This is a great little training ride, I chose this ride as i like to get lost and make the mileage up, I have called this ride, Touring the Dales with Des, as we pass villages like Bell Busk and Gargarve and we come very close to Malham and Airton. 7 of us did the 11/15/18 mile ride, Dazza, myself, Paul,Ash and his mate Sean and of course screw and Dave the legend as is.....who is becoming a mountain biker, he has stopped wearing his wifes clothes and bought some real cycling stuff...go for it Dave. Matt (des's little lad) joined us at the end and showed his war wounds, nasty stuff, but he is on the mend. Article written by Dazza (Eds little Helper).

Des's version sticking to the facts. Yes seven of us this week, Dazza chose the route due to a few of us having things to do in the afternoon. The ride is what i would call a training route, that could be done on a day when the weather isnt too good, because there is no great height on the route so youre never exposed. Setting off from Barlick with a gentle ride on the canal to East Marton join the A59 in a NW direction for about 0.25 miles before joining a bridal way that takes you past Ingthorpe Grange & onto Stainton Hall, where we picked another bridalway up that took us past Stainton Cotes and onto Coniston Cold. Head back to Gargrave on the A65 for about 200 yards then turn left on the minor road to Bell Busk, (where yes Dazza you can see the Dales from here) Turn right onto a bridalway towards Craig Laithe & follow the rocky bridalway back to Gargrave, cross the A65 again this time towards Broughton & turn right at the Masons Arms, we headed to Bank Newton where we turned left up past Newton farm back to East Marton where we picked the canal up again back too Barlick. 18 miles long(yes 18 Dazza) & just over a couple of hours.