Freewheeling Three Castles

This is a Bank Holiday weekend ride with a good weather forecast which will go past the castles at Spofforth, Ripley (for sale with Carter Jonas at £7.5m) and Knaresborough in a clockwise, circular route.
The route is 30 miles and just under 1000ft of ascent. There are a mixture of dedicated cycle paths, cycle routes and lanes plus predominately rural roads with busier areas in Harrogate and Knaresborough. We take the Harland Way Cycle Route into Spofforth for the derelict castle, formerly belonging to the Percy family, but a victim of the Civil War. We then pass through Follifoot and across the Great Yorkshire Showground into Harrogate where we pick up the Bilton Greenway in Asda carpark! This takes us all the way to Ripley and includes a stunning viaduct over the Nidd.Having decided whether or not to put in an offer for the castle, we head in an easterly direction (including a short section of the A61), before reaching Knaresborough via rural roads.
Our lunch stop will be here at The Ugly Duckling which says it welcomes cyclists, walkers and dogs though the £5 bacon sandwich is only available until 11.30! We will then battle the Bank Holiday crowds along the traffic free riverside road until we cross back over the Nidd and head back to Wetherby via Little Ribston, North Deighton and Kirk Deighton.

We will stop at The Ugly Duckling in Knaresborough https://www.theuglyducklingknaresborough.co.uk/menu/#mainmenu

Helmets are a must as is some hi-vis outerwear. Make sure you have a spare inner tube at least and that your brakes, tyres etc are in good condition. Given the forecast, sunscreen and a full water bottle could be beneficial. Check that the British Cycling website has up to date personal and emergency contact details.

We never leave anyone behind