B1257

We all have good motorcycling roads in our areas and "Up North" we have an abundance. One in particular, the B1257 is often called the North's T.T. due to the abundance of bikes enjoying, and sadly sometimes abusing, the lovely twisting road. This road reminds us just how much enjoyment you can get from riding a motorcycle. It runs from Stokesley to Helmsley, a distance of some 20 miles. Its a glorious road and on it is the market square in Helmsley where riders gather. It's well catered for by adequate parking and an abundance of cafes.

But how many riders take the time to stop, look and enjoy what may be found along the way? Let's take a quick look;

Stokesley at the start is a market town located at the foot of the Cleveland Hills. Its cobbled high street dates back to 1223. At one end is the West Green and College Square is at the other, bounded by Regency and Georgian buildings. The town is steeped in history and is well worth a wander around. However, it's nothing truly remarkable and is usually just a fuel stop.

The B1257 starts it path at the edge of the town's roundabout. At first it's nothing spectacular. After 2 miles riding you arrive at the village of Great Broughton, and get your first taste of what's to come; The forested hills rise majestically in the distance inviting you to visit them. The moors surrounding this village were once famous for Jet mining in the 19th century and the spoil from the drift mines can be found amongst these hills.

Jet is a beautiful black gem stone. Jewellery made from it was favoured by Queen Victoria with resulted in grea popularity in the masses. It can still be bought in numerous shops in nearby Whitby. The miners who worked this Jet were given the rare distinction of having a public house named after them. The "Jet miners Inn" you will see on the left as you pass through Broughton, set back a little from the road. If you call in for a soft drink or a coffee, take a good look around and you will find a poem allegedly written by a traveller who was told of the decline of the trade by the locals.

Leaving the village the road begins to twist and climb up a hill through forest. This hill is called Clay Bank and on the left, close to the top you will find a car park. Do pull in if the weather is good as the scenery from here is magnificent. You will be rewarded with views of the Cleveland Hills with the fells rising out of the forest to the south and a panorama of Kildale. The unmistakable Roseberry Topping complete with Captain Cook's monument is to the left, and industrial Teesside spills away in the distance.

Once you're back on the bike you'll rise over the summit and sweep down into Bilsdale valley. Here the road is twisty, undulating and exhilarating. The beautiful countryside that you pass through will please you no end.

Onwards and through the small village of Chop Gate. The name is pronounced 'Chop Yat' by the locals and it probably means 'pedlars' way' ('Yat' being a local dialect word for a gate or route).

As you travel further along admiring the fine views and enjoying the road, watch out for the turn off to your right for Fangdale Beck and keep a sharp eye open for the distinctive green telephone kiosk. This was installed in 1930 and specially painted this colour to blend in with the landscape. It does this effectively as you can easily miss it. In 1992 apparently, the locals got extremely upset when British Telecom removed it and replaced it with a conventional box. But, BT did not realize that they had removed a Grade II listed building and were fined a total of £3,000 and ordered to restore the original!

A bit further down the road you will see the Sun Inn on your left. It seems at first to be just an ordinary Inn, but pull in and take a look behind it. There you will find Spout House; a remarkably well-preserved example of a 16th century "cruck" framed house. The building began its life as a farm tenant's cottage and in 1744 it also became an alehouse, known as the Sun Inn. Later it accommodated lodgers and shooting parties visiting the Bilsdale valley. By 1914 it had grown so popular that a larger inn was needed and the new Sun Inn, which you see today was built. It's not a patch on the looks and feel of the original however. Spout House finally closed its doors and was virtually abandoned, gradually falling into disrepair. But in 1979 restoration was undertaken and completed by 1982, preserving its original fittings intact and keeping much of the furniture in the building. In so doing its character is now no different from that day in 1914 when the last pint was pulled. Spout House has become an invaluable local treasure so often passed by and yet never seen.

Onwards riding through the valley you hit Newgate Bank, where again the views are magnificent. After a short while, the road opens out and you see stretching away in the distance the Vale of York. You will you pass on your right a road leading off to Rievaulx abbey that will take you through the beautiful Rydale valley. But to do this we would have to leave the B1257. This must be left for another day.

Now, as you start the steady downward flight to Helmsley, the castle comes into view in the distance nestled away to the right. The road gets steadily steeper as you hit this small town. Follow the signs for Scarborough, find the market square and park up.

So there you have it, the road is not just a lovely, twisty experience to enjoy on a motorcycle, there is much more to it if only you stop, look and see.