Halifax to Burnley, January 2020
Thursday 23rd January 2020
Took a train from home at 06.28 to Alderley Edge 06.37 then from Alderley Edge at 06.48 to Manchester Piccadilly 07.15. From Manchester Piccadilly 07.30 to Leeds 08.31. (TransPennine Trains) From Leeds at 09.03 to Menston 09.18.
Took a right out of the station then left on main road A6038 to Otley 2 miles and headed north east on Church Ave to Long Row. At the roundabout, took the 2nd exit onto Brownberrie Lane. Turn right onto Scotland Lane. Continue onto Dean Lane. Turn left onto Otley Old Road, Continue onto East Chevin Road. East Chevin Road turns slightly left and becomes Gay Lane. Gay Lane turns slightly left and becomes Bondgate. Turn right onto Crossgate. Turn right onto Boroughgate/A659 6 miles 40 minutes (09.40) Otley to UKD195 The Chevin. Tough climb up the eastern side of the climb, a long drag up on a busy road. The western side up is a quieter road. The road connecting the two at the top ‘The Chevin’, is a long and almost level stretch with a viewpoint at the top off road. From here back down the west slope into Otley then back up the western slope past the pub called The Chevin at Chevin End then across to Menston and Hawksworth along a pleasant lane with views, down into Guiseley then back through Hawksworth and across open countryside of Bingley Moor, steeply down to East Morton, Riddlesden and Keighley, 12 miles. Along to the Eastwood roundabout at Airworth, NE of Keighley centre then along A6035 to the railway station where I was a little confused as I couldn’t find the small road that would lead to Thwaites Brow. I asked at the station and surprised to find how close I was to the road I needed. It was the road off to the right, just north of the station. This led to Worth village and the foot of the climb. Go east for station then A6035 and Aire Valley Bingley Road for UKD 196 Thwaites Brow. Start at Wenning Street off roundabout. It isn’t clear where the climb begins as it’s hidden to the right of terraced houses. From that point though, the way ahead can be seen and faced with a very steep cobbled incline. It’s a short distance but a real challenge to the brow of the hill. The descent south along Hainworth Lane from Thwaites Brow is equally steep on cobbles as it emerges down in Ingrow. From there it’s 6 miles from Ingrow through Haworth. Through Oxenhope and over Oxenhope Moor, Brow Road is a real challenge in Haworth leading on to Hebden Road. Through Oxenhope the turning to the left for Oxenhope more isn’t really obvious. There’s no indication here. The top of Oxenhope Moor doesn’t have any features and is really a barren area. Halifax a further 7 miles and over the top which is alongside Warley Moor Reservoir close to the slipway landing stage at the south end. It’s otherwise a featureless ride over the top.
Through Wainstalls and first sign of houses on the edge of Halifax then to Mount Tabor where I took a road off to the left, down to Pellon and back up again for the climb up cobbled Gibb Lane starting from Ovenden Wood Road. From there down into Halifax centre and to Imperial Crown Hotel near the station. £69.30 for 2 nights
Friday 24th January 2020
Went in search of Trooper Lane behind the railway station. Along Bailey Hall Road to Jubilee Street off to the left then becomes Trooper Lane. The lower section is tarmac so not so difficult, perhaps 15% but soon becomes cobbled and at 20% it was difficult to ride so push it to the top at Bank Top, Beacon Hill Road at a green area in front of houses that have a great view over Halifax. I made the mistake of following my mobile phone software that led me on a long circuit south to return to the centre of Halifax. The direction was through Southowram and along Brookfoot Lane, Elland Road, Park Road and A629 to pass my hotel and head north for my second climb. I took the A647 Bradford Road Queensbury Road to an acute right turn on to Swales Moor Road to the crossroads at Sportsmans Inn and Halifax Ski Centre. Here I took a left on to Lee Lane and cycled the cobbles down to Simm Carr Lane at Shibden Brook then began the climb up again with a knowing greeting from horseriders – and I knew what I was letting myself in for. Going back up there’s a vicious right then left bend two thirds of the way up, and sure enough I had to get off. I couldn’t cycle on further. From here back down to the centre then took the road directly west for Luddenden then back up for the climb along Halifax Road, Raw End Road and Rois Head Road to the top then south through Warley Town to Sowerby Bridge and the main road following the Ryburn into Ripponden. From the church at the bottom I took the road for Ripponden Bank Top to the crossroads for Slack to the south. There’s a pub near the top with the junction with the Calderdale Way. I took this road on the way down but the way was blocked as workmen were busy lying tarmac on the road surface halfway down. They lifted my bike over for me so I didn’t think twice about cycling back up here! From Ripponden I continued on along the Rochdale and Littleborough Road for the gradual climb past Baitings Reservoir to Blackstone Edge Reservoir. From here down to Littleborough then north to Todmorden and cycled up to Todmorden Edge, very steep up from the town then not so difficult along Parkin Lane on to the gated Tower Causeway. It was well overcast and misty up here and could just make out the tall thin beacon on Bearnshaw Tower to the north west. It’s open moorland here except for bogs and sheep. From Todmorden I cycled on to Hebden Bridge and went for a train from there back to Halifax and the hotel. Hebden Bridge station is quaint – still in the old style of how railway stations used to be.
That evening I splashed out and had pasta and beer at La Luna Restaurant in Westgate. Paid £12 for lasagne and two pints of Moretti lager £5.50 each and cheese with biscuits £7. It made a change from the pizza take-away from near the hotel that I ate in my room yesterday
Four climbs in Halifax: UKD 201 Gibb Lane, UKD 203 Halifax Lane, UKD 204 Trooper Lane, UKD 202 Shibden Wall (Last four climbs approx further 25 miles around Halifax) Total : 63 miles 7hours, 45 minutes
Halifax to Ripponden 8 miles UKD 205 Ripponden Bank 5 miles return then Ripponden to UKD 156 Blackstone Edge and down to Littleborough 8 miles then Littleborough to Todmorden 6 miles. To UKD 199 Tower Causeway 2 miles and return 2 miles. Todmorden to Hebden Bridge 5 miles.
Saturday 25th January 2020
Took a train from Halifax at 09.27 to Hebden Bridge and cycled to Eastwood Road UKD 200via Heptonstall Village. Left my pannier bag at the cafe there then rode through heavily overcast and misty conditions with no view and wasn’t even sure if I reached the top so had to ask a passing cyclist. I was hoping to have cycled Extwistle Moor but had taken a wrong turn at Slack. I Should have gone north west at that point went west through Blackshaw Head to Eastwood Road. I returned back to Hebden Bridge the same way and collected my pannier at Heptonstall. In Hebden Bridge I waited for the next train for Burnley Manchester Road arriving at From there it’s a 3 miles uphill south of the town on a busy main road then a further 2 miles along a steady rise to UKD 152 Crown Point where I could see the Singing Ringing Tree across the hill ridge to the north east. The Singing Ringing Tree is a wind powered sound sculpture resembling a tree set in the landscape of the Pennine hill range overlooking Burnley From there returned to Burnley and the train home via Darwen and Manchester Victoria and cycled across the city to Manchester Piccadilly and the train home