EU funding pays for new mountain bike and cyclo-cross trails in North York Moors National Park

The new all-weather trails are now open and have been built thanks to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Accessed from the National Park visitor centre at Sutton Bank, the facilities include a 'pump' track for advanced mountain bikers, which features banked turns and rollers.

The family-friendly cycle trail has been constructed with enough width to allow groups to ride side-by-side, and it can also be converted into a cyclo-cross course so that the centre can host races and events.

The cyclo-cross course is thought to be the first of its kind in North Yorkshire and will accommodate participants in a fast-growing discipline. Competitions will he held during the autumn and winter.

Specialist course designers have created the pump track, which is 330 metres in length. It is built around a wildflower meadow that has been planted to attract species such as turtle doves.

The family trail is 2.5km in distance and passes through woodland. The existing Cliff Trail can also be accessed from it, and it is suitable for disabled riders using hand crank cycles. There are also optional features such as jumps and banked corners.

Hire and repair centre Sutton Bank Bikes have already agreed to work with British Cycling to stage a cyclo-cross series, and the centre will act as permanent venue for the sport.

The course will also be an integral part of a gravel bike series as well as forming part of the route for the popular Top of the Rock, Sutton Bank's successful annual gravel event. There are also plans to hold time trial events for older children next spring.

The Park Life Cafe has also been revamped with cyclists in mind.

The North York Moors National Park's director of park services, Michael Graham, said: “While more people are increasingly aware of the great variety of road and off-road cycling we have across the National Park, we knew there was a demand for tracks that can be ridden right throughout the year.

“Both tracks are designed with fun in mind and will be a fantastic starting point for people before they venture out onto trails leading further into the National Park. Sutton Bank’s elevated position offers beautiful natural surroundings and in the words of famous vet James Herriot, ‘the finest view in England’ - so it made sense to make more of the space surrounding the existing visitor facilities with these dedicated cycling tracks.”

Future expansion plans for Sutton Bank National Park Centre include a new nature hub and a 'Dark Skies' observatory.