Dales Camp Out

The Dales Camp Out is a two day bikepacking adventure covering 135km on old drovers lanes, bridleways, moorland singletrack and country lanes in the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. The starting line is the 3 Peaks Cycle Cafe on Market Street in Settle. Riders depart from the cafe on the Saturday and return the next day having ridden across several moors, along the River Wharf and through small Dales villages like Appletreewick and Grassington. 65km into the route there is a campsite on a working Dales farm with facilities such as loos, running water, showers and of course a large grass field where riders pitch up for the night having carried all the equipment they need, eg, tent/bivy, sleeping bag and mat. The Dales Camp Out is advertised as a 'bikepacking adventure' because it has two unique features. Firstly, a 'Checkpoint Challenge' on the Saturday where riders are given 7 places to find on the route and questions to answer about some aspect of the landscape in each of the seven places. Riders will not be expected to name types of rocks, plants or animals. The Challenge is to observe and record some physical aspect of the landscape, eg, what is the date on the way stone at 35km? Secondly, on Saturday evening there is a Night Walk to the Bronze Age Stones on Ilkley Moor. The 3 riders on the BYB are expected to participate in the Checkpoint Challenge but participation on the Night Walk is optional. After all, the camp fire is a great alternative on Saturday evening as is recovering in your tent!