A scenic ride through the Great North Yorkshire Moors

What fantastic weather for a ride out into the mighty North Yorkshire Moors. A smaller group of 5 today and a warm welcome to Vadim, out for his first ride after joining Team 5 earlier in the week!!

Monks Cross was our starting point, heading along the ring road one stop and out to Strensall, following the Kia with its fuel cap undone and hanging loose. From Strensall we followed a favourite cross-country route, through Sherriff Hutton and Bulmer, to Castle Howard, slowed only by the oversized Scaffold wagon struggling up Bulmer Bank.

From Castle Howard, we turned right at the crowded campsite at Coneysthorpe, where we were met by the smell of cooked camp breakfasts in the breeze. Our route took us through Amotherby and Great Barugh to Kirbymoorside and Shed 30 for our T&P stop. Fortunately, we were a small group as there was only a single bench outside, not such good news for the larger group that turned up waving as we left.

Refreshed, we headed to Hutton-le-Hole and the Moors National Park. What a road!!!!!!  Sweeping bends, little traffic, grazing sheep and the occasional pheasant saw us onto the top of Blakey Ridge and a photo opportunity. Real scenery, not just another carpark shot 😊

A few miles on and a left turn took us on a fantastic route through Westerdale, two dry fords and then one not so dry, but made the day trippers happy to see us ride through it.

Kildale and Battersby saw us following the Middlesbrough – Whitby rail line and then back into (un) civilisation and the chaos that always seems to be the junction in Great Broughton. Cars and caravans everywhere, but slick manoeuvring saw us safely on our way to Carlton-in-Cleveland and our last stop of the day at the Lordstones Café.

It seemed daft having the weather and not having a wander about to admire the smog over Middlesbrough and Billingham, after an enjoyable brew and sarnie.

Final leg homeward bound back to York, and we followed the single track road to Chop Gate and then onto Helmsley, chocker as usual, but no stopping for us as we continued south, saying good bye to Neil as he peeled off at Oswaldkirk Bank to make his way back home to the Wolds.

Four left, and on through Gilling, Stillington and back to the York Ring road, where we each take a different junction and head for home.

Fantastic scenery, great team and good conversation. What Team 5 is all about.