Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens: Cycle route with photos.

Take this opportunity to ditch the car and get on your bike!

We are currently carrying out a trial offer for cyclists lasting until the end of 2012.

If you are not currently a National Trust member and are simply passing through, why not take advantage and stop by reception. Ask about our special access offer to our refreshment facilities and shop and purchase one of our £5.00 vouchers to spend on site!

Consider Beningbrough Hall & Gardens your haven for refreshment!

There are many cycle routes in and surrounding York, many of which enable cyclists to get a glimpse of some truly stunning scenery – the route from York to Beningbrough is one of these.

Check out the route below as travelled by Tristram Hill one of our Volunteer Gardeners -

Starting from the west end of The Minster, cycle along Duncombe Place and across the traffic lights onto Museum Street. Cross the road (before reaching Lendal Bridge) at the entrance to the Yorkshire Museum Gardens and turn immediately left.

I advise dismounting here and walking down to Lendal Tower. The path around the bottom of the tower is a blind corner so watch out for pedestrians before cycling again, and then follow the river.

Go through the arch by the old tower, stay close to the river, and go under the railway bridge (another narrow passageway). The cycle/pedestrian path will now take you past the playing fields of St Peters School before going under Clifton (Water End) Bridge. At this point there is a (normally) locked gate. Open access is to the left.

A series of cattle grids, which are there for a reason, now provides an “interesting” ride for the next few miles, as the tarmac-surfaced path takes you through Clifton Ings and a woodland nature reserve.

At the A1237 ring-road bridge turn sharp left and, ringing your bell furiously, slowly approach the blind corner where the path becomes very narrow. Go under the bridge and bear right up the other side.

Before reaching road level, turn left at the cattle grid. Turn left again when the path reaches an access road. Cycle past the row of cottages to re-join the path. This section is, I think, the most picturesque as it follows a very quiet stretch of the river before it winds through a shady wood. Look out for the unusual seats and a miniature forth bridge along the way.

At the end of this dedicated cycle path (but always remember it’s also for pedestrians, many with dogs) turn left onto the country lane and continue, under the railway, through the hamlet of Overton, and then over the railway. Such bridges are the only real hills in the Vale of York!

There is now a junction with a much busier road, turn left but watch out for fast traffic coming off the A19 to your right. Continue past the ’Sidings Hotel & Restaurant’ (a converted engine shed by the East Coast Line with old sleeping car carriages for accommodation) to a T-junction.
Turn left and once more, go over the railway (another hill!). Take the next left which is sign-posted to Beningbrough.

Keep straight on this lane to the gate-lodge entrance to Beningbrough Hall. This route is 10 miles and should take about 75 minutes, but strong head or tail winds will make a difference.