikes on public transport and basic bike maintenance.

Table of Contents:
Overview map Map key Introduction Geology of the Dales Human habitation Wildlife Getting there and getting about Money When to go Accommodation Food and drink What to wear What to take Choosing your bike Maps Emergencies Using this guide Pateley Bridge Link Route Leeds Bradford Airport to Askwith Route 1 Three Dales: Nidderdale, Washburn and Wharfedale Route 2 National Trust: Brimham Moor, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Route 3 Masham and Burn Valley Grassington Route 4 Round Barden: Bolton Abbey, Embsay, Rylstone and Cracoe Route 5 Malhamdale and High Limestone Country Route 6 Malhamdale by way of Bordley Route 7 Malhamdale, Silverdale and Littondale Ingleton Route 8 Dentdale and round Whernside Route 9 Ribblesdale and round Ingleborough Settle Route 10 Dales and Tarn Route 11 Langcliffe Scar and Malham Reeth Route 12 Tan Hill Route 13 Wensleydale, Mallerstang and Tan Hill Route 14 Richmond Sedbergh Route 15 Lune Valley and Barbondale Route 16 Circuit of the Howgill Fells Route 17 Barbondale and Holme Open Farm Hawes Route 18 The Big Cheese Route 19 Semerwater Route 20 Coverdale and Langstrothdale Chase Leyburn Link Route Northallerton to Leyburn Route 21 Swaledale and The Fleak Route 22 Aysgarth Falls Route 23 Jervaulx Abbey and Middleham Tour de France 2014 Route 24 Tour de France 2014 Stage 1: Leeds to Harrogate La Vuelta a Dales Stage 1 Settle to Pateley Bridge Stage 2 Pateley Bridge to Leyburn Stage 3 Leyburn to Hawes Stage 4 Hawes to Muker Stage 5 Muker to Sedbergh Stage 6 Sedbergh to Settle Appendix A Route summary table Appendix B Useful contacts Appendix C Campsites along the Vuelta a Dales Appendix D Cycles on public transport Appendix E Basic bike maintenance