Highwood Brow (Wykeham forest) to Ravenscar
Distance:
13.7miles, 21.9km
Description:
The description Moor to Sea could hardly sum up this leg of the route any better. Your first, long awaited, glimpse of the sea comes shortly after the Falcon Inn and the best views are over Harwood Dale and from the Ravenscar headland.
The ride is along a variety of surfaces and includes some steep hills take extra care plunging down from Highwood Brow car park as sweeping through the trees gives the descent the feel of a ski run!
TIME:
Allow 2.5 to 3.5 hours
DIRECTIONS: HIGHWOOD BROW (WYKEHAM FOREST) TO RAVENSCAR
From Highwood Brow car park pass through two large stones onto tarmac track which soon becomes a stony track. A track joins from the R but keep L. At the road turn R and then first L towards Langdale End. Fork R signed Broxa half mile and pass through village to follow a broad flat, yellow, stoned road into Broxa Forest.
After about 2.5 miles you reach a main road. Cross over and on the other side of an island with some trees on it in the middle of a car park take the pretty track with trees overhanging on both sides. At end turn L almost back in the same direction you have come signed Silpho Brow. Turn L at main road then immediately R down a forest road. Follow it round to the L and through a red and green striped gate, keeping the pines to your L. Turn L at major forest crossroads. After a kink in the road take the next R.
Turn R on the busy A171 and after about 100m turn L past the Falcon Inn and then L again signed Staintondale 2 miles/Ravenscar 2.5 miles. Turn L to Moorland House and, after house, continue onwards along a gorse-fringed track heading for a sail-less windmill. Emerge onto the road at The Smugglers Rock Country House. Turn L (but not sharp left) down Ravenhall Road signed to Raven Hall Country House Hotel.
DIRECTIONS: RAVENSCAR TO HIGHWOOD BROW (WYKEHAM FOREST)
From the entrance to the Raven Hall Hotel continue straight ahead away from the coast and past a chapel. At a sail-less windmill continue in the same direction down a track passing The Smugglers Rock Country House to the R. As the track bends round to the L it becomes gorse-fringed and continues passed Moorland House. At t-junction with road turn R and, at the next t-junction, turn R again to pass the Falcon Inn.
Turn R to join the busy A171 for just 100m before turning L down a forest road. At a t-junction turn L and, after a kink in the road, at a forest crossroads turn R. Emerge from the forest via a red and green striped gate and follow the road round to the R to a tarmacked road. Turn L and immediately R and past Thirley Cote Farm.
At a junction at the top of a steep hill turn sharp R down a pretty woodland track. It emerges at a car park. Cross over the main road and into Broxa Forest along a forest road. Continue along it for about 2.5 miles until emerging into the open and along a broad, flat, yellow-stoned road to Broxa village. Pass through the village and at next junction turn L on to Broxa Lane and take the first road turning to the R. About 400m after a discreet track leads into the road from the R, turn L up a track into the forest. Keep straight ahead all the way up to the car park at Highwood Brow.
FACILITIES:
Highwood Brow picnic area
The Grainary Tea Rooms in Harwood Dale
Moorcock Inn at Langdale End
Falcon Inn on A171
Seasonal cycle hire at Foxcliffe Tea Rooms in Ravenscar
