been looking at the map and google maps trying to figure out the best way to ride from calverley woods to esholt woods

we are planning to ride the airedale route in the westyorks book (that ive done before) and want to try and get to esholt woods too as they sound like they’ll be fun!

dont know the area out towards esholt from calverley at all! and there are all sorts of routes that look half possible on the map but not sure where we will be able to get across without any obstructions!

any help gratefully recieved! 🙂

From the bottom of Calverley woods get to Harrogate road(A658) and turn right heading towards Rawdon ,as you climb the hill take the 2nd left after crossing the railway lines into a short driveway that has a gate at the top r/hand corner. You can get all the way through to Esholt through these woods,if it’s been raining hard be prepared for some seriously deep puddles at the start of this path!

Failing that (if you don’t want to get muddy) then again, come out of Calverley woods onto Harrogate road, either get on the canal further up the hill past the cafe or head down Apperley lane towards the swing bridge

Once on the towpath you head toward Shipley (canal on the left obviously) and once you go past the locks and then through the gate look for a path to the right off the towpath. Follow it down over the skinny bridge and bear left along the river

Eventually you’ll be able to take a right hand path through the fields towards Home Farm estate in esholt. Turn left onto road (you can also hit this road by taking the first left on carlosg’s route and getting round the security fence on the lhs)

Once on the road keep on straight til you see a path on the right with a wooden stile. Climb up there ( you’ll see the exit from carlosg’s path near the top) then turn left onto a wide double track. Straight down there til you see a layby on the right and the downhills all finish there

thanks 🙂

those are both the two routes i saw on the map that i didnt know if they where possible or not! the bit with the path at the end of the drive was a bit of worry as it looked like someones house on google maps! 😆

probably going to go vie carlos’s route as it looks a bit shorter! 😆

Aye – his route is much shorter but can be very muddy

The lower route (thru sewage works) is ok too but not very scenic

The canal route is just nice cos its offroad

if you go straight to Esholt from Calverley you will miss Thackley, I’d recommend staying on the canal and when you get to a swing bridge after Apperley Bridge (where the railway crosses) cut up the field and climb up in to Thackley and then traverse along the line of the canal and enjoy some tech, then hit the water works access road, climb up to the barriers and then cut right in to the woods and carry on the ridge line enjoying more tech, drop down after the pump track or wherever you like again lots of technical riding, then drop to the second swing bridge, drop down over this over the bridge over the river and turn right on to the cheeky footpath back to the driving range and then up in to esholt.

then you get to enjoy this;
http://vimeo.com/73330277