Is Otley the best place to work / live in the UK?
If you love the outdoors then I think it must be up there.
We benefit from 1st rate climbing, Mountain Biking, Roadbiking, Fell Running, Caving, Hiking and Paragliding. The roads are quiet and there are never any traffic problems (If you avoid going into Leeds- Why would you want to do that?).
This time of year it is amazing what you can get done on an evening after work. Last night we left work at 5.30, Arrived Near kilnsey Crag at 6.15 and headed off for a 3hr mountain bike epic.
Taking in 2 big fells and a couple of major downhills we ticked off 900m of climbing and 27km in some of the Yorkshire Dales finest scenery.
We followed a little used route through Wharfedale and Littondale . This goes through Kettlewell then up a brutal off road track to near the peak of Buckden Pike. A fast and furious descent leads down to Starbotton. A full Susser if a definate advantage here.
Next follows a welcome rest for a few km on the road up to Buckden. Then another monster climb up to Firth Fell.
No time to rest before the final downhill back into Littondale. This is an amazing 400m vertical descent on some fantastic limestone paths. Discs nearly melting you arrive in Littondale before a 5km scenic road ride gets you back to the cars. This rates as one of the best the Dales has to offer.
We rode 20km off road and did not see another person. All finished up with a sunset and a pint in Kilnsey. Perfect.