Off Road Yorkshire Loop

I rode one of my favourite routes last week. 110 miles, mostly on old railway lines and canal towpaths, connecting York to Doncaster, Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds then back to York. It is an incredible journey.
First off is a ride along the old East Coast Mainline to Selby. This route was abandoned in the 80s when a diversionary line was created to avoid the then new Selby coalfield. It means you can cycle where Mallard steamed at full tilt back in the day. From Selby the route crosses a World War II bomber command airfield that is now [very very] slowly reverting to agricultural use, then follows a series of canals and disused coal pits across the flatlands to Doncaster.
An old railway line skirts Doncaster then picks us the River Don in the beautiful Don Gorge which is followed past the failed Earth Centre [Millennium funding, no clear purpose] to the Dearne Valley where there are bird reserves and wetlands where before was all industry.
Skirting Barnsley the route follows lovely old canals shaded by trees up towards Wakefield. The River Aire is then followed before reaching Leeds and striking north through Temple Newsham park and a great route on bridleways back to York. What a day. Totally exhausted but happy.

The photo is of one of the disused railway viaducts over the Don.