Byland Abbey – Byland Abbey Ruins loop from Helmsley

Road cycling routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Ryedale

Helmsley

Byland Abbey – Byland Abbey Ruins loop from Helmsley

Moderate

4.5

(2)

riders

Byland Abbey – Byland Abbey Ruins loop from Helmsley

02:29

55.9km

570m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

North York Moors National Park

Howardian Hills National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

14.2 km

Pickering Bridge and View of Hovingham Hall

Highlight • Historical Site

You're just cycling past Hovingham Park, fantastic grounds just west of the village of Hovingham, part of the Hovingham Estate. It would be a very good place to make a coffee stop on your ride here as the place is so green and lovely.

Of particular interest is the stone bridge, called Pickering Bridge. Grade II-listed, within the Hovingham Park, with a gorgeous view of the Palladian-style Hovingham Hall. This ornamental bridge goes over a waterfall and dates back to the late 18th century.

Enjoy!

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26.5 km

Crayke Village and Castle

Highlight • Pub

Crayke is a small village with a great vantage point over the Vale Of York. Climbing up here beings great views to the south and it a little taster of the Howardian Hills to the north and east.

Crake has its own castle which is a grade I listed building. It is privately owned and on the site of a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle. It is believed there has been a fortress on this high position since the Roman times.

Crayke Castle is not the only interesting building though, this small village has 28 grade II listed buildings. The local pub, the Durham Ox is 300 years old and is beautiful inside with flagstone floors and ornately carved oak panelling.

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36.7 km

Easingwold Countryside View

Highlight • Viewpoint

Enjoy the scenery and something to eat in Easingworld

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39.3 km

Coxwold Village

Highlight • Settlement

Pretty village with an informative website if local history is your thing. Recorded under the name of Cucvalt in the Domesday Book, and the local church is where George Orby Wombwell, the last surviving officer of the Charge of the Light Brigade, is buried.

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41.7 km

Byland Abbey

Highlight • Historical Site

Byland Abbey is a stunning ruin dating back to the 1100s. It was once one of the grandest medieval monasteries but was dissolved by Henry VIII in the 1530s. Today it offers a scenic picnic spot and a glimpse into history. It's free to visit and features a tearoom open from March to November, serving cakes and coffee

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41.8 km

Byland Abbey Ruins

Highlight • Historical Site

Absolutely non-miss this one. This is one of the finest and greatest monasteries in England. Byland Abbey inspired the way churches were built throughout the north. These almost preposterously amazing and extensive ruins used to be a Cistercian abbey in the 12th century, with 36 monks and 100 lay brothers.

The Abbey is maintained by English Heritage and completely free to enter as long as it's daylight.

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45.8 km

The Hub Café, Ampleforth

Highlight • Cafe

Bike stands out front

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48.8 km

Oswaldkirk Hag

Forest

49.7 km

St Oswald's Church, Oswaldkirk

Highlight • Historical Site

This is a proper countryside, English church, marked on the street indeed as "Historic Church". It is over 900 years old (Norman) and was built on the site of a previous wooden Saxon church. It is a Grade-II listed building, and is the oldest building in the village of Oswaldkirk by more than 600 years.

Definitely worth stopping here on your ride - there is a little path into the churchyard here where you can safely put your bike. The church is well-maintained inside and the views from the churchyard towards the east towards Caulkleys Bank, over Ryedale, are fabulous. You should be able to make out the Stonegrave Minster in the distance, and there are always Yorkshire Wolds on the horizon.

Tip by

52.3 km