This mountain bike route of
21miles, on the trails north of
Hebden Bridge, travels over the
moorland and through the mill
towns and villages of the area.
A great ride with a mixture of
terrain for the descents and
some climbs that will get your
legs burning. If you do this on a
bad day bare in mind that it can
be a bit bleak as there is
nowhere to shelter on the tops of
the moors.
1. Start at the Hardcastle Crags,
Midgehole National Trust car
park (GR988291) on the
northern outskirts of Hebden
Bridge. From the upper part of
the car park follow the road as it
climbs up the left hand side of
the valley. It soon turns into a
dirt track and re-enters the
trees. Continue climbing straight
21miles, on the trails north of
Hebden Bridge, travels over the
moorland and through the mill
towns and villages of the area.
A great ride with a mixture of
terrain for the descents and
some climbs that will get your
legs burning. If you do this on a
bad day bare in mind that it can
be a bit bleak as there is
nowhere to shelter on the tops of
the moors.
1. Start at the Hardcastle Crags,
Midgehole National Trust car
park (GR988291) on the
northern outskirts of Hebden
Bridge. From the upper part of
the car park follow the road as it
climbs up the left hand side of
the valley. It soon turns into a
dirt track and re-enters the
trees. Continue climbing straight
ahead past the tracks on the left. After leaving the trees behind go through the gate, by the farm on the right, to a flat
section of trail that leads on to a junction just before a derelict building (GR989313).
2. Go straight on past the building and up the valley. The trail eventually goes through two gates on a right hand
bend then descends to the lane that can be seen climbing out the head of the valley (GR995324). At the bottom of the
descent go through the gate onto the lane, and as you might have guessed, turn left, engage a low gear and climb the
lane. At the junction with road to the farm on the right continue climbing the lane off to the left. At the next junction go
straight ahead on the gritstone track that continues up to the top of the hill. At the crest a flat section with a drystone
wall on the left leads to the descent.
section of trail that leads on to a junction just before a derelict building (GR989313).
2. Go straight on past the building and up the valley. The trail eventually goes through two gates on a right hand
bend then descends to the lane that can be seen climbing out the head of the valley (GR995324). At the bottom of the
descent go through the gate onto the lane, and as you might have guessed, turn left, engage a low gear and climb the
lane. At the junction with road to the farm on the right continue climbing the lane off to the left. At the next junction go
straight ahead on the gritstone track that continues up to the top of the hill. At the crest a flat section with a drystone
wall on the left leads to the descent.
3. The descent starts out loose and very rocky,
becoming flatter and faster in the middle then
finishes with a steeper rocky section to a farm on
the left. After the farm follow the tarmac down to
the reservoir. Follow the track anti-clockwise
around the reservoir to the junction in front of
the dam (GR017352). Turn right, past the
cottages, and on to the crossroad. Turn right
and descend on the tarmac to the junction with
the main road (A6033) in the outskirts of
Oxenhope. Turn left and ride a short way to the junction just before the pub on the tight
left hand bend (GR032348). At this junction take the road on the right and descend a
short way to the next junction and turn left. This road soon comes out at the B6141.
left hand bend (GR032348). At this junction take the road on the right and descend a
short way to the next junction and turn left. This road soon comes out at the B6141.
4. Turn left on the B6141, past the chimney, and climb for 1mile to the Dog & Gun Inn near the
top of the hill (GR048342). At the crossroad by the pub turn right. Follow this lane, which is
pretty steep in places, past the houses on the right and through a left then right bend. Ride
right round the back of the last house and along the flat track finally turning right to a gate. Go
straight on through the gate along the lane keeping the view on the right hand side. The track
soon bears left and comes to a gate at the bottom of a broken, rocky looking climb on the
top of the hill (GR048342). At the crossroad by the pub turn right. Follow this lane, which is
pretty steep in places, past the houses on the right and through a left then right bend. Ride
right round the back of the last house and along the flat track finally turning right to a gate. Go
straight on through the gate along the lane keeping the view on the right hand side. The track
soon bears left and comes to a gate at the bottom of a broken, rocky looking climb on the
Bronte Way (GR046333).
5. Go through the gate and follow the
track to the crest of the hill. This
climb is a tricky, challenging mixture of
rock slabs and muddy ruts. It is
climable….just. Follow the rutted,
slightly boggy track over the top of the
hill then descend to a junction by the
wind farm on the right (GR049323).
Take the right hand fork into the gully,
5. Go through the gate and follow the
track to the crest of the hill. This
climb is a tricky, challenging mixture of
rock slabs and muddy ruts. It is
climable….just. Follow the rutted,
slightly boggy track over the top of the
hill then descend to a junction by the
wind farm on the right (GR049323).
Take the right hand fork into the gully,
straight on being a section of footpath that joins
back up with the BW a little further down. The
tight singletrack runs along the left hand side of
the gully and as it descends becomes wider
and rockier. The track eventually comes to a
gate after which it thins down and becomes
contained in a small cutting. Keep to the right
of the cutting as the centre track becomes
water logged and hard to get out of. The trail
soon becomes rocky and leads to another
gate. Through the gate descend the wide
broken track down to a lane. Go straight on
back up with the BW a little further down. The
tight singletrack runs along the left hand side of
the gully and as it descends becomes wider
and rockier. The track eventually comes to a
gate after which it thins down and becomes
contained in a small cutting. Keep to the right
of the cutting as the centre track becomes
water logged and hard to get out of. The trail
soon becomes rocky and leads to another
gate. Through the gate descend the wide
broken track down to a lane. Go straight on
and descend to the junction with the main road, with the pub on the left (GR069309).
6. Turn right on the main road and follow this busy road to the crossroad just after the
6. Turn right on the main road and follow this busy road to the crossroad just after the
Moorlands Inn (GR070298). Turn right onto the lane between the drystone walls and follow it through a left hand bend.
Go straight on at the junctions and descend to the junction at the end. Turn sharp right and descend through a left
hander into the houses. Keep to the main road, past the playground on the right, over the mini roundabout then take
the lane on the right directly after the school (GR060285). Climb the lane, keeping the housing estate on the left, then
up the steep muddy track with the drystone wall on the left. I did this in January and it was a boggy push to the first
gate, if it does dry out it will still be a hard climb, it’s not long though. After the gate follow the trail keeping to the
drystone wall then bear right at the house and descend on tarmac to the junction with the lane (GR048284).
Go straight on at the junctions and descend to the junction at the end. Turn sharp right and descend through a left
hander into the houses. Keep to the main road, past the playground on the right, over the mini roundabout then take
the lane on the right directly after the school (GR060285). Climb the lane, keeping the housing estate on the left, then
up the steep muddy track with the drystone wall on the left. I did this in January and it was a boggy push to the first
gate, if it does dry out it will still be a hard climb, it’s not long though. After the gate follow the trail keeping to the
drystone wall then bear right at the house and descend on tarmac to the junction with the lane (GR048284).
7. Turn right and climb the lane a short way to the second junction. Take the
lane that forks ahead and left. Follow this lane straight on at the junction
where it becomes a dirt track. This potholed track comes to another junction,
after a while, just before a group of houses straight on (GR046297). Turn left
at the junction and climb the trail, past a small reservoir on the left, and on to a
gate at a house. Bear left on the trail through the gate and follow it as it goes
through a couple of right turns to a steep muddy climb that bears left and
comes out at a house. Continue left at the house and climb to a gate and then
follow the track right to the junction with the road (GR045306).
8. Turn left and follow the road and, a little bit
after the Warley Moor Reservoir comes into
view on the left, go through the gate on the left
by the water board sign. Descend on the track
down to the reservoir. At the far left hand
corner of the reservoir go right over the small
bridge and follow the track along the edge of
the water. At the far end of the reservoir turn
left on the track that follows along the left hand
side of the water channel (GR026320). Follow
this track for just over 1.5miles to a junction with
a track on the left. Go straight on and in a few
10s of meters follow the track 90deg right and
climb the boggy trail to the trig point at the top
of High Brown Knoll (GR009304).
after the Warley Moor Reservoir comes into
view on the left, go through the gate on the left
by the water board sign. Descend on the track
down to the reservoir. At the far left hand
corner of the reservoir go right over the small
bridge and follow the track along the edge of
the water. At the far end of the reservoir turn
left on the track that follows along the left hand
side of the water channel (GR026320). Follow
this track for just over 1.5miles to a junction with
a track on the left. Go straight on and in a few
10s of meters follow the track 90deg right and
climb the boggy trail to the trig point at the top
of High Brown Knoll (GR009304).
9. After the trig point continue straight on along the track as it starts winding
through and over some large rocks. This trail eventually comes out to a steep
stepped section of the descent that ends at a gate at the main road
(GR999311). Turn left and descend on the road to Pecket Well. Stay on the
main road through the village then a little after the last building on the right
take the thin, rock paved track on the right (GR996929). This track is to the
left of a small junction on the right, just before a long drystone wall on the right
of the main road leads into the trees.
10. Descend the steep, tricky, rocky track to a junction then turn right. Descend the cobbles and cross the bridge over
the stream then bear left up a small climb. This trail soon starts descending, becoming rocky and pretty technical.
Near the bottom go straight on by the house for a final short stretch of track that comes out at a road. Turn right and
ride back to the car park. Just before the car park take the marked BW on the right that climbs to the top part of car
park and the end of the ride.
This route crosses and can be combined with outher routes from my site :
Hebden Bridge - Singletrack Route
the stream then bear left up a small climb. This trail soon starts descending, becoming rocky and pretty technical.
Near the bottom go straight on by the house for a final short stretch of track that comes out at a road. Turn right and
ride back to the car park. Just before the car park take the marked BW on the right that climbs to the top part of car
park and the end of the ride.
This route crosses and can be combined with outher routes from my site :
Hebden Bridge - Singletrack Route
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