track, down the right hand side of the valley. Go
straight on at the junction 2/3rds of the way
down and follow the track to the junction on the
hairpin bend. Go straight on and descend the
lane past the church to the junction with the main
road (GR985273). Turn left and climb to the
lights at top. Go straight at this junction and
descend back into the centre of Hebden Bridge.
straight on at the junction 2/3rds of the way
down and follow the track to the junction on the
hairpin bend. Go straight on and descend the
lane past the church to the junction with the main
road (GR985273). Turn left and climb to the
lights at top. Go straight at this junction and
descend back into the centre of Hebden Bridge.
This mountain bike route of 21 miles starts in Hebden
Bridge. It climbs west out of the town on a circular route
around Heptonstall Moor. The rocky trails are not
particularly technical but there are some long, testing climbs
and some fast descents. This includes 3.5 miles of descent
back to Hebden Bridge to finish the ride.
1. Start from the car park in the centre of town near St
George's Square, just off the A6033 (GR992274). Leave
the car park at the opposite end to the toilets and turn left to
go across the bridge towards St George's Square. At the
square where the road turns left, turn right. If it's after 10am
dismount for a short push through the pedestrian zone. If it’
s before 10am you can ride this section. Go straight on all
the way to the traffic lights at the junction at the far end
(GR992272). Turn right and follow the main road through
town, past Blazing Saddles on the left. At the end of the
shops go up a short climb to the traffic lights at the top. Go
straight on and descend to a left hand bend then, in the
middle of the corner, take the road on the right to ride past
the church (GR985273).
2. After the church climb the steep lane to a junction on a
left hand hairpin bend. Go straight ahead on the wide track
that climbs steadily through the trees, up the left hand side
of the valley. After a while the track comes to a forked
junction (GR978281). Take the left hand track to continue
climbing up a steeper incline covered in loose rocks. The
track eventually flattens off and passes a building on the
Bridge. It climbs west out of the town on a circular route
around Heptonstall Moor. The rocky trails are not
particularly technical but there are some long, testing climbs
and some fast descents. This includes 3.5 miles of descent
back to Hebden Bridge to finish the ride.
1. Start from the car park in the centre of town near St
George's Square, just off the A6033 (GR992274). Leave
the car park at the opposite end to the toilets and turn left to
go across the bridge towards St George's Square. At the
square where the road turns left, turn right. If it's after 10am
dismount for a short push through the pedestrian zone. If it’
s before 10am you can ride this section. Go straight on all
the way to the traffic lights at the junction at the far end
(GR992272). Turn right and follow the main road through
town, past Blazing Saddles on the left. At the end of the
shops go up a short climb to the traffic lights at the top. Go
straight on and descend to a left hand bend then, in the
middle of the corner, take the road on the right to ride past
the church (GR985273).
2. After the church climb the steep lane to a junction on a
left hand hairpin bend. Go straight ahead on the wide track
that climbs steadily through the trees, up the left hand side
of the valley. After a while the track comes to a forked
junction (GR978281). Take the left hand track to continue
climbing up a steeper incline covered in loose rocks. The
track eventually flattens off and passes a building on the
right just before coming to a junction with a lane. Go straight on up the tarmac, past a row of houses on the left, to a
junction with the road at the top (GR963281).
junction with the road at the top (GR963281).
3. Turn right and follow the
road through the dip at Jack
Bridge then climb to the next
village. At the junction at the
top of the climb (GR968287)
signed for the Pennine BW,
turn hard left along the lane
that leads up the right hand
side of the valley. Stay on
the tarmac and ride straight
ahead past all the tracks on
either side. Where the lane
eventually transforms into a
wide, broken track continue
straight ahead, ignoring any tracks on the left. Eventually the track bears right and climbs to a gated junction
(GR947301). Take the track on the right, following the sign for the Pennine BW, to climb through a few steep rocky
bends to the top of the ridge.
(GR947301). Take the track on the right, following the sign for the Pennine BW, to climb through a few steep rocky
bends to the top of the ridge.
4. Descend off the ridge through a couple of rocky bends
before the track straightens out and comes to a gate
2/3rds of the way down. Continue straight on through the
gate to the next gate at the bottom of the descent
(GR947313). After the gate turn left and follow the track
past the house on the right then turn right to ride across
the dam of the Lower Gorple Reservoir. At the junction at
the far side of the dam turn right and descend the concrete
double track. Follow the track left then at the bottom cross
a bridge and climb a short way to a gate, then a junction
with a lane (GR947323). Turn left and climb straight on up
the lane, past junction with the gated lane on the right, to
the Widdop Reservoir. Go past a car park on the left, just
before the reservoir, to a gate on the left (GR937329).
5. Go through this gate and ride along the
cobbled track across the dam. On the far side
turn right and follow the grit stone track along the
left hand side of the reservoir. The track soon
begins to climb and gets steeper as it goes.
Follow the trail through a number of bends,
bearing left at the junction on the left hand
hairpin for the steepest section of the climb
(GR926324). The track then turns right and
climbs through some very loose rocks before
flattening off at the top of the hill. Follow the track as it
bears right and descends over a short section of bedrock
before traversing the hillside to a gate.
6. After the gate descend along the fence on the right to a
water bar, which is good for some air, just before a small
bridge on a left hand bend. Go up a short climb then
follow the trail right for a long rocky decent that has a few
more water bars (again, fun ones you can jump). The
descent flattens off and comes to a gate at a junction
where the trail ahead can be seen climbing through a left
hand bend (GR898324). Take the track on the left, just
before the gate, for a short muddy and rocky descent.
After a small bridge follow the wide track along the left
hand side of the Hurstwood Reservoir. At the junction by
bears right and descends over a short section of bedrock
before traversing the hillside to a gate.
6. After the gate descend along the fence on the right to a
water bar, which is good for some air, just before a small
bridge on a left hand bend. Go up a short climb then
follow the trail right for a long rocky decent that has a few
more water bars (again, fun ones you can jump). The
descent flattens off and comes to a gate at a junction
where the trail ahead can be seen climbing through a left
hand bend (GR898324). Take the track on the left, just
before the gate, for a short muddy and rocky descent.
After a small bridge follow the wide track along the left
hand side of the Hurstwood Reservoir. At the junction by
the gate at the far end of the reservoir climb the track on the left past the pylon. At the
junction at the top of the climb follow the main trail as it bears right and descends to a
junction at the Cant Clough Reservoir (GR894310).
7. Go right through the gate then left to ride over the dam. Go through the dip on the far
side to a gate. After the gate follow the main trail off to the right. This goes through a
few bends before descending to a bridge and a junction (GR891302). Turn left and
follow the trail to a rocky water splash. After the water climb the rocky trail along the wall
on the right. Turn right at the stream, and cross it using either the bridge or the ford.
Continue climbing through a number of bends to the next junction. Take the singletrack
on the left that climbs to a car park by the Coal Clough wind farm (GR894288).
8. Go through the car park and turn left onto the main road. The road climbs for a little
while then flattens off before turning left to a long right hand bend around a bowl in the
hillside. At the next junction, with a lane on the right (GR915276) follow the main road left.
junction at the top of the climb follow the main trail as it bears right and descends to a
junction at the Cant Clough Reservoir (GR894310).
7. Go right through the gate then left to ride over the dam. Go through the dip on the far
side to a gate. After the gate follow the main trail off to the right. This goes through a
few bends before descending to a bridge and a junction (GR891302). Turn left and
follow the trail to a rocky water splash. After the water climb the rocky trail along the wall
on the right. Turn right at the stream, and cross it using either the bridge or the ford.
Continue climbing through a number of bends to the next junction. Take the singletrack
on the left that climbs to a car park by the Coal Clough wind farm (GR894288).
8. Go through the car park and turn left onto the main road. The road climbs for a little
while then flattens off before turning left to a long right hand bend around a bowl in the
hillside. At the next junction, with a lane on the right (GR915276) follow the main road left.
The road then descends gently to the village of Hawks
Stones. Climb out of the village and go past a pub on the
left for a short, steep finish to the climb. Go over the crest
of the hill and descend past a junction with a lane on the
right to a junction on the left a short distance later
(GR935273).
9. Turn left and climb a wide rocky track between high
grassy banks. After the short climb follow the track
straight on down a gentle descent. Continue straight on
for a while to a four-way junction at the start of the
drystone wall ahead on the left (GR939286). Turn right to
climb the steep rocky track between high banks. At the
top is the start of the 3.5mile descent back to Hebden
Bridge. After the crest follow the wide, rocky track straight
Stones. Climb out of the village and go past a pub on the
left for a short, steep finish to the climb. Go over the crest
of the hill and descend past a junction with a lane on the
right to a junction on the left a short distance later
(GR935273).
9. Turn left and climb a wide rocky track between high
grassy banks. After the short climb follow the track
straight on down a gentle descent. Continue straight on
for a while to a four-way junction at the start of the
drystone wall ahead on the left (GR939286). Turn right to
climb the steep rocky track between high banks. At the
top is the start of the 3.5mile descent back to Hebden
Bridge. After the crest follow the wide, rocky track straight
on to a junction at some buildings on the right. Bear left and continue descending down
the wide, tarmac track. At the junction where the tarmac turns right go straight on down a
grassy track to the gated junction a short distance later (GR953277). Go straight on
through the gate and follow the gassy and muddy track down the back of the houses on
the wide, tarmac track. At the junction where the tarmac turns right go straight on down a
grassy track to the gated junction a short distance later (GR953277). Go straight on
through the gate and follow the gassy and muddy track down the back of the houses on
the right. Keep going straight on along this track to the other end where it turns right
and descends to a gate at a road in the village (GR959276).
10. Turn left on the road then almost immediately right down a short broken lane
between the drystone walls. At the junction at the other end turn left and descend along
the road. Go past the first row of cottages on the left, with a footpath signed on the left.
At the second group of houses turn left, opposite the house on the right, up the signed
BW (GR964275). Climb away from the houses up the singletrack that leads to the top of
and descends to a gate at a road in the village (GR959276).
10. Turn left on the road then almost immediately right down a short broken lane
between the drystone walls. At the junction at the other end turn left and descend along
the road. Go past the first row of cottages on the left, with a footpath signed on the left.
At the second group of houses turn left, opposite the house on the right, up the signed
BW (GR964275). Climb away from the houses up the singletrack that leads to the top of
the ridge. Be careful on the following straight, steep and
loose descent, it’s very fast and there is a big water bar at
the bottom. After the big water bar go left on the tarmac
around the left hand side of the houses to the junction just
after (GR965281).
11. Turn right and descend the previously climbed rocky
loose descent, it’s very fast and there is a big water bar at
the bottom. After the big water bar go left on the tarmac
around the left hand side of the houses to the junction just
after (GR965281).
11. Turn right and descend the previously climbed rocky
Just before the road bears right over the stream take the thin road on the left
(GR991272). Follow the lane along the left hand side of the stream then bear
left and right to return to the car park and the end of the ride.
(GR991272). Follow the lane along the left hand side of the stream then bear
left and right to return to the car park and the end of the ride.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
For pictures and a description of the Flattyres rides I have taken on this route can be found in the Gallery:
Aug '07 Hebden Bridge Shop Ride
Aug '08 Hebden Bridge Shop Ride
This route crosses and can be combined with outher routes from my site :
Hebden Bridge - Singletrack Route
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