Ripley – Hampsthwaite Cycle Route For Families

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Route at a glance

Total distance≈5–6 miles / 8–10 km out & back
DifficultyIntermediate for kids · steep return climb from Hampsthwaite; otherwise quiet lanes/paths
Top things to see
  • Spring bluebells through the woods
  • Sophie’s Café on the village square
  • Ripley Castle village & play park for picnics

Since we bought a bike rack we spend our weekends finding places where we can enjoy a family cycle. Sometimes they are closer to home, other times a little further afield. One such area we gravitate towards is North Yorkshire. It’s a road cyclist’s paradise and makes up some of the routes of the tour de Yorkshire.

It also happens to have some wonderful trails; perfect for families. We really like the village of Ripley close to Harrogate in North Yorkshire. Not only does it have a beautiful castle but also world-famous ice cream, a lovely little park for the kids and best of all free parking. As far as villages go it sets a high benchmark for others to follow!

I was aware you can actually get from Ripley to Fountains Abbey however the route is over 6 miles which felt a little long for a 6-year-old.

We, therefore, took advice from fellow cyclists to take the path from Ripley to Hampsthwaite where there’s a little cafe to enjoy.

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Sandal to Nostell Priory cycle route

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As a family, we always enjoyed spending time outside vs indoors. Over the past two years, this however has been heightened by government lockdowns and the need for micro-adventures on our doorstep.

I spend a lot of time on my bike; both with the family and individually. There’s nothing more liberating than exploring your local area by bike. It’s great for your body and mind too!

One of the primary reasons we moved to Sandal was due to the many walking spots on the doorstep. When utilising a bike this becomes a whole additional arena of enjoyment.

My main goal is to find cycle safe routes to places in the surrounding area. Recently I managed to make it to the wonderful National Trust Nostell Priory while largely avoiding main roads and cars. Not only does this make a more enjoyable ride but also a safer one too.

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Rabbit Ings Country Park Cycling for Families

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Rabbit Ings Country Park Cycling

Route at a glance

Total distanceTypical family circuit ~3 miles / 4.9 km (longer options & hilltop spur available)
DifficultyEasy–Moderate · entirely traffic-free within the park · a few short climbs
Top things to see
  • Panoramic views from the hilltop
  • Wetland & woodland wildlife (bring binoculars)
  • Free parking; quiet, confidence-building trails

As a family, we are always on the lookout for new safe cycle paths to explore. With a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old cycling is the perfect activity for the whole family. It’s free, safe and great exercise.

Living in Sandal, Wakefield we try and explore as many places as local to our home as possible. As a former mining area, we are lucky that a number of the former Collieries have been turned into Nature reserves and cycle paths making them perfect for a family afternoon visit.

In the October half-term holidays, we took a trip to Rabbit Ings Country Park in Royston which is 5 miles from our home. With our bikes safely secured on our bike rack, we ventured along to check out the cycle paths.

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Spofforth – Wetherby Railway Path Cycling for Families

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Route at a glance

Total distance~3 miles / 4.8 km each way (≈6 miles / 9.6 km out & back)
DifficultyEasy · flat disused railway path · mostly traffic-free
Top things to see
  • Spofforth Castle ruins & nearby play/nature area
  • Quiet tree-lined rail path with farmland views
  • Plenty of food options in Wetherby for a mid-ride stop

As a family, we are always on the lookout for new safe cycle paths to explore. With a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old cycling is the perfect activity for the whole family. It’s free, safe and great exercise. Our little boy Barney loves sitting on the back taking in all the nature as we ride along.

We recently came across the Wetherby Railway Path which is a disused Railway line connecting the village of Spofforth with Wetherby and continues through to Thorp Arch. In the October half term we ventured across to take the bikes on the route.

This route was created by Sustrans who are a charity whose sole purpose is to make it easier for people to walk and cycle. The roads have become hell zones in the past 10 years with cyclists (literally) pushed to the side. The rise in SUVs has compounded this further and made road cycling a less safe place to be.

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