A new report has revealed Yorkshire’s most scenic hacks, from coastal rail trails to sweeping views in the Dales.
Conducted by Rydale Clothing, the research has highlighted some of the county’s most beautiful places to explore on horseback.
Scenery, access, variety, and clear route information all came into consideration, and The Cinder Track between Scarborough and Whitby came out on top.
This route was followed by the Calder Aire Link in West Yorkshire, and Holderness Drain to Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
To conduct the study, Rydale Clothing reviewed publicly available route and access information across Yorkshire, only including routes with confirmed riding access, bridleway status, or recognised equestrian route guidance.
Each route was scored out of 15 across three categories: scenic variety, route length, and rider-friendliness, with each category scored from 1 to 5.
Scenic variety considered the mix of landscapes along each route, route length gave higher scores to longer rides, and rider-friendliness looked at confirmed access, route guidance, and practical suitability for riders.
The full results
The routes were ranked as follows:
- The Cinder Track, Scarborough to Whitby, North Yorkshire
Named the overall winner, the Cinder Track stood out for its coastal scenery, railway heritage, and views towards Whitby, the River Esk, and the North York Moors. - Calder Aire Link, West Yorkshire
The Calder Aire Link connects Bingley with the Pennine Bridleway near Widdop, crossing countryside through Wilsden and Oxenhope Moor, with strong Pennine views. - Holderness Drain to Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
This 10-mile Trans Pennine Trail equestrian section links inland countryside with the coast at Hornsea, offering gentler terrain and clear route guidance for riders. - The Settle Loop, Yorkshire Dales
Part of the Pennine Bridleway, the Settle Loop takes riders from Settle into open limestone country, with views across Ribblesdale and towards Malham. - Old Moor to Conisbrough, Rotherham
This eight-mile Trans Pennine Trail equestrian section was recognised for its varied countryside, South Yorkshire setting and links to wider riding routes. - Dunford Bridge to Penistone, Barnsley
Covering 5.5-miles of the Trans Pennine Trail, this route offers a manageable ride through open rural surroundings and scenic South Yorkshire countryside. - Wortley to Grenoside, Barnsley
Running for six miles, this Trans Pennine Trail equestrian section offers rural scenery, practical riding distance, and a useful named route for local riders. - Penistone to Wortley, Barnsley
At 4.25 miles, the Penistone to Wortley section offers countryside scenery and a shorter option for riders looking for a more manageable route.
“Anyone who rides knows a good route is about more than just getting from A to B,” said Laura Forsyth, Communications Executive at Rydale Country Clothing, which is based in Yorkshire.
“It’s the little things you remember, like finding a completely serene stretch of track. That’s what we wanted to celebrate with this report – Yorkshire has so many places where riders can properly enjoy being outdoors, and these routes are a lovely reminder of that.”
Lead image by Charlie Gooders Photography
