The Tour de France Legacy
This itinerary traces the hallowed roads of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ (Stage 1). You will be riding the exact same legendary climbs—including Buttertubs Pass and Grinton Moor—where millions of fans once lined the dry-stone walls to watch the pro peloton.
Bishop's Stortford to Skipton
Kick off the weekend by driving up to our basecamp: Skipton, the "Gateway to the Dales". Assuming a 1:00 PM departure, you'll arrive just in time to check into the hotel, grab a pub dinner, and prep the bikes for tomorrow's ride.
Basecamp: Accommodation in Skipton
After the drive, you'll need a place that accommodates both you and your bikes securely. Here are two top-rated, cyclist-friendly options offering twin rooms:
The Skipton Hotel (Rendezvous)
Situated right on the canal, this hotel has its own "cycling charter." They offer spacious twin rooms, dedicated secure bike storage, and an indoor pool/sauna to prep the legs.
The Tempest Arms
If you want a traditional 17th-century Yorkshire Inn vibe. Their "Pickhill" rooms can be configured as twins, and they are explicitly cycle-friendly with fantastic pub food for carb-loading.
Skipton to Reeth
Today is the main event. A brutal but staggeringly beautiful ride through the absolute best of the Yorkshire Dales. You will tackle two legendary climbs: Kidstones Pass in the morning, and the infamous Buttertubs Pass in the afternoon.
Scaling the iconic dry-stone walled passes of the Dales.
The Route Breakdown
- Morning Segment: Skipton → Grassington → Climbing out of Wharfedale → Descend into Aysgarth.
- Lunch at Aysgarth Falls: Stop at the spectacular waterfalls. Grab lunch at the National Park Visitor Centre or a local pub before the afternoon grind.
- Afternoon Segment: Aysgarth → Over the legendary Buttertubs Pass → Descend through Swaledale → Arrive in Reeth.
End of Day 2: Accommodation in Reeth
You'll roll into Reeth exhausted but elated. Here are the best cyclist-friendly spots offering twin rooms for the night:
Cambridge House (B&B)
An award-winning "Welcome Cyclists" guesthouse. They offer incredible views, twin en-suites, and most importantly: secure bike storage, cleaning, and repair facilities.
The Burgoyne Hotel
If you want to treat yourselves after surviving Buttertubs. An elegant boutique hotel on the village green with twin rooms and a fantastic restaurant to celebrate the ride.
Reeth to Skipton
The final leg of the journey loops back south through the heart of the moors to return to the car in Skipton. This route is slightly longer and features the relentless Grinton Moor climb right out of the gate.
The dramatic, heather-covered expanse of Grinton Moor.
The Route Breakdown
- Morning Segment: Reeth → The immediate, brutal climb up Grinton Moor → Leyburn → Through Kirkby Malzeard → Ride south to Pateley Bridge.
- Lunch in Pateley Bridge: A beautiful Nidderdale town. Refuel well here, and don't forget to visit the "Oldest Sweet Shop in England" for some fast-acting sugar.
- Afternoon Segment: Pateley Bridge → The notorious grind up Greenhow Hill → Descend into Grassington → Flat run back into Skipton to finish.
Journey Complete
You arrive back at the car in Skipton with roughly 110 miles of the hardest, most beautiful cycling in the UK under your belt. Time to pack the bikes, grab a final pub dinner, and head home.