Get on your bike and find the fresh hotspots

Cyclists from all over the world compete in Stage Two of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire today and those house-hunting in the county’s premier hotspots would do well to watch the race.

The 174km route takes in some of the best up-and-coming alternatives to the “Golden Triangle’s” favourite locations. The race starts just outside Selby before heading up the North Newbald climb and on to Beverley, Driffield and Malton before a sprint finish in York.

Selby is perfectly positioned between Leeds and York and property prices are lower than sought-after parts of the two major cities. It sits on the River Ouse and is surrounded by attractive countryside and villages, and its excellent transport links are proving a major attraction for incomers.

It has quick and easy access to the A1/M1, M62, A64 and M18 plus trains to Leeds, York and Doncaster. The 17-minute ride to Doncaster is popular with those who need to commute to London.

The traditional market town is also showing all the classic signs of gentrification. House builders are targeting the area, along with supermarkets and major retailers. A new leisure centre with a pool and gym has just opened and there is talk of a multi-screen cinema.

Sharon Widdrington, of Jigsaw Sales and Lettings in Selby, says: “The market here is buzzing with first-time buyers, investors and people moving up the property ladder. We are seeing a lot of buyers from Leeds and York looking for property because this area offers such good value. I live in a village near Selby and if my house was in York it would be £120,000 more expensive.

“This area is not well nown compared to the Golden Triangle hotspots but it is a lovely place with easy access to three motorways.”

First-time buyers can get a two-bedroom terraced house in Selby for £100,000, while semis semi start from £150,000. A four-bedroom detached in popular villages such as Barlby and Riccall is about £300,000.

The Tour de Yorkshire will also highlight the charms of Beverley, which offers an alternative to bustling York and its soaraway house prices, which rose by eight per cent between February 2014 to February 2015, while the Yorkshire average was 2.8 per cent.

“You get more bang for your buck in Beverley. Prices are 30 per cent lower than prime York,” says Ben Pridden, of Savills.

Often referred to as a “mini York”, Beverley is less than an hour’s drive from the city and has its own minster, racecourse and attractive Georgian and Victorian houses.

“I have sold two multi-million pound houses near Beverley and both sets of buyers swore they wouldn’t live outside the Golden Triangle They saw the properties, realised they were far better value than anything in their search area and they bought,” says Ben.

Even less expensive is the next town on the Tour’s route. Driffield, where you can find a two-bed terraced house for £85,000 and semis from £125,000. It has train links to Hull, Doncaster and Sheffield. Malton, boosted by its bid to be the food capital of Yorkshire, is surrounded by Ryedale countryside and has great train links to York and Leeds. It is a half hour drive from the coast and from York, Prices start from £95,000 for a two-bedroom terraced house, With all that in mind, there is only one thing to do and that’s “Get on your bike” and take a look.