Moors and Shores Adventure Cross

Kicking off this year's Cycling Weekly/mbr Adventure Cross season, the Moors and Shores is a real mixture of terrain. From gravel forest roads to exposed moorland and rutted narrow lanes this route offers plenty of contrast in a constantly changing landscape.

The routes cover a wide variety of terrain but nothing too technical for those not used to riding off road and the landscapes are spectacular. There is enough climbing to satisfy without making it feel too tough. A great event to start the year.

Yorkshire is the largest county in England, if you combine North Yorkshire, East Riding and West riding, covering some 6000 square miles. Its size means that it has diverse countryside; forests and moors, stunning coastline and its fair share of steep hills. The Moors and Shores route, as the name suggests, gives riders a little taste of everything.

The route starts almost immediately onto the gravel roads that make up much of Dalby forest but nestled in amongst the trees, often obscured from view, are a huge network of single-track trails but this treat is saved until the end of the route. The gravel roads are hard packed and well-drained presenting no technical difficulties so it's easy to buzz along at a good pace.