It’s rare that I lack the motivation to get out my bike. Sometimes – as with this ride when I hadn’t been out for five weeks – I need the incentive of a ‘motor-assisted’ ride and a nice cup of coffee at the end. Occasionally, then, I will drive to a café, park up, do a ride then take refreshments when I’m done. There aren’t many places better to do that than the Fiddle Drill, Goodmanham.

This loop is less than 30 miles and is best done clockwise. Do park at the sizeable public car park down the hill from the Fiddle Drill, and past the pub – also recommended – so as not to clog up the car park at the café.

Once out of Goodmanhman the loop follows the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route on its slightly lumpy way through Londesborough, Burnby and Pocklington, Kilnwick Percy, Millington – and the beautiful Millington Dale – on to Huggate. From this point the loop deviates from the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route, instead carrying on through the village and taking a right turn on the long and satisfying descent to North Dalton. Years ago there was a tea room in the old school house in North Dalton, but the pub is still there, reflected in its picturesque way in the pond you pass on the way to Middleton-on-the-Wolds.

Once past the school in Middleton don’t take the right turn to Warter, instead the next right turn goes through a small housing estate and brings you out on to the A614. A right turn here and soon after the second left towards Holme-on-the-Wolds and South Dalton. Keep on this road, however, and on a swooping uphill right-hand bend at a junction you will follow the road to drop down back to Goodmanham. I recommend the runny yoke Scotch egg breakfast at the Fiddle Drill, but only if you feel you have deserved it.

Check out this ride on Garmin Connect or Strava.