I have a soft spot for the River Wharfe and a very nice ride is from Ilkley through Beamsley and the back road though Bolton Abbey's woods (then Appletreewick) to emerge on the lovely bridge in Burnsall; and then back on the other bank with an optional diversion over Bardon Moor via Embsay. Not much of this is flat and so 31 miles and 2800 feet. The route surface through the Bolton Abbey woods is rough and is really just a service road for the Abbey (it includes a ford) and so I treated my Boardman ADV to an outing. My best bike may have Vittoria graphene tyres but why tempt fate?
I have a book Journey of the Wharfe by Paul Hannon which illustrates its route from the source in Langstrothdale to where it joins the Ouse. It's a nice book and includes a photograph near the summit of the Burnsall Fell Race of a line of fellrunners stretched out behind one runner I know rather well, so possibly I am biased.
Reply With Quote