MTB: Horton – Tour of Pen-y-ghent

Route Info

The Tour of Pen-y-Ghent is a well known Yorkshire Dales classic. Starting from the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale, with its car park, toilets, café and pubs, it takes you on a circuit around the iconic peak of Pen-y-Ghent.

Either way round is good but we describe it anti-clockwise so you get the road section as a warm up. Head down the valley towards Helwith Bridge and just before you reach it, take a left turn on to a rocky track. Keep left at a junction and keep plugging away on the track as it climbs on to the shoulder of Pen-y-Ghent. An easier section of track takes you through to Dale Head farm. Take a left and a bit of tarmac until a right turn takes you on to a lovely track along the side of the valley – known as Dawson Close.

There is a great stoney descent back to the valley, then its a left turn to head along to Halton Gill and along the dead end road to Foxup. The way back starts with a few tough climbs – pushes – to gain a limestone ledge. Then its great riding along a grassy track which becomes a fast surfaced track before dropping down to Hull Pot. This is worth a look – don’t fall in! Then down a stone track and back to Horton.

Please note that you’ll need to follow your browser instructions for downloading of GPX files:

• Google Chrome: Right click on the icon, and choose save link as…
• Firefox: Right click on the icon, and choose save link as…
• Safari: Right click on the icon, and choose Download linked file as . . .
• A Microsoft browser: Right click on the icon, and choose save target as…
• For mobile devices, you can use an app such as Trails – GPS tracker for hiking, biking and running to import the GPX files directly into the app.

Once the GPX file has been saved on your computer, use the software provided by your GPS device maker or Expert GPS to load it onto your device.