Have we just found North Yorkshire’s answer to the famous Cap Formentor lighthouse ride on Mallorca? 

Four miles of silky smooth tarmac on a nearly traffic free dead end road – only it’s to the Scar House Reservoir in Nidderdale rather than a lighthouse on a Mediterranean island. 

There’s no cafe at the end but it’s only a stone’s throw from How Stean Gorge which is where we stopped. This is a destination from my early days of cycling with Airedale that I haven’t been to for years and had thought might have closed. It hasn’t, and it’s really quite good with a glass floor directly over the gorge. 

The ride followed the planned route via Askwith to Lofthouse before taking the 8 mile detour to Scar House and back before the cafe stop, then the planned route back via Summerbridge. About 70 miles in total at 15mph average with 6000 feet climbing and the wind getting stronger as the ride went on but at least no rain. 

A separate group opted for a slightly less hilly ride and went up Wharfedale to Burnsall.