Hebden/Cragg Vale locals – best of routes please

We are staying over in Cragg Vale this weekend and we haven’t had time to look at maps/routes. Anyone got gpx file they wouldn’t mind sharing, for a decent ride (maybe in the range of 15-30 miles)? We will have the full sus (downcountry/trail) bikes. We’ve done some riding round that area before but don’t know it well enough to just piece stuff together.

What d’you want? Up and down again until your legs explode, or out onto the moors?

Anything that isn’t a bog fest tbh!

Though I do prefer a loop rather than just up and down for the ‘sake’ of it (so to speak).

I was riding Hebden yesterday.

Worst stingers/vegetation I’ve ever seen on many of the classics (Tunnel of Love, Bearded Lady, even Peckett Well) – my shins are still numb.

Stannys was greasy and treacherous. Sweet 16 was good though.

I’d suggest getting out on the moors anyway, maybe the Widdop Reservoir loop – I don’t know much else along those lines and I don’t do GPXs sorry.

https://www.strava.com/routes/18484357

Takes in many of the ‘best off, is mostly my favourites. Requires riders to have a “interpretation” of access laws. Be nice, say Hi!

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1036224074

Classic moorland loop, might even be dry; Windmills, curlews, grumpy grouse, in the sun it’s lovely

widdop is a very good loop though it’s a LONG time since I last rode it. It’s a fair way from cragg vale to join that, but easy enough along the canal.  Worth looking at for sure

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/west-yorkshire/hebden-bridge-to-widdop-reservoir-to-cant-clough-reservoir-circular

Great – thanks all! Will take a look at all these over a beer this evening.

Might just stick the trousers in, as well as the shorts!

Big loop = depends where you’re staying on Cragg Vale but if its near the bottom it might be easiest to just drop into Mytholmroyd and spin the 5 mins to Hebden?

For the Widdop loop I think a lot of the suggestions usually take you up the A6033 and then to the Hardcastle Craggs car park and up the BW to the House of Sh*t before looping over to Walshaw and boring farm track to the road to Widdop. I never bothered with that – go straight through Hebden and then the BW up to Jack Bridge and straight on up the road before a little descent (Rodmer Clough I think it is on the map) and climb out the other side to pick up the Pennine BW to Egypt and a rough, fast double track descent to Lower Gorple before crossing the damn and heading to Widdop.

Not sure what state it’ll be in at the minute but the BW off the Pennine BW into the back end of Cant Clough Res used to be pretty good as an option.

Zig zag back up to Long Causeway on the BW and then the usual BW into Whirlaw Stones and through the bottom of the golf course etc. From there, a good couple of bits of BW descent into Rodwell End.

Big slog up to Mankinholes, along London Road and finish on Birthday X or something. Sure there may be some cheek into Cragg Vale itself but never explored that way.

The Widdop loop is a lovely ride – take food though…

Alternatively you could head the other way from Cragg Vale – the stuff going Cragg Vale eastwards is a bit crap so suggest dropping down again and taking the cycle track/canal to Sowerby Bridge. From here, steep drag up behind the station to Norland Moor, down the moor on one of the many tracks there (the one on the southern edge with a sharp left after the trees is pretty good). Into the top of North Dean Woods and take one of any number of tech options to the bottom before dragging back up the main track through the woods back to the top and taking the trail all the way along the very top of the woods to West Vale. Spin toward Halifax and then climb up the road through Exley and nip into the woods on the left hand turn after passing the school, about 400m up the road. When you enter the woods, take the first trail on the right which is a tight, fast little descent with a short sharp climb at the end onto the brick road. Turn left and follow the road until a big clearing on the right – climb up there on the main trail (the centre one – think theres one that goes down and one goes straight up the hill too). Stick to that main trail all the way through the woods (its pretty obvious) until it climbs steeply between two stone walls and curves around to the left at the top. When it turns right, you turn left and onto a view point out over the woods. Keep right and take a trail along the top of the woods. LOADS of ace options off here but my own fave is stick to the main trail right to the hairpin at the end and just keep heading down. Eventually you’ll pop out in the park opposite the Colliers Arms. Spin along the road back toward Elland Bridge, over the bridge and canal to Copley. Back up the main drag through the woods to the top and right at the cross roads for a double track spin to Norland Moor again. Up the moor, turn left onto the road, right at the cross roads, left at the junction, straight on at the cross roads, right into Fiddle Lane – mint little descent there, BW along Heys Lane for a bit before techy, slippy cobbled singletrack descent into the valley. Then BW up to the bottom of Ryburn res, up to Rochdale rd and then there are various BWs going north-west towards Cragg Vale.

Clear as mud. I’ll scribble on a map if you’re interested 😉

I quite like going up to the Pike, out the back and over to Gaddings then down Burnt Acres, a route that Daveyboywonder gave me years ago. This could be combined with one or two classics on the Heptonstall side too.

If that sounds good, drop me a message and I’ll do a GPX.

This could be combined with one or two classics on the Heptonstall side too.

Midgets Pit was running well enough, just a bit overgrown on the very first bit.

Moved away from the area nearly 4 years ago and have only been back a few times – need to make it a far more regular thing… the riding throughout the valley is epic.

If you plan on eating at the Robin Hood, be prepared for a wait.

@DaveyBoyWonder, Sowerby Bridge resident here… To the non-local, I’m sure your route sounds a load of gibberish 😂 but I think you have described one of my local favourite routes.  Albeit, I’m lost at your route through Exley, are you heading up above Elland Woods there? We normally go up the yellow brick road from Elland wood bottom. Steep and brutal everywhere in the Calder Valley…

Edit, Mills N Moors is a decent loop. 

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45756568

Thanks all. Long story, but we’ve ended up staying close to that Mills n’ Moor loop so that’s looking a strong option (and I’ve done one of Adi’s other routes in the past and it was great).

On Mon Elland Woods was still Winter slick lower down, then it rained on Tuesday.

Quads and 4wd’s have ruined most of the usual paths lower down this winter and someone has started building berms on the drop to the swings and doubles on the new exit.

Overall, its in a bit of a sorry state.

Everything above the totem pole (sadly now gone) is ok but largely unridden so still covered in a deep bed od wet leaves.

Thank you all. We had a cracking day out

How were your hand/wrists/rotors after that descent? 😂😄😂

Mine were fine, but I’ve got a bit more travel to play with than @ahsat Spur

Looks like you’re pointing the wrong way there; that’s better as a climb, unless you take a cheeky right when heading down!

Looks like a cracking day for it – think I might head over that way on Saturday to give the bike a pre-Alps shakedown ride.

Albeit, I’m lost at your route through Exley, are you heading up above Elland Woods there?

Yeh, yellow brick road is an option which I regularly used to take but its a right little sod of a climb plus if I’ve popped out at Clay House in West Vale then I tended to skip the road to Elland Bridge (rubbish) and just spin down to the canal. From there I’d continue toward Halifax to the old Punch Bowl (?) pub and then up the cobbles toward Exley/Siddal (Exley Bank) and then swing a left/right at the top and up Park Lane up to the first left hander. From there you could skirt past the house on the corner on the right and through the fields before dropping into Elland Woods (taking the right hand turn like I mentioned down the old stream bed or you can go straight on and you’re at the top of the yellow brick road).