A Cycling Year: An illustrated journal of a year's bicycle rides in Yorkshire

A Cycling Year is a quiet, beautiful celebration of place, season and the simple joy of travelling by bike. Inspired by an old map of Wharfedale in Yorkshire, writer and artist Heather Dawe sets out each month to ride a different route through this much‑loved dale — following roads, trails and forgotten lines that reveal the landscape in all its shifting moods.

Across twelve rides, Dawe explores the geography, history and character of Wharfedale, from winter’s stark outlines to the full bloom of summer and the soft colours of autumn. Her journeys are brought vividly to life through her own paintings, which capture the textures, colours and atmosphere of the dale in a way that words alone never could.

Part travelogue, part nature writing, part artistic meditation, A Cycling Year invites readers to slow down, look closely and rediscover the beauty of familiar places. It’s a book for cyclists, walkers, Yorkshire lovers and anyone drawn to the rhythm of the seasons.