The new Trans-Pennine service from Manchester to York via Wakefield opens up some opportunities for bike-rail. We took the 08:48 Northern service from Sheffield to Wakefield Kirkgate and switched to the train heading or Manchester, whizzing through Huddersfield and arriving in Marsden around 10:00 in heavy drizzle. Our first mistake was to lug our bikes up the bridge and head to the canal only to discover that we could have just gone through a gate from the platform – a little sign might have helped here!
The towpath here is unimproved and had some spectacular puddles while some of the cobbled walkways at the locks are steep and slippy. We had the wind and drizzle at our backs though and headed down the many locks (I wasn’t counting) with some speed, collecting plenty of mud on the way. Our caffeine levels were starting to drop though so we called in at the excellent Handmade Bakery for a flat white and a bun, leaving a bit of a mess on the seats! (They didn’t mind)
From Slaithwaite the towpath is resurfaced, and offers a smooth and mud-free ride to Huddersfield. Some of the inclines down the locks are steeps and the cobbles can be slippy – take care!
Some of the canal has been drained – with Canal And Rivers Trust funding cut they are struggling to maintain their network – and this leads to some interesting sights:
A lot of regeneration has gone on around this area mostly to do with the University of Huddersfield. Having been warned of closures on NCN69, due to the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, by a fellow cyclist on the train (he was off bike-packing in the West Country) we continued on the towpath to Fartown Green where 69 was easy to pick up. However, work around Deighton meant we were diverted up a steep and narrow track (not well signposted) before heading down Cherry Nook and Deighton Road to rejoin the route, which was then pretty straightforward to Mirfield although running alongside the impressive site for the upgrade work .Good to see that the route was being replaced to a high quality where the work has impacted on it. I did wonder. given the big investmwnt thatr is clearly going into rail in this area We enjoyed the spin to Mirfield where we had a good lunch in the Whistling Kettle.
There is a towpath closure that requires you to ride up to Manchester Road and back down to get back onto the towpath – there was no signage about the diversion from the Canal and Rivers Trust . We met a couple from North Carolina who were making their way up to Marsden on rented electric bikes – I’d love to know how they got on!
Continuing along the Huddersfield Road for a short while – cars parked in the bike lane as usual – we turned off into Holroyd Park and Ravensthorpe before using a short section of the Spen Valley Greenway. Reaching Huddersfield Rd again we were diverted onto Scout Hill Road and Fall Lane – to be honest I preferred this to the narrow, scruffy and menacing feel of the old NCN route. Let’s hope this is improved once the the TPRU work is completed. It led me to think that if more money is going to be put into Active Travel, maintenance funding has to be included.
It also led me to wonder why, given this massive investment, there is so much clamour to get started on Northern Powerhouse Rail. Bradford is of course the poor relation when it comes to the Northern Rail network and need better through services but this corridor should be very well served when this work is completed.
Of course we got a bit lost going through Dewsbury – it’s expected – but made our way via the back routes onto the Ossett Greenway, very scruffy and badly signposted as you leave Dewsbury but improves as you start to climb and the last section is very pleasant with sweeping views across the valley and as far as Emley Moor.
Ossett is a pleasant town to visit and you complete the ride with a swoop down to Horbury (note: don’t use the signed cycle route – it may be a quieter road but there is a steep climb up to the church in Horbury) Here we joined the “Rhubarb Route” – sadly most of the Rhubarb sculptures that once adorned it have been stolen and not replaced.
Our downhill glide continued underneath the M1 and brought us into Wakefield, where Kirkgate isn’t too hard to find for the train home.