Bikes Shop or Bike Hire

If you’re on two wheels but find yourself in need of some gear… or just coffee and cake, call in to 360Cycleworx in Bedale.

If you want to hire a bike, the Swinton Estate has bikes if you’re starting from Masham.  Go to Dales Bike Centre if you’re heading into Swaledale, or Nidderdale Cycle Hire to explore Nidderdale.

There are some short purpose-made mountain bike trails in the woods around Swinton Bivouac along with endless paths and bridleways locally and across the Swinton Estate.

Swinton Cycle Hire

Iconic Cycling Routes

Experience the stunning scenery , the challenging climbs and hair raising descents of iconic routes ridden for the Yorkshire Grand Depart for the 2014 Tour de France, and the Tour de Yorkshire too.

But the Yorkshire Dales offers one of the finest landscapes in the country for cycling opportunities to suit a wide a range of abilities, with fantastic scenery, beautiful villages and tempting cafes!

 

Tour de Yorkshire Routes

Off Road Mountain Biking

The whole area provides fabulous cycling opportunities with fantastic scenery and there are many opportunities for mountain biking too.

Browse here for more information.

For a site that lists extensive routes (road and mountain bike), including several great routes locally, try pedalnorth.com here.

The mix of country lanes, green tracks, bridleways and moorland tracks makes for great general exploring.

Thrills at How Stean Gorge

Just 11 miles from Masham in a unique limestone gorge packed with natural features, caves and tunnels offering thrills and spills for all ages.

How Stean Gorge offers a range of activities for all ages and abilities. You will find gorge walking, abseiling, canoeing, caving, and the Via Ferrata high wire course. For family members who prefer their adrenalin not to rush, there are tranquil walks on scenic trails too!

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Climbing & Bouldering

The gritstone crags of the area are a climber’s playground.

Nearby Colsterdale on the Swinton Estate is home to Slipstone Crags, a high regarded location for all abilities. The crags on the moorland fringes of Leighton and Roundhill Reservoirs also offer some great areas for flexing your skills.

Find more information about great locations here.

Paddling Adventures

From canals, rivers and lakes to reservoirs, we have lots of water to discover too.

Whether it’s paddle boarding, fishing, canoeing, there are opportunities around Masham, the Yorkshire Dales and Moors.

The upland rivers of the Dales respond quickly to rainfall and if you are after watery thrills, there are challenging white water opportunities and spectacular waterfalls after heavy rain. Other locations like Semer Water in Wensleydale, sections of the River Swale and Ure, Ripon Canal or Ellerton Park are perfect for more relaxed canoeing or paddle boarding.

Some sites like Semer Water and Ellerton Park charge for public access, for others there is no recognised right of access, informal agreements are in place on some, and others have a history of tolerated use.

Further information on access to rivers can be found through the River Information Service provided by British Canoeing here.

Remember, to help stop the spread of invasive species it our rivers and waterways, make sure all equipment is clean before entering and use the Check Clean Dry protocol when moving between rivers.

Wild Swimming

The popularity of cold water “wild” swimming has grown over recent years.

If you are a seasoned enthusiast, you’ll have no trouble finding river pools and great dips in the gorgeous countryside around here.  There are dipping points in the Ure including a plunge to be had at Hackfall.  Adventurous wild swimmers will find great pools on the River Cover too. But venture a little further up Wensleydale and you’ll find Cauldron Falls at West Burton, Hardraw Force and Cotter Force near Hawes or Redmire and Aysgarth Falls.

For a more sedate or longer swims in Wensleydale, try Semer Water.  Explore further into Swaledale and there are many spots to choose – Kisdon Force and Wain Wath Force for a cold dip.  Or for competent open water distance swimmers, try Ellerton Park near Richmond.

For safe, cold water swimming right on our doorstep, look no further than the Swinton Estate. Their beautiful woodland wild swimming lake in the grounds of the Swinton Park Hotel is picture perfect and especially good for inexperienced wild swimmers. It is open to the public but must be booked.

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