Dalby Forest is the headline MTB venue in the North York Moors — a Forestry England plantation on the limestone plateau north of Pickering, with one of the most varied trail networks in northern England. It hosted UCI Mountain Bike World Cup races between 2010 and 2015 and remains the regional benchmark for cross-country and red-graded riding.
What to expect
Four main trails. The Ellerburn Family Trail is a flat green loop suitable for trailers. The Adderstone Easy is blue/red, 7km. The Dixon’s Hollow Red Route is the headline ride — 35km of fast singletrack with rocky descents and exposed moorland sections. The Black Run is a pro-line cross-country challenge. A jumps area and pump track complete the venue.
Practical notes
Open year-round. Purple Mountain Bike Centre at Dalby handles hire, repairs and bike-wash; the cafe is decent. Forestry England parking fee applies. Pickering, Helmsley and Whitby all sit within easy driving distance with good accommodation. Best combined with rides at Sutton Bank further west for a North York Moors MTB weekend. The Yorkshire Coast is 30 minutes’ drive if you want a beach day after.
Train, parking, drive…
- Train
- Malton or Scarborough, then long taxi/drive (~30 min)
- Parking
- Dalby visitor centre toll road + parking; ~£8/day
- Postcode
- YO18 7LT
- Drive
- ~4h30 from London, ~1h from York
- Car-free?
- Drive-only practically
Transport details are best-effort and worth double-checking on the day — rural buses and station services change with the timetable.
If you’ve got an extra day…
- Pennine Way Hike on the western side of the Moors
- Coast to Coast Hike's North York Moors finale
- Stay in Pickering at the White Swan
Plan it yourself.
The most authoritative sources we know of for this trail — routes, conditions, governing bodies and operators. Open in a new tab.
