Bike Rides for Younger Children

Ingleton lies in a hilly area with some windy, fast roads so not always ideal for younger children.  Here though are some exceptions:

Lancaster Cycle Way

This is a brilliant place for families from complete beginners, tag-alongs to competent teenagers. If coming from Ingleton, we recommend parking at Bull Beck.  You can then cycle all the way off road to Lancaster and then beyond onto Morecambe or Glasson Dock - 95% off road.  More details here.

Arriving at Lancaster on the cycle path

About to cross Millenium Bridge on the cycle path

Ingleton to Clapham via Old Road

This is a very quiet, straight road running for 4.5 miles from Ingleton to Clapham.   It is has a few steepish hills.  I'd recommend it for children on tag-alongs or ones over the age of about 7.  Clapham is a beautiful village with a playground, ice-cream selling shop, several tea-shops and Ingleborough Cave.  It is part of Sustrans Route 69. 
Start by going through Ingleton village, turn left at the T junction after the Wheatsheaf pub, then take the next right - labelled Clapham Old Road.  See route here.

Austwick to Feizor on the Pennine Bridleway

This is a great introduction to off-road riding for novice young mountain bikers. It is a mainly flat, bumpy-in-places bridleway.  There is a good playground at the Austwick end and a cafe that sells ice-creams at Feizor which provides a good incentive to keep going.  If you park near the playground, the bridleway is signposted a little further down the road on the right hand side.  It is about 2 miles each way.  See the South East corner of this map for details.

Gisburn Forest

Gisburn Forest is about a 14 mile drive from Ingeton.  As well as its red route (with black sections), it also has a 9.5km blue graded route which according to its website is 'suitable for novices and younger riders'.  Good place to park is
Cocklet Hill Car Park OS Grid Reference: SD745550

Part of Settle Loop/Malham Tarn

The Settle Loop can be adapted for young, new & gentle mountain bikers.  Here is an 11.5 route that we did with our 8yr old last week, 1st half off and 2nd half on-road.

You'll need to use a map but, in summary, it is as follows:
Drive through Langcliffe, up past the church signposted Malham. Park where the bridleway separates from the road. 
Take the Penine Bridleway for a couple of miles, then turn left to drop down to Malham Tarn (depending on ability may need to walk down this section). 
Cycle round Malham Tarn and along the quiet road via Henside & Cowside back to Langcliffe.