A Wensleydale Bike Tour with Stage 1 Cycles
Stage 1 Cycles in North Yorkshire provide bike hire, bike tours, bike sales, bike equipment, and bike servicing. You can also get refreshments in the Firebox Cafe.
Our Review
In the North Yorkshire village of Hawes, head towards the old station and the Firebox Cafe, and you'll find Stage 1 Cycles.
Stage 1 Cycles by the Firebox Cafe in Hawes
Stage 1 Cycles is a bike shop, bike mechanics, bike hire, and even has a club that takes kids out and teaches them bike handling skills.
Getting the kids out on bikes
We joined up with Stage 1 Cycles for their Saturday morning kids cycling club.
Getting kids out on their bikes
We were kitted out with great bikes, helmets, and pack for our cycle tour (more on that later).
The bikes we hired
The kids cycling was very well organised, with the kids fitted out with good mountain bikes and helmets if they didn't have any.
Hawes isn't a very busy town, but even so, the kids were transported by bus from the old station and to the quieter roads on the outside of town.
Cycling through a rocky stream
The cycle coaches helped the kids learn the correct approach across different terrain. Their passion for helping kids get out on bikes really shone through.
Our Tom was on a slightly bigger bike than his own one, and he'd not been on terrain as rocky as this yet, but with help from Stage 1 Cycles, he soon picked it up and his confidence grew.
Practising downhill skills on a rocky track
A Family Cycle Tour and Wensleydale area
After the kids club headed back to Hawes, we went our own way following a family cycling route of the area that Stage 1 Cycles have put together.
The family cycle route around the Wensleydale area
We were really impressed with how well it was thought through. Not just the route, but they also gave us a cycling bag with a puncture repair kit and contact numbers in case we got lost or needed picking up. At many other cycle routes, all you get is a map ;-)
Tom was keen to lead the way as we cycled off road
The route took us over lots of different terrain, villages, and quiet roads.
With Tom's confidence on the bike growing, he was keen to lead the way!
Appersett Viaduct on the old railway line.
It wasn't all pedalling though; we stopped off at the Green Dragon Inn for lunch at in the village of Hardraw.
Time for lunch at the Green Dragon Inn at Hardraw
At the back of the Green Dragon is a waterfall known as Hardraw Force, which is England's highest single drop waterfall.
Hardraw Force Waterfall, though not a lot of water when we visited
Time for Cake!
After stopping off at Hardraw Force we continued the route back to Hawes and the Firebox Cafe, where we just had to sample some of their famous cakes.
The Firebox Cafe at Hawes
Verdict
We had a fabulous time with Stage 1 Cycles. If you are taking your family to the area, we highly recommend that you check out their bike hire and tours. It's a great way of exploring this beautiful area.
Bikes are one of the best ways to explore the beautiful scenery of the Wensleydale area
Facilities
Activities
Prices
There is a range of bikes available to hire, including kids bikes, balance bikes, and electric bikes. They even have a trailer for your dog. As well as hiring bikes, there are also tours available, including family-friendly routes.
On The Map
Address
A Wensleydale Bike Tour with Stage 1 CyclesStage 1 Cycles & Firebox Cafe Station Yard, Hawes
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
DL8 3NT
England
Longitude: -2.193232
Latitude: 54.304401