John Pocklington of legendary cycle touring specialists Spa Cycles reveals a pleasant loop starting in Harrogate.

The route leaves Harrogate near our shop, very close to Starbeck railway station. Proceed along The Avenue to the cycle path at the end and follow it to beautiful village of Ripley, where there is an ice cream parlour, castle, pub and tearooms. 

Leave Ripley and keep going straight along the old Pateley Bridge road (don't follow the main road to roundabout), which ends opposite Braithwaite Lane. Cross the busy Pateley Road (B6165) and climb this lane — a tarmac farm road — until it becomes a bridleyway. Bear right and follow the blue markers, still climbing gently, until you reach the top. 

Descend through a wooded area down into a little flat valley. The bridleway becomes a green and skirts up and down by a copse. Keep on following the blue markers. The route then becomes very narrow and a little bumpy, you may have to get off and push a short distance. You will see an old steel windmill ahead,where the route turns right and goes up a short distance. Go through the gate and head for the farm opposite, in between the old farm buildings. There may be lots of friendly inquisitive sheep! 

You are then on a gravel farm road. Follow this all the way downhill to the tunnel under the old railway line at South Stainley, where there is another pub (The Inn). Cross the busy Ripon Road (B6166) and head along this road opposite into the picturesque village — it crosses a little bridge and passes St Mary’s Church. You are then on the road through the Mountgarrett Estate. Keep following this for a few miles until it eventually becomes concrete and meets the Scotton Road. Bear left along this quiet road for a few hundred yards and take the left turn to the village of Brearton (where there's another pub: The Malt Shovel) and continue until you get to the church. 

At this point bear right and follow the road until it becomes a bridle path again. Keep on going almost straight through the fields (which will have dairy cows grazing) and cross a recently built bridge over a dyke. The bridleway becomes narrow here and meets the road. 

Cross over and head 2.5miles to Scriven and Knaresborough, going straight. You will meet the busy Boroughbridge Road (A6055), turn right and follow it into Knaresborough, climbing the short hill going down the other side. At the traffic lights, bear right then left, descending to the bridge over the Nidd. Cross the bridge and turn right to follow the Beryl Burton Way (she lived in Starbeck) up the hill to and bear left, where it meets the tarmac access road. 

This road meets the Knaresborough Road (A59), turn right and go down the hill into Starbeck. Then turn right, just after the The Methodist Church, back onto The Avenue and you are back where you started.