North Yorkshire Moors & Coast Loop: One of Those Days That Reminds You Why You Ride

Whilst this can be done in a (long) day you’d be better to find some accommodation up near Whitby and turn it into a weekender

Some rides are about getting somewhere.

This wasn’t one of them.

This was one of those days where the road itself is the destination.

The plan was simple enough. Meet at Squires, grab a coffee, talk nonsense around a row of bikes for half an hour, and then point the front wheels north towards the Moors.

As usual, the “quick coffee” at Squires turned into a longer chat than planned, but eventually the helmets went on, engines fired up, and we rolled out into a cool Yorkshire morning.

Up Towards Coxwold and Helmsley

The first stretch was an easy warm-up.

Nothing too technical, just decent Yorkshire roads winding through countryside that gets better the further north you go. The traffic gradually thinned out and before long we were heading through Coxwold and into Helmsley.

Helmsley is one of those places that always feels biker-friendly. Plenty of bikes around, plenty of places to stop if needed, and surrounded by cracking roads in every direction.

Of course, we didn’t stop.

The roads were too good.

The Moors Start Working Their Magic

From Helmsley onwards, everything changed.

The scenery started opening up and the roads became more interesting. The kind of roads where you stop looking at your speedo because you’re too busy reading the bends ahead.

The run up towards Stokesley and Kildale was superb. Long flowing corners, great visibility and hardly any traffic. You know those roads where every bend seems to naturally lead into the next one?

It was one of those.

By this point I’d completely forgotten about work, emails, bills and everything else that clutters your head during the week.

Just me, the bike and the road.

Castleton, Danby and Glaisdale

This is where the route really came alive.

The roads became narrower, twistier and far more engaging. Small villages appeared out of nowhere before disappearing in the mirrors again a few minutes later.

Danby, Castleton and Glaisdale all have their own character, but it’s the roads between them that steal the show.

One minute you’re tucked into woodland.

The next you’re crossing open moorland with views stretching for miles.

Then suddenly the road drops into a valley and starts twisting alongside a stream.

You can’t help but smile.

Grosmont and the Descent to Whitby

Rolling into Grosmont is always a treat.

There’s something about the old railway, the village atmosphere and the surrounding scenery that just feels properly Yorkshire.

Then came the run down towards Whitby.

Every rider should experience arriving in Whitby from the Moors at least once.

The landscape opens up, the sea appears in the distance and before you know it you’re dropping into one of the most iconic coastal towns in the country.

Tourists everywhere.

Seagulls plotting theft.

Fish and chips on every corner.

Perfect.

Whitby to Staithes

The coastal road north to Staithes might not be fast but who cares?

The views are ridiculous.

Every time there was a break in the hedgerows I found myself glancing across at the North Sea.

When Staithes finally came into view, perched on the cliffs like it’s hanging on for dear life, it was impossible not to stop for a few minutes and take it all in.

The bikes looked good.

The scenery looked even better.

Back Into The Heart of the Moors

If I had to choose my favourite section of the day, the route from the coast back towards Rosedale Abbey would be right up there.

This is proper North York Moors riding.

Open roads.

Big skies.

Purple heather stretching across the hillsides.

The odd sheep with absolutely no road sense whatsoever.

The roads rise and fall with the landscape, and every crest reveals another incredible view.

You find yourself saying things like, “Bloody hell, look at that,” inside your helmet even when there’s nobody around to hear it.

Hutton-le-Hole, Hawnby and Osmotherley

By now we’d been riding for hours, but these roads have a funny way of keeping you fresh.

Every village feels like it’s from a postcard.

Every road has something different to offer.

The section around Hawnby in particular was fantastic. Tight enough to keep you awake but open enough to enjoy properly.

As we headed towards Osmotherley, the afternoon sun was throwing long shadows across the road and that familiar feeling started creeping in.

The ride was nearly over.

The Last Few Miles

Nobody ever talks about the last stretch back to Squires, but I always like it.

It’s a chance to reflect on the day.

The bike feels comfortable.

Everything is covered in a light coating of road dust and dead flies.

The fuel gauge is lower than it was that morning.

And your face hurts slightly from smiling inside your helmet all day.

We eventually rolled back into Squires where the ride had started.

Engines switched off.

Helmets came off.

The usual lies about how quick everyone was quickly followed.

And another Yorkshire ride went into the memory bank.

Final Thoughts

I’ve ridden all over the UK, but it’s hard to beat North Yorkshire for a day out on a motorcycle.

You get moors, forests, valleys, coast, twisties, sweepers, picture-postcard villages and some of the best biking roads in the country all packed into a single ride.

This route has a bit of everything.

The best thing about it though?

It’s the kind of ride where you forget what day it is.

And if a motorcycle can make you do that for a few hours, then it’s been a pretty perfect day.