Hebden Bridge and Inchfield Moor

Yorkshire Mountain Bike Route Guide


Region:

Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire

Difficulty:
Difficult
(Requires advanced skills and fitness)

Distance:
28.1 miles

Map:
OS Landranger 103

Route Text Download:
Hebden Bridge and Inchfield Moor

GPS Download:
GPX and KML
(available via the full MapMyRide page for this route, on the right hand side of the page)

ViewRanger
Hedben Bridge and Inchfield Moor

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This mountain bike route of 28.1 miles starts from Hebden Bridge, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. It circles Calderdale on the surrounding moors including, at its furthest point, Inchfield Moor. It’s a proper xc route that takes in parts of the Pennine Bridleway and Mary Towneley Loop. There some fun descents to spice things up along the way and fantastic views all the way around.

1. Start from the car park in the centre of Hebden Bridge, just over the bridge from St George's Square, near the A6033 (GR992274). Leave the car park from end furthest from the toilet block then turn left and go across the bridge to St George's Square. At the square follow the road left to a junction with the A6033 a short distance later. Turn left and climb the A6033. At the traffic lights go straight ahead and continue up the A6033. After the lights climb to a junction with the third road on the left, signed for Hardcastle Crags (GR993280).

2. Turn left and follow the Midgehole Road all the way to the public toilets, just before the entrance of the National Trust car park (GR988291). Directly after the toilets turn right up a thin track between the dry stone walls, signed as a bridleway. Climb the stepped gravel track to a junction with a lane at the top. Turn right and climb the lane, going straight on through the trees, up the left hand side of the valley. The lane soon becomes a gravel track. Continue following the track straight ahead at all the junctions. The track eventually leaves the trees before reaching a gate, by a farm on the right. Go through the gate then continue ahead up the track to a junction with a gated track on the left, directly before a derelict building (GR989313).

3. Turn left through the gate for a steep, rocky and grassy double track climb between the drystone walls. Go through the gate at the top and follow the singletrack ahead, along the wall on the left. After a while the singletrack drops down to a small gate in the drystone wall on the left. Go through the gate then turn right and descend through the field keeping to the wall on the right. About 3/4 of the way down the field, after a boulder launch pad on the left, the track bares slightly left to a gate at the bottom. After the gate follow the muddy double track up a short climb. At the top continue ahead and descend gently between the drystone walls to a gate (GR974313).

4. Go through the gate to a crossroad junction between the buildings. Go straight on and follow the track out the back of the buildings and up the valley. After some time the track descends left to a bridge. After the bridge bear right and climb the lane past a track on the left to a triangular junction at the top (GR954325). Turn left then left again, onto the lane by the trees. Go straight ahead over the crest then descend the lane for a while until it bears right and ends at a junction with a road (GR946324).

5. Go straight on and descend the road through a dip. Climb steeply out of the dip then at the top, where the lane flattens off, continue ahead. After passing a car park on the left the road comes to a metal gate in a stone wall on the left that leads onto the dam of Widdop Reservoir (GR937329). Turn left through the gate and follow the cobbled track across the dam. At 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, getting steeper as it goes. After a while the track turns right before coming to a junction on the steep left hand hairpin (GR926324). Follow the hairpin left and continue climbing the gritstone double track. After the next right hand bend the track climbs straight on to the top of the hill. At the top continue straight ahead and go down a short descent over a section of bedrock. After descending the rocks follow the double track as it traverses the hillside on to a gate (GR915320).

6. After the gate descend the track to a water bar, which is good for some air, directly before a small bridge on a left hand bend. After crossing the bridge go up a short climb to a junction with a vague, grassy singletrack on the left, directly at the top of the climb where the double track bears right (GR908321). Turn left and descend the grassy and muddy singletrack high on the right hand side of the stream gully. In the winter this section can become very muddy and boggy, so it’s best left for the drier months.After quite some time the trail comes to a junction. Turn left to follow the track with the marker posts. After descending a short way the track turns right up a short, steep climb. Continue following the track along the right hand side of the stream until it becomes a wide gravel track just before reaching a gate ahead, at the back of Cant Clough reservoir. Go through the gate then follow the double track around the right hand side of the reservoir. At the next two junctions go straight on to stay by the reservoir until the track reaches a gate ahead (GR894310).

7. Go through the gate then turn left and 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 directly after (GR891302). Turn left and follow the trail to a rocky ford. After crossing the ford climb the rocky trail alongside the wall on the right. Bear right through the next stream crossing, using either the bridge or the ford. Climb between the walls, through a number of bends, to the next junction (GR892293). Go straight ahead up a short, steep climb then follow the track as it bears gently left, keeping to the fence on the right. After a while the track comes to a gated junction signed for the Pennine Bridleway, at a road (GR890290).

8. Turn right through the gate then turn immediately sharp left and follow the road up a gentle climb towards the wind farm. Directly after passing a car park on the left the road comes to a junction with a wide gravel track on the right leading into the wind farm (GR894884). Turn right and follow the track to a four way junction in the wind farm. Take the wide track ahead, bearing slightly right, and follow it along the edge of the wind farm to where it ends at a control building. Where the track begins to descend to the control building stay high on the grass on the left. Follow the grass around the building and turn right to a gravel path on the far side. Turn left and follow the track around the edge of the field. The track turns left again before coming to a gate in the drystone wall on the right (GR889279).

9. Go through the gate then immediately turn left and follow the grassy track in the direction of the wall, now on the left. The first 50 meters can be quite boggy but it soon firms up. Continue following the vague grassy singletrack ahead, keeping to the wall on the left. After going straight on through two gates the track goes through a dip then over a small rise before coming to a third gate ahead. Go through the gate then immediately descend left to a muddy double track. Turn right on the track and descend to a junction with a track on the right a short distance later (GR902269). Turn right and follow the track through cutting to a building on the other side of the hill. At the building turn right and follow the track that traverses the hillside underneath the cliff. Continue descending the grassy track ahead to the next junction (GR896270). Turn sharp left through the drystone wall and descend to a gated junction at the buildings. Turn right and descend the lane. At the bottom it bears left, around the small fishing lake, to a junction. Turn right across the bridge and climb to a junction with a road (GR895267).

10. Go straight across the road then turn left to a gated track climbing into the trees. Go through the gate and climb the steep, grassy singletrack to where it ends at a junction with a rocky double track (GR896265). Turn right and climb through a left hand bend to the junction immediately after. Turn right and climb the very steep, rocky track. After some time go straight on through the gate at the building on the left, where the gradient becomes sensible again. Continue straight on all the way up the right hand side of the gully to a wide junction by the pylons at the top (GR887253). Turn left and climb the wide track over the crest of the hill. Descend to a four-way junction where the track ahead is blocked by boulders. Turn right and descend then lane to where it ends at a junction with a road (GR888246).

11. Turn left and follow the main road over the top of the hill then descend a short distance to a junction with a track on the right where the road bears left (GR891241). Turn right then go past a track on the left, to a forked junction. Bear left on the track that comes to a gate soon after. Go through the gate then continue along the wide track for some time as it follows the line of the hill on the right. Continue ahead along the double track all the way to where it ends with a short climb to a very small quarried area. At the top of the climb, directly before the quarried area, the track comes to a junction with a grassy track on the right (GR902223). Turn right and climb the grassy and muddy track. Halfway up the track bears right to the top of the hill. At the top turn left and follow the rutted, muddy and grassy track across the top of the hill to a gate at the trig point (GR906219). Go through the gate then bear left and descend the vague grassy singletrack, which soon becomes very steep, muddy and increasingly rocky. Continue following the track ahead until it comes to a gate. Go through the gate and descend the wide rocky track to a junction (GR913215).

12. Turn left and descend the double track to a gate. After the gate follow the track through a right hand bend then go past the houses to a junction just after (GR924219). Bear left, then go straight on at the following junction, to cross a cattle grid to descend a tarmac lane. Descend the lane a short way to the next junction (GR926218). Turn right and follow the lane to where it ends at a farm ahead, please follow the request to walk through their yard. Follow the lane down the right hand side of the buildings to a gate in the bushes directly to the right of the house. Go through the gate then descend the grassy singletrack ahead, through the trees. After a while the track comes to a gate. Go through the gate then bear right down a steep, loose and rocky descent that ends at the houses in the bottom of the valley. Go straight on at the bottom to a junction with a road (GR932212). Turn left and follow the road a short distance to where it ends at a junction with the main road through the bottom of the valley (GR934213).

13. Turn right and follow the main road through the town. The road soon leaves the buildings for a short stretch of trees on either side before reaching the next village. Continue following the road through the village to a junction with Bottomley Road on the left, directly after a bus stop (GR940208). Turn left and descend the lane a short distance to then turn sharp left and ride past the cottages. At the junction directly at the end of the cottages turn right over the canal. At the junction on the opposite side go straight on and follow the lane a short distance to a junction with a steep packhorse trail between the bushes ahead, which is on the Pennine Bridleway (GR940209).  If it is dry and you’re very good at climbing it is possible to clean this climb, but for most it will be a push. It’s not that long though. Climb all the way to a gate at the top leading to the farm buildings (GR942211).

14. Go straight on through the gate to a junction with a track on the left between the first and second buildings. Turn left and descend the track to a gate. After the gate descend to a stream crossing, after which follow the singletrack left before descending right to a junction at the next house, on the left (GR940212).  Bear right and climb another steep section of packhorse trail. Continue along this trail all the way to a gate at the top. Go through the gate then straight ahead along the lane past a house. Descend through a number of bends to a junction on a left hand bend at the next group of houses (GR939217). Turn right and follow the lane past the entrance to a house. A short distance later continue straight on when the lane becomes a track and reaches a gate. After the gate climb more eroded pack horse trail over the shoulder of the hill. The track bears right to a junction at the top (GR938226). Continue ahead on the main trail for a fun descent on a broken pack horse trail that finishes with a drop over a rock to a gate. Go through the gate and descend the wide rocky track between the walls to a junction at the other end. Go straight across the crossroad junction and follow the track to where it ends at a gate leading to a lane (GR945231).

15. Go through the gate then turn right and descend the lane all the way to the bottom of a dip, by the old mill in the village of Lumbutts. Follow the lane ahead as it climbs right then left out of the village. Go past a junction with a bridleway on the right at the edge of the village then climb straight on to a three way junction at the top. Turn left on the lane to a junction at the edge of the next village directly after a garage on the right (GR960234). Turn right and follow the track in the direction of Stoodley Pike monument to a gate ahead. Go through the gate then straight on at the junction directly after to continue along grit stone track the traverses the hillside underneath the Stoodley Pike monument. Go straight on at the next junction after which the track bears right for a rocky climb to a junction, just after going under some power lines. Go straight on and continue climbing. After a while bear left through a gate for the final part of the climb to a gate by a farm at the top (GR981248).

16. After the gate descend the double track to the next junction. Turn left and descend the track to a junction with a gated, grassy track on the right, opposite a wall that comes in from the left (GR981252)Although following footpaths the next section is all concessional and legal for bikes. Turn right through the gate and ride along the grass, with a wall on the right and fence on the left. After a couple of tight S-bends the track reaches a junction with two gates at some trees. Go through the gate on the left and descend the track that follows the stream on the left. Soon after entering the trees the track comes to a three-way junction (GR980261).

17. Go straight on and bear right to follow the rocky and muddy track as it traverses the side of the hill, following the large stone wall on the right. Continue along the track to where it ends at a gated junction with a cobbled lane (GR982266). Go straight on and descend the steep cobbled lane. The cobbles soon give way to a steep tarmac lane that ends at a junction in Hebden Bridge. Turn left and descend a short way to a junction with the main road through the town (GR989272). Turn right and follow the road into the centre of the town. Directly before the main road bears right over the River Hebden take the small road on the left (GR991272). Follow the lane along the left hand side of the river. A short distance later bear left then right, past a very steep cobbled lane on the left, and return to the car park to complete the ride.