Hellifield to Airton and Back

This route takes you along quiet lanes into the Yorkshire Dales National Park to Airton in Malhamdale.

The route at a glance

  • Distance: 10.2 miles/16.4km
  • Approx Time: 2 hours
  • Climb: 180m
  • Start and finish: Hellifield
  • Parking: Hellifield pay and display off Gisburn Road
  • Difficulty: Easy (but few hills)

Must see

The Hellifield Flashes (pictured), three ponds in fields surrounding the town that provide a habitat for wildfowl and migratory birds, 12 of which are on the RSPB ‘red list’.

Getting to the start from Skipton

Take the train from Skipton to Hellifield (three stops). Drive or cycle the A65 (a busy road). Buses are available from Skipton to Hellifield.

Route points

Start at Hellifield Train Station and ride down Station Road turning right onto the A65 through the village for 400m before turning onto Skipton Road (latee becoming Hellifield Road) signposted Malham/Airton.

Follow this undulating quiet road for 3km to the hamlet of Otterburn and over the bridge. Turn right where it is signposted towards Bell Busk.

Ride along this flat road for 2.5km. Turn left at the T-junction and over the bridge, signposted Airton. The road is called Carsleylands Hill.

Follow this quiet lane with a climb and then descent to a T-junction.
Turn left to Airton.

In Airton, turn left in to Hellifield Road at the start of the Village Green, signposted Otterburn. A café is 500m further along the road to Malham.

Ride for 2.5km to reach Otterburn and double back onto the road from Hellifield. Ride this back to the start.