Way of the Roses review, part 3

Day Three, Ripon to Driffield

Cake at Beningborough Hall

Leaving the big hills behind, day three rolled us down to York via Boroughbridge and Linton-on-Ouse, through the grounds of Beningborough Hall where we had elevenses at the National Trust cafe and picked up sandwiches for later.

York Minster

Then on to the minster in the ancient city of York via the riverside cycleway along the ings of the Ouse. Out of York on the disused railway line, we headed for the wolds and encountered our first bridleway of the day, east of Dunnington.

Following the bridleway to Stamford Bridge

Having had a picnic on the way to Pocklington, we stopped there for coffee before tackling the only significant hill of the day as we climbed through the Yorkshire Wolds in Millington Dale.

Pasture Gate in the Wolds

Possibly the best descent of the whole Way of the Roses route for me was from the top of Pasture Dale where Pocklington Lane starts a 500ft descent through Huggate becoming Driffield Road and ending in Kilburn some seven and a half miles later. It's the sort of hill you can pedal down and really enjoy. From there, the lanes took us to Driffield where accommodation is available, but not easy to find.

Day three stats: 79 miles in around 8 hours and 1920ft of climbing.

Day four consisted of the remaining 23 miles that included a detour via Rudston and Boynton because of works on the roman road Woldgate. We had a brew on the front with a number of other groups that had just completed the route and then made our way to the station, picking up fish and chips just before departure - sweet reward for a great few days cycling.

Bridlington Station buffet

Way of the Roses is a superb route with plenty of variety, challenges and interesting scenery - highly recommended!