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Past Meets of 2009 of the Northern Peak and South Pennine Group
If you enjoyed reading the reports of this years rides of Group you may like to read the past reports of the group’s 2005, 2006, 2007 , 2008 and 2010 rides.
January, February and March ride reports
Sunday 4th January 2009: Rossendale
Another bitterly cold and icy day. We follow the old railway and pass through the
tunnel behind Grayham whose front light was bright. We continue towards Bacup, and
on emerging from the cemetery we start the climb to Lee Quarry. We had been told
that there were recently opened purpose built Mtb trails here and we intended to
investigate. High above the town. the quarry is extensive and the walls are draped
in ice, but despite the cold there are fair numbers of mountain bikers in evidence.
It is obvious that a great deal of thought and investment have been made in creating
trails of all grades. The Black Route looks particularly fearsome and we satisfy
ourselves with an exploratory tour. We vow to come back to look at the lengthy Red
Route when the weather is warmer, since this looks rather more feasible for old men.
We pass over the moor towards Whitworth and stop at the burger van in Cowm Quarry
for a cuppa whilst watching old and young motor bikers in what is a purpose built
trail centre. We drop rapidly to the frozen Cowm Reservoir and Whitworth where we
are able to follow the recently opened NCN 92. This follows the old railway towards
Bacup. Here we are disappointed to find the café is being converted to a bookmakers,
so we seek sustenance in The New Inn. This turns out to be an excellent alternative
for food and teas. We had spent so long exploring, that it is now mid-
John Kemp
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Sunday 1st February 2009 Penistone
Bitterly cold strong east wind with snow forecast, and only three hardy souls brave the conditions. We decided to forego the hills and opted for the more sheltered Trans Pennine Trail which we followed to pass through the lengthy tunnel at Thurgoland on to the former Wortley station and into Wharncliffe Woods. Having passed under the Stocksbridge bypass we left the Trail through a new bike gate on the right. It was now hard going on the ballast of the old railway, and after half a mile we found ourselves merging into a working railway line. We had to back track until we found a track which took us up through the woods back to the Trail. These woods have a complex series of tracks where it is easy to lose one’s bearings. They are also a Mecca for mountain bikers with many serious downhill roots. Less adventurously, we followed part of a relatively easy red route of muddy singletrack before climbing to the road at Grenoside. From here it was a short road ride to Countess Tea Rooms at Wortley.
Replenished we rode back towards Grenoside to take another bridleway that drops through the woods to the T P Trail which we retraced back to Penistone, arriving just as the first flakes of the promised snow started to arrive.
John Kemp
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Wednesday 18th February 2009 Hayfield
The snow, ice and freezing temperatures of the last few weeks were thankfully no longer. However, there was a thick damp hill mist – so a low level ride. On road, then at Brook Bottom we descended a steep and stony bridleway to Strines and the Roman Lakes for a coffee. A short ride on busy roads through Marple took us to Otterspool where we mounted some steps that took us up a cobbled and wooded pathway to Romiley and the Peak Forest canal. Emerging from the lengthy Woodley tunnel we took lunch in the precinct. Here there was a choice of bakers, butchers and fish and chip shops all of which were sampled by different members of the party. We sat there like something from The Last of the Summer Wine.
Refreshed, a bridleway took us to Bredbury Hall where we and followed the river Goyt back to Otterspool. This time we climbed above Chadkirk Chapel to reach the Peak Forest canal once more. Passing over the impressive Marple aqueduct we climbed the flight of sixteen locks, where the President demonstrated his true worth in operating the lock gates for a passing narrow boat. At New Mills we descended into The Torrs a remarkable gorge below the town. On climbing out we followed the Sett valley Trail back to Hayfield.
Thanks to Alan, Frank and Sol for a companionable ride on a rather grey day.
John Kemp
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Sunday 1st March: Ashton under Lyne
Today’s ride was to be one exploring the industrial heritage of Greater Manchester.
We started at Portland Basin where the Huddersfield Narrow, Ashton and Peak Forest
Canals meet. The ride along the Ashton Canal to Manchester is full of interest and
contrasts with old and imposing redbrick cotton spinning mills once humming with
activity but now standing forlornly as industrial storage units. Further along we
pass houses with lawns fronting the canal. Their owners must have seen values soar
since the days when they backed on to what was then a rat infested sewer but is now
an attractive leisure facility. Approaching East Manchester and Sport City there
is much new development -
After the stop we ride through the country park on what remains of the Hollinwood Canal to the industrial heritage site at Park Bridge. Here the original bolts for the Eiffel Tower were made in what was the iron works. From here there was a steep and lengthy climb to Hartshead Pike where the commanding tower was built in 1863 to commemorate the marriage of the Prince of Wales, and where there are extensive views over East Lancashire and Cheshire. A quick drop to Mossley follows and we join the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and pass through the lengthy Scout Tunnel for the ride back to Portland Basin. At the Basin there is an excellent museum and heritage centre but the café is too upmarket, so we give it a miss. Thanks to Alan and Grayham for a companionable ride.
John Kemp
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Wednesday 18th March: New Mill
Spring has sprung and we are blessed with seven riders on a gloriously sunny day. We climb steeply for 10 minutes before following a pleasant bridleway that takes us almost to Shepley. We take a track past the station and a half mile climb on road that feels like two. At Shelley a short track follows and then the road to Skelmanthorpe. Here memory plays me false as we wander disoriented around a housing estate. Later we find the bridleway that leads to Denby Dale and on to Scissett. As we climb once more, Little Brother forcibly states that the track I want to take is wrong. I bow to his staunch advice despite him being mistaken! Along the ridge he once more gives me his forceful opinion. I argue, but this time it is he who is right! In old age our contretemps are no less frequent, but no longer physical just verbal. We drop to the A635 and take a deeply muddy track to Jowett House and Cannon Hall.
Two punctures are dealt with here while taking lunch outside and chatting to Autumn Tints.
Having lunched, Little Brother assumes the lead since he knows this area well. We
pass through Gunthwaite Spa, Ingbirchworth and Maythorn with frequent pauses whilst
he explains features of historical or geographical significance. We drop below Cheese
Gate Nab on a steep and deeply incised track that only Brian Parkinson could ride
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Good companionship – let’s keep the numbers up.
John Kemp
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Ride reports for April, May and June
There was a strong sense of déjà vu about this ride. Five of the six riders had participated in the Mary Townley rides only three days before. So the combination of fine spring weather and stunning Calderdale scenery was very much more of the same. The demand today was for something less exacting, more riding and less pushing. We managed this with a ride from Mytholmroyd to Cullingworth that was 80 % off road and 100% rideable (well, rideable by Brian).
From Mytholmroyd we took the little used track to Hebden Bridge via Wood Top, then struck out northwards along the pleasantly graded track from Hardcastle Crags car park to Oxenhope via Grain Water bridge and Stairs. Our lunch objective was Coldspring Mill tea room (Cullingworth – GR 059363),achieved along the tracks up from the A6033 to Royd House and across Black Moor to the site of the former Five Flags hotel at Manywells Height. The tearoom was the stuff of dreams – polite immediate service, good food, reasonable prices.
We made our return to Mytholmroyd by starting back along Trough Lane to the Dog and Gun, soon going off road along Sawood Lane and White Moor Lane to Nab Water Lane. This took us all the way to Wainstalls, and the start of the lovely loop around Luddenden Dene to Midgley. We finished with off road blast down to the A646 along the bridlepath through Ellen Royd farm. Thanks to Brian, Grayham, John, Malcolm and Richard for a grand day out.
Reid Anderson.
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Wednesday 22nd April: Worsbrough
From Cycle Promotions we set off to explore what was once King Arthur’s kingdom (Scargill
that is), but now bears little resemblance to its past. We took a track that veered
off in the wrong direction and became a footpath through farmland! We had missed
the start of the bridleway by 50 yards since the sign was obscured by trees. After
a climb, we emerged on the A635 and rode towards Barnsley before taking a track that
led us to the Trans Pennine Trail. We continued to Cudworth and then a track to Grimethorpe.
25 years ago in the days of the miners’ strike this would have been very grim riding
indeed. But much has changed -
John Kemp
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May Day weekend and most had other things to do, so only Sol, Grayham and myself today. Leaving the Foxhouse Inn a gale force wind blew us rapidly across the moor to Holmesfield. Here we took a lengthy descending bridleway followed by a short road climb and then another descending bridleway to Barlow Brook. With the wind behind we had descended about 800ft. So, imaginations were exercised by the thoughts that this did not augur well for the return! After Barlow we dropped to a small ford. On reaching the other side, I was unable to hold the bike on the steep loose bank and slowly slid backwards to hit the ground. It is with a sense of chagrin that I relate that I was the only one to disgrace myself here. At Barlow we continued to pass through Linacre Woods to Old Brampton. The pub did not open for another half hour, but the cheery landlord let us in for teas, soup and sandwiches. Replenished we started the return into the wind. This involved numerous climbs, descents and stream crossings with one unanticipated diversion due to a navigational error. The final descent took us to the ford at Millthorpe where we stopped for a quick refresher. Then what was to almost prove the coup de grace for me – the 700ft climb back to Foxhouse with the final couple of miles from Owler bar directly into the strength sapping gale force wind.
John Kemp
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On a day of threatening showers 8 riders met at Watergrove reservoir where there
is much of interest with evidence of the drowned village and other deserted settlements.
After a mile we were reduced to walking when the track deteriorated and steepened.
Almost at the top we contoured back round and then over the ridge to join the Rossendale
way. Three miles of miles of walking on soft, wet and sometimes boggy ground took
us to the good track that leads to the summit of the A681 Todmorden – Bacup road
at Sharneyford. Two hours and we had managed to cover about 5 miles! From here
the steep rutted back road took us to Bacup and the New Inn which to our dismay we
found no longer served food. So, we discovered a noisy café -
Lunch over and the promised rain forced us to cape up. We climbed to the enormous
Lee Quarry which now boasts purpose built trails for mountain bikers. Lots of serious
stuff here which we declined to explore. Since it was a working day, we felt that
this time we ought not to descend through the even more extensive but re-
Last month on the Mary Towneley Loop we had found the tracks in this area to be very dry and rock hard, but today in the very wet and slippy conditions more than one rider found themselves deposited on the ground. We had covered only 17 miles but with all the climbing and walking in the damp conditions it would have felt much more if it were not for the good companionship.
John Kemp
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Ride reports in July, August and September.
It may be hard to believe, but between the centres of Bradford and Leeds, themselves only 10 miles apart, there is a very attractive area of countryside crossed by an extensive pattern of bridleways.The centre of this area is the village of Tong, which John used as the start point for a most enjoyable ride on what turned out to be a very nice July day. After a brief foray through Farnley and darkest Armley, we soon reached the towpath of the Leeds Liverpool canal at Gotts Park. The canal was our companion for the next couple of hours as we meandered westwards to the lunch stop at Apperley Bridge. The canal was full of interest, narrow boats, swans, yuppie houses, the same as you get 20 miles west on the fringe of the Dales.
Our lunch destination was the Bridge Cafe. The last time I visited the place was a bit of a greasy spoon, but whilst it has gone upmarket since then in terms of decor the food has remained good value so we had quite a long stay there, during which time the sun went in and there was a brief shower. We set off on our return to Tong by crossing the canal and using Thornhill Drive, a most pleasant track through Calverley Wood, eventually emerging on the A657 in Calverley itself. Our next objective was the A647 at Thornbury, which we achieved using the very pleasant bridleways along Priesthorpe Road and Woodhall Road.
The bridlepaths just kept on coming once we crossed the A647. We were delayed at Ducketts Crossing on the Bradford Leeds railway by the owners of two very large and very new Mercedes who appeared to think we were there to hold the gates open for them while they passed the time of day, but eventually we were able to move on and onto the very nettled setted track (part of Leeds Country Way) skirting Backhouse, safely cross the ford at Pudsey Beck, and climb Keeper Lane back to our start point.
Thanks to John for organising and Sol for company on a terrific day out. The entire route can be found on Landranger 104.
Reid Anderson
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Sunday 2nd August: A ride from Bretton Hall
Unbelievably, after a two weeks of incessant rain the weather was not just kind but
superb. The car park at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park was too expensive, so we moved
to a nearby layby. As is not unusual Malcolm delayed our start by chatting to a
couple of lady walkers at the visitor centre. I am not particularly keen on starting
a ride with a steep climb, but this was what faced us within a couple of minutes.
Mercifully it was not too long and we were soon on Woolley Edge. The Wakefield cycling
map shows a cycle trail dropping through corn fields to Woolley, but there cannot
have been many cyclists passing this way given the gates and stiles to be negotiated.
Passing through the attractive village we took bridleways through fields bedecked
with poppies to reach Carlton. After dropping down to the now derelict Barnsley
Canal and the Trans Pennine Trail, we engaged an ex-
John Kemp
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Wednesday 19th August A ride from Walsden (14.4 miles)
Seven riders today from Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire in this area which
straddles the West Yorks/Lancs borderlands. A short trip down the canal was followed
by a very tough ascent up what seemed like a near vertical cliff as the little used
packhorse track zig zagged up 300ft in 400yds. Not for the last time, I was glad
to feel Steve’s helping hand today. Then a long gradual ascent on tracks to Sharneyford.
Once notorious for fly-
John Kemp
Click here to see photos of the ride and click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Wednesday 16th September: A ride from Armitage Bridge (21.2 miles)
The Three Valleys Ride – a tour of the Heavy Woollen District of West Yorkshire. Leaving behind the once prosperous woollen mills of the Holme Valley, two Johns, Jeff, Grayham and myself climb steeply by quiet lanes over Crossland Moor and drop steeply into the Colne Valley. Abandoned dye houses line the A62 once busy before the days of motorways. A short section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal takes us into Slaithwaite and the start of the long climb up and over Pole Moor. This overlooks the busy M62 at over a thousand feet the highest motorway in England. Bridleways and tracks take us down into the Calder Valley via Holywell Green the home of Orange mountain bikes. The cafe at West Vale offers belly splitting all day breakfasts. We have something lighter in view of the big climb to follow. After a second cup of tea we make our way via Elland, Broad Carr and a little used very steep bridleway via Ainley Top to recross the M62. A long descent on a dusty bridleway takes us back into the Colne Valley via Salendine Nook Longwood and Milnsbridge. A very steep road takes us back back over Crossland Moor passing huge quarries. A track through some delightful woodland takes us into Beaumont Park. Friends of the park are doing a valiant job to restore it to its former glory. Well may they succeed. A narrow ginnel alongside some weavers cottages take us back to the start point. Twenty plus miles and a few thousand feet of ascent. I do not mind the rush hour traffic on the way home. It had been a great day out.
Malcolm Lomas
Click here to see photos of the ride and click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Ride Reports for October, November and December
Wednesday 14th October: A ride from Worsbrough (26.2miles)
This mid-
It could be said we almost went to Hoyland, Harley, Thorpe Hesley, Thorpe Common, Shiregreen, Parson Cross, Grenoside, Charletonbrook, Chapeltown, northern Sheffield, Warren, Tankersley, Pilley, Birdwell, Rockley and back to Worsbrough. But then it actually felt like we were out in the countryside most of the time. The former industrial and mining sites are becoming lost to nature and wildlife. The stream cloughs keep you on the edge of development and often out of sight. The dark past has left a wonderful legacy of routes that is now there for all to enjoy. And there is rural land besides.
A splendid ride and thanks to John for researching it. And it didn’t rain!
Present: John Kemp, Malcolm Lomas and Allan Green (ride reporter).
Click here to see photos of the ride and click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Wednesday 18th November: The Pre Christmas Lunch Ride (10.3miles)
Repulsed by floodwaters, we made a detour driving through Oldham to reach Edna's cafe in Delph. After coffees, a motley group of nine intrepid riders from Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire set out undeterred by the heavy rains. We were particularly pleased to welcome Eddy who had had a 3 hour drive to join us – we hope it proved worth it.
We took the old branch line known locally as "The Delph Donkey" towards Uppermill. At Brownhill we crossed the A670 and climbed steeply taking capes off on the way. Reaching Saddleworth Church we paused for photos of the stocks by the church gate, and noted that the graveyard contains the bodies of victims of the unsolved and notorious Bill O’ Jacks murders of 1832. We continued contouring high above the valley and just below the cloud base before descending a steep bridleway to Greenfield. Poor views today but, though we did not know it, we were having better weather than the rest of the flooded northwest. Capes on again as we took the narrow lane climbing to Saddleworth Golf Club before another swoop down to Dobcross. The next climb past Knarr Cottages had most of us walking with one brief respite before the final ascent to The Old Original Inn at Scouthead for our meal..
Seven more members arrived in cars for our pre-
John Kemp
Click here to see photos of the ride and click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Sunday 6th December 2009: Marple Roman lakes (17.8 miles)
We met at the Roman Lakes in Marple – 3 Johns an Eddy and a Grayham. Remarkably
it was not raining, which was pleasing since we had to resolve a problem with John
1’s tyre before setting off. Crossing the River Goyt, we took a track through woods
to climb to Romiley only to be faced by a second mechanical problem. Grayham’s rear
wheel was badly out of true, but thanks to Eddy’s expertise in re-
John3 Kemp
Click here to see photos of the ride and click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Wednesday 16th December 2009: Hadfield (21.5 miles)
What can I say? A dismal, dreary, damp day enlivened only by the company of fellow
riders. Not worth taking a camera with thick mist on middle ground and capes on for
almost the entire ride. So why do we do it? I suppose the only answer is that we
cannot stop! For the record we climbed to Hobson Moor and dropped to Stalybridge
where I slipped off uncontrollably on a steep muddy slope. Then we followed the River
Tame to Hyde for lunch in the indoor market. Fed we re-
John Kemp
Click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.