Cycle Routes Whitby
Bring your bike during your stay at Raithwaite Sandsend and head out on the many cycling routes we have on our doorstep, including the renowned Cinder Track from Whitby to Scarborough. Take in breathtaking Yorkshire coast views, dramatic moors and pass through charming villages.
Don’t want to bring your bike? No problem, we can arrange bike hire through our local hire partners.
Just ask at reception and we’ll get you geared up and en route to a great day out.
Our team will be more than happy to suggest some of the best cycling routes and trails in the local area.
Bike Trails – Whitby to Scarborough along the Cinder Track
The most popular cycle path in the area follows the route of the old railway that connects Scarborough to Whitby, a long but fairly easy cycle ride that offers stunning views.
In use from 1885 to 1965, the railway line was closed after the Beeching axe period in the 1960s. By the early 70s all of the track had been removed, leaving behind a flat and gently meandering route, perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding.
The track, covered with cinders rather than the more typically used crushed stone, gives the route its name and unique appearance. Recommended by the National Cycle Network, it takes in some of the finest coastal scenery in Yorkshire, as well as a chance to explore the region’s industrial past.
The Cinder Track route
The Cinder Track begins near Scarborough railway station, but as a guest at Raithwaite Sandsend, you’re best off starting the journey from nearby Whitby, where you’ll set off from Southend Gardens with Pannett Park in front of you.
From here, signs will lead you to the outskirts of Whitby town centre, before cycling over the River Esk on Larpool Viaduct, with great views of Whitby Abbey (the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula), then into Larpool Woods. Once there, head to Ravenscar before travelling across heather-clad hillsides and reaching one of the route highlights: the beautiful North Yorkshire fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay.
From here, the route heads towards the heather moorland of the North York Moors National Park and continues to Staintondale and Hayburn Wyke.
Stop off for a well-deserved lunch and drinks at the Hayburn Wyke Hotel, and perhaps a quick stroll down to the Wyke itself, a beautiful cove belonging to the National Trust, with a double waterfall dropping straight onto the beach.
Next, the route continues on toward Cloughton and Burniston and a series of cuttings, passing under several bridges, before entering suburbia and finishing in Sainsbury’s Scarborough car park on Falsgrave Road.
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Cycle routes in Dalby Forest
If you’re after a different challenge that takes you to the very heart of the North York Moors, Dalby Forest, 17 miles from Whitby, offers 8,500 acres of breathtaking views as well as numerous walking, running and cycle trails. These include the Alderstone cycle route, a short, eight-mile family-friendly cycle trip, and the Red Route, a long and fast route through thick forest, featuring challenging climbs, seasonally muddy sections and adrenaline-fuelled descents
