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Yorkshire True Grit: The New Stuff

By 3 min read
Rider on a gravel bike follows a sandy track between walled fields on the North Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire True Grit land.

Deep in the North Yorkshire Moors, not very much happens. You can stand atop a heather covered moor and on a calm day, you’ll hear nothing more than the calling of grouse in the heather and the occasional sheep bleating at its lambs.

Lone rider on a wide gravel track crossing heather moorland on the Yorkshire True Grit course in the North York Moors.
Yorkshire Gravel. Miles of it.

This is the soundtrack that accompanied me on my ride around the Yorkshire True Grit course in 2017. An event that rocketed to the top of my ‘best rides’ list before I’d even reached the half way point. The eclectic mix of gravel roads, sweeping forest singletrack and quiet country roads means that you’ll never be on the right bike. The start line was a mixture of gravel bikes, mountain bikes and fat bikes. Post ride, everyone compared notes over a beer and no one could agree what bike had the overall advantage.

When news hit my desk that the organisers had been granted access to even more private land, I just had to get in touch and see if we go for a little look see…

Orange gravel bike leaning against a stone shooting house on open heather moor on the private Yorkshire True Grit estate.
Surveying the 1,000’s of acres of private shooting estate that is home once a year to Yorkshire True Grit.

Exclusive Access

I was welcomed by Debs and Andy at our rendezvous point, deep in the Moors accompanied by the familiar backing track of bleating sheep and……whats this? The subdued electric whirr of an e-bike? As Andy explains, they make course marking and setup a whole lot quicker… Especially when they are derestricted! Thankfully Debs kept the balance in the gravel favour with a classy Salsa Deadwood drop bar 29er.

Debs pauses beside her Salsa Deadwood on a grassy moorland trail, with the organisers' e-bike lying in the grass.
This way to the fun stuff. Any bike welcome, no clear winner. That’s the Yorkshire True Grit way.

With permission granted from the landowner, we headed up a private shooting path onto Whorlton Moor and I soon started to recognise landmarks from last years Yorkshire True Grit; the lonely little shooting house, the fast flowing gravel descents, the climbs… Ah yeah, I remember them more than anything!

Debs and Andy ride up a narrow lane past stone walls and farm buildings towards the Yorkshire True Grit moorland trails.
Debs and Andy tackle the climb that leads to the moorland trails.

Before we go further, look back at that last paragraph and heed the words, private and shooting… A lot of the trails featured on Yorkshire True Grit are on private shooting estates and are exclusive to the event. If you fancy taking a trip up onto these moorland estates on any other day, you’re likely to get frogmarched off or shot. Do yourself a favour and enter the event, hey?

Rider on a gravel bike climbs a sandy estate track across heather moor on Whorlton Moor, North Yorkshire.
Please sir, more moors sir!

So how did the organisers secure access? Everywhere I look there are signs of the ‘gerr off mah land’ ilk. With a deep sigh Andy explains “It wasn’t easy to get to where we are now. The landowners took a dim view on cyclists due to previous experience of trespass and cheeky trail building but after a lot of negotiation, agreed to give us a chance. The increased access for this years event is due, in no small part, to the respect shown by last year’s riders.”

Yorkshire True Grit 2018 banner, 22nd to 24th June, with two riders on a moorland ridge and sponsor logos.

What was down is now up

Our ride suddenly takes a diversion away from what I remember of last years course and now we’re climbing again. As Debs points out, this is the new stuff! Rather than just sandwiching in a few token pieces of new track into the existing course, the duo have reworked around 75% of the 60 mile ‘Outlaw’ route. Sections that may in the past have been a rip roaring descent may well be a lung busting climb this year. And it just so happens that Debs is quite the fan of a good hill climb…

Blue 'Unsuitable for motor vehicles' sign beside a gravel track over heather moor on the Yorkshire True Grit route.
This sign stands for unhindered fun on two wheels.

If I was to give away too much information, it’d be like spoiling a good film by telling you the plot. So I won’t. What I will let you know though, is that all those evil climbs are worth the effort. One in particular has you grinding away up towards a huge TV mast. You’ll feel as if you are climbing Yorkshire’s version of Mount Ventoux. The reward is a breathtaking view over the Moors with the Vale of York in the distance. And then, there’s the descent. This will likely be a prime spot for the photographers, but don’t worry, you’ll be smiling already.

Yorkshire True Grit runs from the 22nd – 24th June and entries are open now. To find out more and register, click here.