Northallerton - A-roads or lanes?

[Slowroad]

Hi, I'm going to be cycling from near Middlesbrough to near York in about a week, currently looking at routes. Wondered if anyone had local knowledge of the A167 and A168? Are they just an ok A-road or to be avoided at all cost? And does anyone know if Foxton Lane is cyclable from the A684 south to the unclassified road? It's a byway - but that can mean a variety of things! Looks OK on Google maps...
Cheers, some local knowledge would be great!

[Paulatic]

The only A road to avoid at all cost in that area is the A19. I ended up on it near the Tontine after some frustration with NCN route. Wasn’t pleasant
Get across the river at Yarm and there’s some lovely lanes to choose from to Northallerton vis Picton, Appleton Wiske. My last visit leaving Thornaby I used A1044. & A67 to reach the lanes.

[HarryD]

Not tempted by the hillier and more scenic route via Chop Gate and Helmsley?

From Northallerton consider staying on the A167, cross the A168 and continue via Helperby etc.

Agree with Paulatic about avoiding the A19

[Chat Noir]

Well, there is a lovely route B1257 via Chop Gate and down to Helmsley, then pick up the B1363 into York, plenty of good café stops and hills along the way. If you’re going via Northallerton, pick up the A167 down to Topcliffe via Busby Stoop, fairly flat and not busy, then make your way across the dual carriageway onto the Cundall, Tollerton, etc road to York. At Shipton don’t get onto the A19, follow the cycle route via Overton and then turn onto the cycle path just after you go under the railway bridge and this will take you along the river and into York itself.

[Spinners]

The White Horse is (almost) en route

[Dean]

Foxton Lane is great fun, but save it for the rough stuff rides. There's a singletracky section in the middle, and it's a bit overgrown.

If you insist on the flatlands, then the classic route would be Maltby-Hilton-Rudby- Brompton into Northallerton. There's a rough section through Harlsey Grove which is OK with some big holes. Decent farm cafes at Roots and Langthornes.

The A168 is worth missing. The A167 isn't quite as bad, and better south of Northallerton, so I'd just plod down the 167 to Topcliffe, then Cundall, Helperby (decent cafe at the Deli), Tollerton (lovely cake at the village shop) and down to York along the river.

[keyboardmonkey]

Hi, I'm going to be cycling from near Middlesbrough to near York in about a week, currently looking at routes...
Cheers, some local knowledge would be great!

Personally, I wouldn't pick up the B1257 until after Rievaulx Abbey. My preference - which I've ridden a few times from Middlesbrough - would be to go through Osmotherley and Hawnby and via the ford before Old Byland and on to Helmsley. Here's the route I would take:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/26789127

I wouldn't ride Swainby to Old Byland in poor weather - it's a tad remote and very hilly in parts - but if the weather is okay it's beautiful, and bleak. There's a Michelin-starred pub at Harome and the 'Brideshead Revisited' lumpy road over the Howardian Hills from Slingsby to the furthest Castle Howard folly before crossing the A64 on to Stamford Bridge. From there the route follows the Way of the Roses to the outside of York. Depending on your start and finish points about 70 miles [edited for distance].

Get back to me if you would like further info?

[Slowroad]

Thanks all - some really useful info there! I like the cafe suggestions too.
I knew this forum would help.
So - possible route 1: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/119394 (Kildale campsite to Boroughbridge CCC) 46 miles and downhill all the way!
Possible route 2: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/119395 (Kildale to Sheriff Hutton CCC) 36 miles, hillier, but not ridiculously so, and time to potter about Helmsley.
It may depend on how my knees are feeling!

[Paulatic]

I’d favour going Helmsley. That Boroughbridge site can be a tad noisy from the factory over the road.

[keyboardmonkey]

Thanks all - some really useful info there! I like the cafe suggestions too.
I knew this forum would help.
So - possible route 1: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/119394 (Kildale campsite to Boroughbridge CCC) 46 miles and downhill all the way!
Possible route 2: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/119395 (Kildale to Sheriff Hutton CCC) 36 miles, hillier, but not ridiculously so, and time to potter about Helmsley.
It may depend on how my knees are feeling!

If I was in my car that is the route I would take (or just continue with the B1257 out of Helmsley and go via Sproxton), but not on a bike.

Personally, I find the B1257 just too busy. I've only ever ridden your route from Hovingham to Sheriff Hutton in the opposite direction - it's a fair old pull out of Hovingham on a road that can carry quite a bit of traffic. And I take it now that you will be lugging camping gear with you?

[Slowroad]

Slowroad wrote:
Thanks all - some really useful info there! I like the cafe suggestions too.
I knew this forum would help.
So - possible route 1: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/119394 (Kildale campsite to Boroughbridge CCC) 46 miles and downhill all the way!
Possible route 2: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/119395 (Kildale to Sheriff Hutton CCC) 36 miles, hillier, but not ridiculously so, and time to potter about Helmsley.
It may depend on how my knees are feeling!



If I was in my car that is the route I would take (or just continue with the B1257 out of Helmsley and go via Sproxton), but not on a bike.

Personally, I find the B1257 just too busy. I've only ever ridden your route from Hovingham to Sheriff Hutton in the opposite direction - it's a fair old pull out of Hovingham on a road that can carry quite a bit of traffic. And I take it now that you will be lugging camping gear with you

Yes, I'm camping. Thanks for pointing out that the B1257 is busy - sometimes B roads can be worse than A roads and you can't tell from the map. I'm much more likely to be doing the flat route via Northallerton. I'll just have to put up with factory noise - I don't remember it from the last time I stayed, but maybe I was there at the weekend.

[Slowroad]

Well, I had a very nice couple of days cycling, managed to avoid most of the rain! Very useful comments on here, the A167 was a useful quick way to get to Boroughbridge in time to go the the cafe there..! (Gilchrists Bakery - very nice). But next time I will look into other campsites so I can investigate the less flat roads to the east.
B'bridge Campsite had been flooded but let me stay, and yes, there is an industrial noise that seems to get way louder at night. Not sure whether it's actually louder or just seems it. There's some road noise too. Ear plugs sorted it (unlike CCC Theobalds Park, right next to the M25!)
Cheers!