The Hambleton Road, Drove Road or Hambleton Street is part of an ancient highway running from Scotland to the south of England and is certainly the best preserved drove road in Yorkshire. It was probably used by hunters before it became an important trade route. When the more modern roads were made on lower ground they imposed a toll on them.

Drovers, who brought cattle from the north disliked paying the toll so they kept to the old thoroughfares like the Hambleton Road. Soon the old roads became worn due to lack of maintenance and resurfacing and became very rough. The drovers continued to use the road and it became known as the Hambleton Drove Road.

Many of the early drovers were regarded as thieves and vagabonds, then in Tudor times they were licensed and droving earned respectability. They were well looked after by the occupants of various inns and farmsteads on the route. In medieval days the road was used for commerce and travellers and a community grew up alongside the road. It also served the many monasteries along the way and was used for the transportation of limestone from the mines close by. Some historians in the 18th century described the section across the High Moor at Black Hambleton as 'terrible' and advised travellers with horse and cart to avoid it even if it meant a deviation of a hundred miles!

However, mountain bikers thrive in adversity so mount up and be prepared for a tough ride! A choice of routes is available. A circular route along the drove road and returning via Hawnby or a linear route using the drove road and a short country road, the choice is yours.

FACT FILE

Distance: Route 1 - 16 miles (26km); Route 2 - 20 miles (32km)

Grading: Moderate

Off Road: 40 per cent or 70 per cent

Start/Grid Ref: Car park on Hawnby to Osmotherly road GR 480959

Map: OS Landranger 100

Refreshments: Route 1 none, Route 2 tea rooms at Sutton Bank

Reference Book: Mountain Biking around North Yorkshire by J Brian Beadle published by Trailblazer at £1.80 available from book shops, cafes, cycle shops and Tourist Information Centres.

Route 1 circular

Start from the car park and join the Hambleton Road going south. The track, rough at times, climbs quite steeply to reach the highest point at Black Hambleton which is over 1,200 ft above sea level. Continue along the obvious wide track for three miles to the Kepwick to Hawnby junction. Turn left towards Hawnby continuing along past Arden Hall to Hawnby village. Take the Osmotherley road out of Hawnby for a long road section to return to the car park.

Route 2 Linear

Start from the car park and join the Hambleton Road going south. The track climbs quite steeply to reach the highest point at Black Hambleton which is over 1,200ft above sea level. Continue along the drove road until in about six miles you reach a cross-roads and the drove road track becomes a tarmac road. Keep straight ahead here, you are still on the drove road, then turn right just past Dialstone farm in a couple of miles to Sutton Bank and the visitor centre where you can have some refreshment. The original drove road would have gone on past the Hambleton Inn.

Being a linear route you must return the same way over the drove road and Black Hambleton to the car park on the Osmotherley road.