Top 8 cottages for cycling holidays in Yorkshire

Home of the 2014 101st edition of the Tour de France Grand Depart, the excellent cycling country of Yorkshire finally inspired us to dig out our lycra and get our bikes out. Starting in Leeds, it wound its way through the beautiful English countryside, finishing 22 days later on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Not quite as international, we also have our own Tour de Yorkshire, a major international cycle race held annually in the county and great fun for both participants and spectators.

Competitions aside, whether you like an easy ride or are a seasoned mountain biker, you'll be spoilt for choice in terms of cycling routes here in Yorkshire. There are some amazing routes in the North York Moors and many more stretching all the way from the coast to the Dales.

For those less familiar with Yorkshire, there are several excellent websites which can help you plan your cycling tours:

• The Yorkshire Dales
• Welcome to Yorkshire
• The Yorkshire Wolds

All of the above websites include detailed downloadable maps and guides for you to try. So, take a look and start planning your cycling holiday to Yorkshire today. 

Top ten cottages for cycling holidays in Yorkshire

All of the following cottages provide secure storage for bicycles and have been specifically chosen for their cycle-friendly locations. All are set in rural locations, allowing you to hop on your bike from the doorstep and go…

1. The Stables

This time we’re over in the North York Moors – another classic location for cycling holidays to Yorkshire. The Stables is a two-bedroom luxury cottage set near the pretty village of Hovingham, just a few miles from Castle Howard. The long straight road down to Castle Howard is a joy to ride, and when you want something more testing you can head in the opposite direction towards the moorland around Blakey Ridge. Save your legs for the challenging climb up Chimney Bank in Rosedale – one of the toughest in Yorkshire. The Stables also has a hot tub and a sauna for you to rest those aching muscles in later.

2. Boutique 39

You can't go wrong with a stay at this beautiful stone cottage set in the chocolate-box village of East Witton in Wensleydale. It's traditional stone exterior and contemporary interior is home to breathtaking views and one of the Dales' finest gastro pubs is a few hundred yards away, just the place to refuel after a good day's cycling in around the nearby historic village of Middleham. When it's time to go home, park the bikes in the secure storage and then laze back on comfortable sofas, the roaring wood burner inviting you to settle down and watch a favourite movie. Before sinking into bed, laze back in the free-standing copper bath, bubbles in both water and hand while planning your next day's cycling.

3. Arundel Grange

For whatever reason you come to Yorkshire, the 17th-century Arundel Grange provides an excellent rural retreat at which to base yourself. Tucked away in Horsehouse in Coverdale, next to the famous Wensleydale, it is on the route of the Grassington to Hawes Cycle Route. A 35 km duration, it is better for fairly fit riders as the Yorkshire Dales are hilly and quite steep in places. Head down the steady riverside route to Kettlewell where there are several cafes to stop and quench your thirst, while back in Horsehouse, there is an excellent pub for that post-ride drink.

4. Butler’s Retreat

You are spoiled for choice for locations to visit when you stay at this apartment set within a 16th-century Elizabethan manor house. Just 5 miles from the historic town of Richmond and 15 miles away from the pretty market town of Northallerton and the cosmopolitan town of Yarm, you are also a short drive away from the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Cycle up towards Reeth and on towards Hawes in Wensleydale with a pit-stop at the famous Wensleydale Heifer. Get back on your bike and head back to the comfort of Butler's Retreat where you can challenge your loved one to a game of tennis or if you are too tired, sit back on the garden lawn with a well-earned sundowner. 

5. Rose Cottage

It's not all countryside when your holiday on two wheels! The stylish and contemporary Rose Cottage gives you the best of both worlds as it's set in the gorgeous market town of Helmsley at the foot of the North York Moors National Park. Offering three bedrooms, this townhouse is perfectly for families or groups of friends who want to discover both the town with its great shops and restaurants as well as being near to some fantastic cycle routes. Explore the heather-filled countryside with a choice of over 600 square miles, excellent for gentle family cycling as well as proper mountain biking. Try the Bransdale Loop, a remote ride in the 'lost dale' of Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley. With a serene and traditional atmosphere, there'll be nothing to take your eye off the road, but on the last section, cutting through the villages south of the A170, you'll find lots of country pubs and cafes to stop at on the way home for a bite to eat.

6. Moor Cottage at Wellspring Farm

You can follow in the footsteps of the popular Tour de Yorkshire cycling race with a stay at this secluded North York Moors holiday home. The 2-bedroom property is located close to Scarborough, the end point of the Tour de Yorkshire for a record number of times, and the Moor-to-Sea cycle network passes close by the front door. Take a scenic cycle through the country lanes of the North York Moors National Park and you'll find an array of pretty villages with tea rooms and pubs where you can stop for refreshments. The property itself comes with glorious gardens, handy bike storage and a veranda where you can look out over wildlife ponds as you enjoy a morning cuppa. 

7. Cherry Tree House

This large five-bedroom property is the perfect place for a family cycling holiday. Located in between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, you are in for some excellent cycling adventures. Just 3 miles from the historic market town of Richmond, you are 35 miles from the coast if you fancy securing the bikes and heading along the coastal path. Back home, a beautiful huge garden with lawn provides a backdrop to an outside terraced area, just the spot for some al fresco dining on balmy summer's nights. 

If we have inspired you to get on your bike and try out some of our best biking country, have a look at our portfolio of Yorkshire cottages, just the place to return to after a day in the saddle.