The Etape du Dales 2025
GRVL Route
An amazing gravel route in the Yorkshire Dales with the route designed with the same challenge in mind as the Etape du Dales road ride. The route is challenging but achievable for regular riders and a perfect ride to target for the summer.
Read on for information about the GRVL route, for this edition, a new challenge for the Etape du Dales.
The GRVL Route
Starting from Horton in Ribblesdale, the home of the iconic 3 peaks challenge, this year's event starts with a brief road section to High Birkwith where the first off road section starts. Turning north at Old Ing the route follows the Pennine Bridleway up to Ling Gill Bridge.Take a moment to look at the inscription on the bridge, at one time this was a the main road between Settle and Hawes!
After the bridge the route climbs on to open moorland to meet the Roman Road - Cam High Road, where it turns right on to the wide gravel track. Follow this track for 3.8km (don't bear right into the forest) where it becomes tarmac for a short stretch before turning left (13.0km).
Continue along the west side of Dodd Fell and then descend with caution to a right turn at Bands Lane (19.8km).Continue along the route to Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre to the feed station.
Retrace to Gayle and continue along the route to the A684 where right for 700m and then right (24.1km) to Burtersett and over the road climb to Semer Water. Following the steep climb out of Semer Water bear left (30.6km) to join the gravel track of High Lane and follow this to the summit of Kidstones Fell. Be VERY careful on the descent to Kidstones B6160.(38.1km)
Turn right and descend just 900m before turning left through a gate to follow the bridleway along Buckden Rake. There are numerous gates here, please close them after you. CAUTION on the descent into Buckden and beware of walkers.
In Buckden (41.5km) head south on the B6160 towards Kettlewell (47.4km), where left on to Conistone Lane on the east side of the river Wharfe. In Conistone bear right and cross the river to Kilnsey. Turn right past Kilnsey Park (Cafe), and then left (53.5km) on to Mastiles Lane. Continue to Malham Tarn feed station (61.5km).
Continue for 1km to Watersinks car park where right on to the track around Malham Tarn. Rejoin the road and follow the route to Cowside where right (70.9km) after the cattlegrid on to a wide gravel track direction Stainforth.
Continue through Stainforth to the B6479 where right and first left on to Dog Hill Brow over the narrow bridge and past the caravan site to a T-junction where right. Continue to T-junction (76.4km) where left. After 1.3km turn left on a farm track towards Feizor (80km) where right to Austwick (82.4km). At the main road turn left and then right on to Townhead Lane. Turn left on to Thwaite Lane (83.1km)and continue to Long Lane where right (85.1km). Follow the Pennine Bridleway for 7km to join the B6479, where right to Horton in Ribblesdale to finish.