In 2010 a series of eight Big Skies Bike Rides was launched with the aim of encouraging cyclists to discover the varied and interesting terrain of the Yorkshire Wolds. ‘Western Wolds from Stamford Bridge’ is an at times challenging ride of around thirty miles from the historically significant village that straddles the River Derwent. This addition to the original eight Big Skies Bike Rides is unique among them in that the starting point is not passed through on the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route. Nevertheless, it does travel along Millington Dale and so overlaps with the Pocklington Big Skies Bike Ride.

I rode this ride eleven years ago to the day. The occasion was part of a local tourism body outdoors festival that has taken place in various forms over the years each September. I met Rupert Douglas, co-creator of the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route, Big Skies Bike Rides and Way of the Roses, to do this hilly loop from the free carpark in Stamford Bridge. This is an extract from a blog post I wrote back in 2013…

Last weekend I took a 30-mile cycle ride with Rupert Douglas, creator of the Big Skies Bike Rides that I have written about over the last couple of years. The ride wasn’t one of the eight circular routes described previously, being longer, harder and starting further from the Yorkshire Wolds than any of the others.

Stamford Bridge is an ideal base from which to cycle on to the western escarpment of the Yorkshire Wolds – the steepest area. This ride passed through Acklam in North Yorkshire then on to the attractive East Yorkshire villages of Millington, Great Givendale and Bishop Wilton. There are few opportunities for refreshments along the way, but we made use of an extended stop at the Ramblers’ Rest. Unusually there weren’t many cyclists at the tables outside, which was a pity; I couldn’t recall a better day for cycling in the Yorkshire Wolds this year. It was glorious.

I had always thought of Stamford Bridge as being in North Yorkshire, but apparently it falls within the East Riding of Yorkshire. Anyway, this ride was advertised as part of the Walking and Outdoor Festival by ‘Visit Hull and East Yorkshire’ (14th – 22nd September). Patrick and I had tried to follow this route last year and after taking the little bridge over the River Derwent we travelled north before turning east towards Buttercrambe. It wasn’t long before we turned off the ever-so-slightly main road and headed for Barthorpe. This is a lovely road and we rode side by side without any traffic to bother us as we gabbed all the way about cycling stuff. The conversation became tougher as the roads around Acklam pointed upwards and here we took a different, supposedly easier, route from the one Patrick and I had taken up Thrussendale Road. It was still a stiff little climb.

Past the communications mast it was on to the familiar Roman road and the gradual, gentle incline to Garrowby Hill – the highest point of the Yorkshire Wolds. On a clear day such as this one there are excellent views over the Vale of York. After crossing the A166 it is always a pleasure to descend to Millington, whether stopping for something to eat or drink or not.

From Millington we went out on a road I had never ridden before. A thrilling descent followed before the struggle to regain height once more on the steady climb to Great Givendale. I’m not sure I could have captured the beauty of the early autumn scene as a herd of cows grazed around a pond. I’ve been cycling in this area for more than thirty years and I’ve never seen that particular view before. Perhaps it’s just as well I didn’t pause to take a photograph. We were running late after the longish stop in Millington and I would probably have been disappointed at my efforts to do justice to the scene.

Another unfamiliar and splendid road led us to Bishop Wilton and another diversion from last year’s route. Rupert had arrived in Stamford Bridge with his road bike on the back of the car, and didn’t fancy the bridleway Patrick and I had taken last year. So an alternative route along the road known locally as Snake Lane. True to its name it wriggled and twisted for much of its length. Fortnately the motorists we met took to the grass verges as they passed us in the opposite direction. We crossed the minor, but busy, road between Pocklington and Stamford Bridge and took the quiet alternative route back to the car park there.

I should probably have dared to take more than one photograph, but the ride was advertised as being one ridden at a brisk pace (a little under 14mph as it turned out) and I didn’t want to slow things down any further. This was a superb route and although I would happily have gone along the bridleway with my 28mm Gatorskins I particularly enjoyed the Snake Lane diversion. And I especially enjoyed chatting with Rupert Douglas about cycling in the Yorkshire Wolds and beyond. As well as putting together the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route he is also the creator of the Way of the Roses coast-to-coast route – wayoftheroses.info – is the only official site.

Patrick takes the alternative route via the track after High Belthorpe on the Western Wolds Big Skies Bike Ride

(As mentioned, the Stamford Bridge Big Skies Bike Ride was not one of the original eight – the others start from Wolds-edge towns and villages that feature on the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route – and perhaps that’s why the ride no longer features on the East Riding council’s list of these routes. Yes, there is a potentially busy road northwest out of Stamford Bridge, but I’m not sure if that’s why it can’t be found easily any more. At any rate we can use the Wayback Machine for the Western Wolds Big Skies Bike Ride map.)

In the decade that followed that ride with Rupert I’ve passed through Bishop Wilton on a number of occasions. Many of the visits have been to check out potential routes for the Sykes Churches Trail and to make use of the excellent community shop, which is run by volunteers, as described by Sarah-May Buccieri for the BBC after the Times newspaper listed Bishop Wilton as one of the best secret villages in which to live.

Thrussendale Road – detailed by Roger England in his excellent Hill Climbs on the Yorkshire Wolds – leads out of Bishop Wilton on its way up to the A166. It’s a pity that the cycle track on the southern path at Garrowby Hill doesn’t extend to the top of Thrussendale Road as this would open up further route opportunities for touring cyclists and roadies alike without having to face the terrifically busy main road.

View the Garmin Course of the Western Wolds Big Skies Bike Ride.