Belles go to Otley and Burley - Cock Pit Farm (cake2)

Setting off from the front of the cycle shop, we will head along Salts Mill Road, at the traffic lights we will turn left at the roundabout, then right onto Dockfield Road for half a mile, join the towpath for the short section to Buck mill lane swing bridge, drop down the trail over the river, turn right and follow the path coming out at the Old Barn in Esholt (there is an alternative route if you don’t want to ride across the field)

Heading into Esholt we will cut up the path beside the Woolpack onto the road, then trail through the woods, turning left at the end onto Gill lane then Warm Lane, there is a busy roundabout, but this can be walked, up past the Fire Station, turning left onto Rufford Avenue, we will then cross to the other side of the Town Hall onto the High Street, turning right onto Silver Lane then Haw Lane coming out at the other side of the runway, heading down Cemetery Road and turning right onto Carlton Lane, at the T junction turn left, then right onto Bramhope Old Lane and Old Lane then the A658 for a short section and onto Old Pool Bank dropping onto Leeds Road then onto Otley.

Leaving Otley we will head out past Waitrose turning right onto Ilkley road (to avoid the busy roundabout), joining the A65 for a short section then turn left onto Otley Road, there is a gate but we can get off and walk through, then onto Burley for our coffee break.

Leaving the cafe we will trace the route back to the A65, heading up the hill we will turn right onto Menston Old lane and follow it back to Menston, either rejoining the main road or cut through High Royds village, (there is now a gravel trail round) turning right at the Wetherby Whaler along Bradford road to the top of Hollins Hill where we will turn left and right onto Old Hollins Hill, dropping back down to Esholt and out onto Otley Road and back to Shipley and Salts Mill.

If the traffic is busy we can turn left just after Slingsby back to Dockfield Road and retrace our route back to our start point.

A lovely ride with stunning views of Wharfedale over Otley and Burley

Predominately a road ride, with a short towpath and trail section, ideal for those who want to progress on roads with some climbing.

Coffee and Cake stop - Cock Pit Farm, Burley in Wharfedale

Pennies for a caffeine stop and sweet treat, spare inner tube, bike pump and levers, hand sanitizer, face mask and wipes

We never leave anyone behind