The New Inn - Appletreewick Yorkshire
Go visit a Legend
Now I don't know about you but I'd heard so many stories and seen umpteen magazine articles about a man called Pitch and a pub that positively encouraged muddy mountainbikers to use it as a base for their riding.
All I can say is that its place in MTB folklore is very deserved, go visit some day and sample all it has to offer.
Now Appletreewick is not the easiest place to get too, the lanes to the small village are very narrow but the trip is worth it. Its not the cheapest B&B you will find but as a mountainbiker you are getting a lot for your cash.
Plenty of parking, great food (the breakfast will get you up the hills for sure) an amazing Belgium beer selection and good local ales.
Your bikes will be pampered as much as you, the pubs bike lock up is called the "bike livery" and its a superbly stocked workshop where you expensive friend will sleep soundly too.
The whole pub is adorned with route maps and photos to make you feel right at home.
The setting is superb too with great views over a river valley.
Just Passing through, no problem sit outside the Pub with a few beers or if it's colder pop inside. No worries for your bike as there's even a top of the range lock and shackle clamped to the front wall, just ask for the key inside.
You don't see that or the sign, left, very often on the front of a pub.
The new Inn is run by John Pitchers, who is a complete mountainbike enthusiast, he has been for years. He's a veteran of many epic mountainbike challenges, which he's found time to fit in around being a publican.
Route maps on the bar walls show a mass of possible routes in the area, looks like enough for a weeks riding if your prepared to jump in the car for 30 mins for some.
Pitch will talk you through every last inch off them if you want, pull up a nice Leffe or even the Westmalle on draft and enjoy the stories that seem to accompany each and every section.
The Belgium beer menu is a joy, another of Pitch's passions and the range is staggering.
That's our groups bikes resting after a hard day on the snowy moors round Malham. Yes they are spotless, the livery comes with a very well designed bike wash and a workshop.
There's wipes for your steeds, tools to use and tat very secure bike rack to store and lock your bike.
No stacking your bike on top off all your mates here, tons of room and check out the beer mats under the seats, that's top bike pampering.
Click the Livery picture for larger size of your bikes bedroom for the night.
A good place to stay is useless though if the riding isn't up to scratch, well no problems on that front its great.
We visited in March and the trails were all rideable, yes you'll get muddy but this is Yorkshire.
There's several loops straight out the pub door, great varied riding with some cracking climbs and long descents.
You can easily link up with other areas such as Malham, Pately Bridge or Nidderdale and create some monster epics, or just a short drive will start you in other valleys.
We sampled two 25 mile loops, the left over snow added to the full on exposed experience of Mastilles lane on day one. The views were amazing and the technical challenges of riding through snow drifts added loads of fun.
One play time saw some races down one snow covered bank. An ex UK downhill champion set off but was quickly overtaken by another rider.....on a waterproof map sledge, superb.
DC found a nice hole in the snow as you can see, nice faceplant.
Day two and the hangovers after a great social night in the pub didn't stop a southern loop from the pub door.
This lower lying area proved to be a classic loop, a mix of all types of riding and another great 25 mile loop.
Get back to the new Inn before 2pm and enjoy one of there superb meals before the drive home if you can.
They will let B&B guests shower before you head off too, supreme hosts.
