Dales Camp Out 

The Dales Camp Out is a two day bikepacking adventure covering 135km on old drovers lanes, bridleways, moorland singletrack and country lanes in the Yorkshire Dales on 5th / 6th October 2024.
The Dales Camp Out is billed as a 'bikepacking adventure' because it has two unique features.
Firstly, a 'Checkpoint Challenge' where riders locate 7 places on Saturday's 65km route and work solo, in pairs or in teams to find answers to a series of questions about features in the landscape. Riders will not be expected to name types of rocks, plants or animals.
The Challenge is to observe and record on a brevet style card some physical aspect of the landscape, eg, what is the date on the way stone at 35km? Back at the camp riders get to ‘pool’ their answers and they’ll be seven very special prizes for the winners of each Checkpoint.
Secondly, on Saturday evening there is a Night Walk to the Bronze Age Stones on Ilkley Moor. It's not a 5 hour hike, more a stroll with your headlamp up to the top of the moor, through the heather and onto the fascinating stones which are all the more dramatic as it'll be pitch black!
NB: the campsite is located just below the open moor so you've done most of the climb on your bike and you can drop a pair of hiking boots off at the Event Hub in Settle early Saturday morning as you don't wont to be carrying boots on your bike!
The Checkpoint Challenge is entirely optional. The basic idea is to slow down and observe the landscape we ride through but riders are welcome to tackle the route in one go or take the two days and enjoy the route in their own way.
Participation in the Night Walk is also optional. After all, the camp fire is a great alternative on Saturday evening as is recovering in your tent!
Sunday is a straightforward 70km ride back to Settle via Ilkley where the friendly staff at the ALPKIT store are hosting a hot drinks station for us between 9am-12 noon. Skyreholme Bank and Appletreewick are just two of the other highlights of Sunday's route.
The starting line is the 3 Peaks Cycle Cafe on Market Street in Settle. Riders can enjoy a meat or veggie sausage bap and tea/coffee from the excellent cafe and then depart between 7.30am - 9.30am on the Saturday and return the next day having ridden across several moors, along the River Wharf and through small Dales villages like Appletreewick and Grassington.
65km into the route there is a campsite on a working Dales farm with facilities such as loos, running water, showers and of course a large grass field where riders pitch up for the night having carried all the equipment they need, eg, tent/bivy, sleeping bag and mat.
Riders can drop off a pair of walking boots and a bike lock at the 3 Peaks Cafe in Settle and this will be transported to the campsite for your use on Saturday evening. All other items needed for the weekend should be carried by the rider.
The cost of entry to the 'Dales Camp Out' includes:
GPX file - Sent to your email address on the Monday prior to the event (30th September). This will be in two parts. An 'outward' leg and a 'return' leg.
Event Hub - Every adventure needs support and so 3 Peaks Cycles in Settle will be our hub where all riders sign on between 7.30am-9.15am. Once riders have registered with Event Officials they can depart on the Saturday between 7.30am - 9.15am. The field of riders will be capped at 60.
GPS tracker - A tracker is a large part of the sign on cost but we have found they are essential in enabling friends, family and event officials to see your progress across the trail. Issued at the event hub. Supplied by 'Follow my Challenge'.
Breakfast - In the 3 Peaks Cycles Cafe riders can enjoy a meat or veggie sausage bap and tea/coffee from 7.30am-9am.
Campsite - On a working farm located below Ilkley Moor. It has basic facilities such as loos and hot showers (x3) plus a covered kitchen washing up area and even a hose pipe to wash your bike. There will be an artisan food van at the site in the evening but it's a good idea to bring your own stove and ingredients.
Sunday hot drink station - The friendly staff at the ALPKIT store in Ilkley will be hosting a hot drinks station for us between 9am-12 noon. The route goes past the shop with the tea / coffee etc located inside the large foyer.
Group Social Ride - there is a small group ride. There is no application form to fill in and no criteria to join the group rider other than being fine with waiting at gates and at the tops of hills for the group to gather and then move on. To join email yorkshiredivide@gmail.com with the works 'Group Ride' and get a rider number (1 to 5).
Map and photo and info about the 'Bikepacking Yorkshire Bursary' on:
www.yorkshiredivide.co.uk
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