National Cycle Route 688

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 688 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Winterburn to Linton-on-Ouse.^[2] It is 55 miles (89 km), fully open and signed.

NCN Route 688
A typical Route 688 sign showing the Way of the Roses red and white roses, a direction arrow and route number
Length	55 mi (89 km)
Location	Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Established	2010
Designation	UK National Cycle Network
Trailheads	Winterburn (west) 54.0226°N 2.1025°W / 54.0226; -2.1025 (Route 688 (Winterburn terminus)) Linton-on-Ouse (east) 54.0387°N 1.2351°W / 54.0387; -1.2351 (Route 688 (Linton-on-Ouse terminus))
Use	Cycling
Highest point	Greenhow, 404[1] m (1,325 ft)
Lowest point	Linton-on-Ouse, 16 m (52 ft)
Difficulty	Hard
Waymark
Surface	On-road
Website

v t e National Cycle Route 688
Legend
68  Western trailhead Burnsall River Wharfe Appletreewick Greenhow River Nidd Pateley Bridge Brimham Rocks   67  to S Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Park Ripon Boroughbridge River Ouse Eastern trailhead   65

History

Route 688 was created as an integral part of the Way of the Roses coast-to-coast route between Morecambe and Bridlington which opened on 11 September 2010.^[3]

Route

The western trailhead is at Winterburn (54.0226°N 2.1025°W / 54.0226; -2.1025), in the Yorkshire Dales, where it meets Route 68, the Pennine Cycle Way. It passes through Cracoe and Burnsall before climbing to the routes high point at Greenhow followed by a steep descent into Pateley Bridge. A further climb to Brimham Rocks is followed by a gradual descent on to the Vale of York via Fountains Abbey and Ripon. From here the route is flat as it follows the River Ouse via Boroughbridge and crossing it at Aldwark Bridge. The eastern trail head is at a junction with Route 65 at Linton-on-Ouse (54.0387°N 1.2351°W / 54.0387; -1.2351).^[4]

Related NCN routes

Route 688 is part of the Way of the Roses along with:^[5]

• 69
• 68
• 65
• 658
• 66
• 164
• 1

Route 688 meets the following routes:

• Route 68 at Winterburn (54.0226°N 2.1025°W / 54.0226; -2.1025),
• Route 67 near Fountains Abbey (54.0914°N 1.5771°W / 54.0914; -1.5771).
• Route 65 at Linton-on-Ouse (54.0387°N 1.2351°W / 54.0387; -1.2351).