The Pennine Cycleway is a
Sustrans
Sustrans ( ) is a United Kingdom-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the National Cycle Network.
Its flagship project is the National Cycle Network, which has created of signed cycle routes throughout the United ...
-sponsored route in the
Pennines
The Pennines (), also known as the Pennine Chain or Pennine Hills, are a range of highland, uplands mainly located in Northern England. Commonly described as the "Vertebral column, backbone of England" because of its length and position, the ra ...
range in northern England, an area often called the "
backbone
The spinal column, also known as the vertebral column, spine or backbone, is the core part of the axial skeleton in vertebrates. The vertebral column is the defining and eponymous characteristic of the vertebrate. The spinal column is a segmente ...
of England". The route passes through the counties of
Derbyshire
Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...
,
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
,
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in Northern England.The Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas of City of York, York and North Yorkshire (district), North Yorkshire are in Yorkshire and t ...
,
Cumbria
Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders to the north, Northumberland and County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east, Lancash ...
and
Northumberland
Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...
. It is part of the
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network (NCN) was established to encourage cycling and walking throughout the United Kingdom, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring. It was created by the charity Sustrans who were aided by a £42.5 million N ...
(NCN). Sustrans founder John Grimshaw calls it 'the best National Cycle Network route of the lot'.
The majority of the route follows NCN 68. It also makes use of several other NCN routes including
6,
54,
62,
70,
7,
72 and
1.
It has a total length of about . The route was opened in stages in 2002–03.
History
The route was devised for
Sustrans
Sustrans ( ) is a United Kingdom-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the National Cycle Network.
Its flagship project is the National Cycle Network, which has created of signed cycle routes throughout the United ...
, a UK, partially government-funded
charity
Charity may refer to:
Common meanings
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sha ...
that promotes
sustainable transport
Sustainable transport is transportation sustainability, sustainable in terms of their social and Environmental issue, environmental impacts. Components for evaluating sustainability include the particular vehicles used; the source of energy; and ...
, who were looking for an "exhilarating long distance pubs 'n' scenery challenge ride" to rival the
Sea to Sea Cycle Route
The Coast to Coast or Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C) is a cycle route opened in 1994. Combining sections of National Cycle Route 7, 14, 71 and 72; it runs from Whitehaven or Workington on the west coast of Cumbria, and then crosses the Lak ...
(C2C). The northern section, designed by Ted Liddle, was launched in a low-profile way in summer 2002, because of the after-effects of the
foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Cyclists marked the opening of the entire route in July 2003.
Route
The
Sustrans
Sustrans ( ) is a United Kingdom-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the National Cycle Network.
Its flagship project is the National Cycle Network, which has created of signed cycle routes throughout the United ...
organization describe the Pennine Cycleway route in three sections: Peak District, South Pennines and North Pennines.
It goes through the
National Park
A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...
s of the
Peak District
The Peak District is an Highland, upland area in central-northern England, at the southern end of the Pennines. Mostly in Derbyshire, it extends into Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It is subdivi ...
, the
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales are a series of valleys, or Dale (landform), dales, in the Pennines, an Highland, upland range in England. They are mostly located in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, but extend into C ...
, and
Northumberland
Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...
, while skirting the eastern
Lake District
The Lake District, also known as ''the Lakes'' or ''Lakeland'', is a mountainous region and National parks of the United Kingdom, national park in Cumbria, North West England. It is famous for its landscape, including its lakes, coast, and mou ...
. About 20% is on traffic-free cycleway routes, and the remainder is along quiet low traffic roads.
Peak District
The Peak District section is long. It runs from
Derby
Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...
in the English
Midlands
The Midlands is the central region of England, to the south of Northern England, to the north of southern England, to the east of Wales, and to the west of the North Sea. The Midlands comprises the ceremonial counties of Derbyshire, Herefor ...
to
Holmfirth
Holmfirth () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. It is located south of Huddersfield and west of Barnsley; the boundary of the Peak District National Park is to the south-west. The town is sited on t ...
in
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
, passing
Ashbourne,
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in the High Peak, Derbyshire, Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.Alston, Cumbria also claims this, but lacks a regu ...
and
New Mills
New Mills is a small town in the Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England, south-east of Stockport and from Manchester at the confluence of the River Goyt and River Sett, Sett. It is close to the border with Cheshire and above the Torrs, a ...
, and includes the traffic-free
rail trails
A rail trail or railway walk is a shared-use path on a railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed but may also share the rail corridor with active railways, lig ...
at
Tissington
Tissington is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Tissington and Lea Hall, in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England. In 2001 the parish had a population of 158. The population "Tissington and Lea Hall" at the 20 ...
and
Longdendale
Longdendale is a valley in the Peak District of England, north of Glossop and southwest of Holmfirth. The name means "long wooded valley" and the valley is mostly in the counties of Derbyshire and Greater Manchester.
Geography
The eastern par ...
(also part of the
Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail is a long-distance path running from coast to coast across Northern England on a mixture of surfaced paths, with some short on-road sections, and with gentle gradients (it runs largely along disused railway lines and c ...
).
[ The initial section to ]Etwall
Etwall is a village and civil parish in the South Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England, southwest of Derby on the A50 road, A50. The population at the 2011 Census was 2,906.
Geography
Etwall is located between the A516 road, A516 bypass an ...
is part of National Cycle Network Route 54
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
, and around Buxton short sections of the High Peak Trail
The High Peak Trail is a Rail trail, trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders in the Peak District of England. Running from Dowlow , near Buxton, to High Peak Junction, Cromford , it follows the trackbed of the former Cromford and Hi ...
and Midshires Way are followed.[
]
South Pennines
The South Pennines
The South Pennines is a region of moorland and hill country in northern England lying towards the southern end of the Pennines. In the west it includes the Rossendale Valley and the West Pennine Moors. It is bounded by the Greater Manchester co ...
section is long, with 18 traffic-free. It runs from Holmfirth via Upperthong
Upperthong is a village approximately above sea level, in the civil parish of Holme Valley, in the Kirklees district, in West Yorkshire, England, near the town of Holmfirth, approximately south of Huddersfield. In 2005, Kirklees Council state ...
, Meltham
Meltham is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Holme Valley, below Wessenden Moor, south-west of Huddersfield on the edge of the Peak District National Park. It had ...
and Slaithwaite
Slaithwaite ( , ; Old Norse for "timber-fell thwaite/clearing") is a town in the Kirklees district of West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is in the Colne Valley and on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, ...
, encountering the M62 motorway
The M62 is a west–east Pennines, trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting Liverpool and Kingston upon Hull, Hull via Manchester, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield; of the route Concurrency (road), is shared with the M60 motorway, ...
as it crosses the dam at Scammonden Reservoir
Scammonden Reservoir is a water reservoir in West Yorkshire, England. Its water surface area when full is . The level of the bellmouth overflow above sea level is . The reservoir holds . Its length is .
History
Scammonden Dam is part of th ...
. Passing through Barkisland
Barkisland () is a village in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is east of Ripponden, south of Sowerby Bridge and south-west of Halifax town centre.
The village is in the Ryburn war ...
, Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge ( ) is a market town in the Upper Calder Valley in Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. The Calderdale Council ward population at the 2011 census was 11,703.
History
The town was originally a fording point over the once mu ...
, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is a market town in the Calderdale district of West Yorkshire, England. It is in the Upper Calder Valley, west of Halifax and 14 miles (21 km) north-east of Rochdale, at the confluence of the River Calder and the Hebden W ...
(this part of the route is shared with National Cycle Route 66
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 66 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Kingston upon Hull to Manchester via Beverley, York and Leeds.
Between Pocklington and York it forms part of the Way of the Roses challenge route. In 1998 the sect ...
) to Heptonstall
Heptonstall is a small village and civil parish within the Calderdale borough of West Yorkshire, England, historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The population of Heptonstall, including the hamlets of Colden and Slack, is 1,448, i ...
, where the route splits in two. To get to Colne
Colne () is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England. The town is northeast of Nelson, Lancashire, Nelson, northeast of Burnley and east of Preston, Lancashire, Preston.
The ...
in Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
, riders can either head to Burnley
Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 population of 78,266. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River B ...
and through Towneley Park
Towneley Park is owned and managed by Burnley Borough Council and is the largest and most popular park in Burnley, Lancashire, England. The main entrance to the park is within a mile of the town centre and the park extends to the south east, c ...
to join the towpath
A towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, Working animal, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge. This mod ...
of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool.
Over a distance of , crossing the Pennines, and including 91 locks on the main line. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has several small branc ...
, or past Widdop and Coldwell Reservoirs. Rejoining the canal at Foulridge
Foulridge (pronounced ) is a village and civil parish in Pendle, Lancashire, close to the border with North Yorkshire in England. It is situated just beyond Colne, on the route from the M65 to Skipton, and is an important stopping point on s ...
, through Salterforth
Salterforth is a village and civil parish within the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England. The population of the Civil Parish at the 2011 census was 637. It lies on the B6383 road that connects Barnoldswick to the A56 road at Kelbrook. T ...
and Barnoldswick
Barnoldswick (pronounced ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Borough of Pendle, Lancashire, England. It lies within the boundaries of the Historic counties of England, historic West Riding of Yorkshire, West Ri ...
to West Marton in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in Northern England.The Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas of City of York, York and North Yorkshire (district), North Yorkshire are in Yorkshire and t ...
, where the route crosses the A59, and on to Gargrave
Gargrave is a large village and civil parish in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the A65 road, A65, north-west of Skipton. The village is situated on the very edge of the Yorkshire Dales; the River Aire and the Leeds ...
. Continuing through Winterburn and Airton
Airton (also known as Airton-in-Craven) is a small village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, situated north-west of Skipton. The village had a population of 175 according to the 2001 Census, 228 at the 2011 Census, decreasing to ...
(shared with the Way of the Roses
The Way of the Roses is a coast-to-coast long-distance cycle route of Great Britain and is based on minor roads, disused railway lines and specially constructed cycle paths. It lies entirely within the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, cros ...
) to Settle
Settle or SETTLE may refer to:
__NOTOC__ Places
* Settle, Kentucky, United States, an unincorporated community
* Settle, North Yorkshire, a town in England
** Settle Rural District, a historical administrative district
Music
* Settle (band), an in ...
, and then Stackhouse, Wharfe, Austwick
Austwick is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, about north-west of Settle. The village is on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Before local government reorganisation in 1974, Austwick parish was within Settle ...
, Clapham
Clapham () is a district in south London, south west London, England, lying mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, but with some areas (including Clapham Common) extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth.
History
Ea ...
, and Ingleton to Dent, Cumbria
Dent is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, within the historic boundaries of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It lies in Dentdale, a narrow valley on the western slopes of the Pennines within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, sou ...
. After encountering the M6 near Tebay Services, it is on to Orton, Great Asby
Great Asby is a village in Cumbria, England. Historically part of Westmorland, it is located approximately south east of Penrith and approximately south of Appleby-in-Westmorland. Its name is said to be derived from the , meaning ash and '' ...
and Sedbergh
Sedbergh ( or ) is a town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Cumbria. It falls within the historic boundaries of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Since April 2023, it has been administered by Westmorland and Furness local authority. Th ...
, to finish at Appleby in Cumbria
Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders to the north, Northumberland and County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east, Lancash ...
. This part of the route includes connections to Kendal
Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, England. It lies within the River Kent's dale, from which its name is derived, just outside the boundary of t ...
and Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen () is a market town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It lies on the A685 and is surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, about from the nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith. The River Eden rises away in the pea ...
.[
]
North Pennines
The North Pennines
The North Pennines are the northernmost section of the Pennines, a range of hills which run north–south through northern England. They run along the border between County Durham and Northumberland in the east and Cumbria in the west, and are ...
section is long, with eight traffic-free. The route runs from Appleby (with a branch from Penrith) to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census recor ...
on the Scottish border, passing Slaggyford
Slaggyford is a village in the civil parish of Knaresdale with Kirkhaugh, in Northumberland, England about north of Alston, Cumbria.
It is set in the River Tyne, South Tyne valley (often called the Tyne Gap). Hadrian's Wall lies to the north o ...
(where it follows the South Tyne Trail), Haltwhistle
Haltwhistle is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, east of Carlisle and west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It had a population of 3,811 at the 2011 Census.
Haltwhistle is the closest community to Hadrian's Wall and to Northum ...
, Bellingham and Branton.[ Between Renwick and Leadgate it briefly follows the ]A686 road
The A686 is a road in Northern England. It runs from Penrith in Cumbria to Haydon Bridge in Northumberland. ''AA Magazine'' named the A686 as one of their "Ten Great Drives" owing to the dramatic scenery of the North Pennines hills encounter ...
which is also part of the Sea to Sea Cycle Route
The Coast to Coast or Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C) is a cycle route opened in 1994. Combining sections of National Cycle Route 7, 14, 71 and 72; it runs from Whitehaven or Workington on the west coast of Cumbria, and then crosses the Lak ...
(National Cycle Route 7
Route
For mapping purposes, the route is split at Glasgow into Lochs and Glens (south)
and (north)
Sunderland to Carlisle
This route follows the Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route for much of its length before the C2C departs to Whitehaven and ...
). The final ride from Norham
Norham ( ) is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south-west of Berwick on the south side of the River Tweed where it is the border with Scotland.
History
Its ancient name was Ubbanford. Ecgred of Lindisfarne (d.845) replac ...
is shared with National Cycle Route 1
The cycle-path is located in the United Kingdom.
Route
Dover to Canterbury
Dover , Deal, Kent, Deal , Sandwich, Kent, Sandwich , Canterbury
Links with National Cycle Route 2, RCR 16, Kent, Regional route 16, and RCR 17, Kent, Regional r ...
.[
]
Media gallery
Image:The tunnel at the start of the Tissington Trail, Ashbourne - geograph.org.uk - 130214.jpg, Ashbourne Tunnel on the Tissington Trail, Derbyshire
Image:Back road from Buxton to Whaley Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 130219.jpg, On a section of the Midshires Way near Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in the High Peak, Derbyshire, Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.Alston, Cumbria also claims this, but lacks a regu ...
, Derbyshire
Image:Longdendale Trail at Woodhead Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 949949.jpg, Longdendale Trail at Woodhead Reservoir on NCN 62
Image:Bridge over the River Calder - geograph.org.uk - 1284647.jpg, New bridge on the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge ( ) is a market town in the Upper Calder Valley in Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. The Calderdale Council ward population at the 2011 census was 11,703.
History
The town was originally a fording point over the once mu ...
, West Yorkshire
Image:Border Separator - geograph.org.uk - 110294.jpg, On the West Yorkshire, Lancashire border half-way between Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is a market town in the Calderdale district of West Yorkshire, England. It is in the Upper Calder Valley, west of Halifax and 14 miles (21 km) north-east of Rochdale, at the confluence of the River Calder and the Hebden W ...
and Burnley
Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 population of 78,266. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River B ...
Image:Route 68 road sign - geograph.org.uk - 905028.jpg, Signpost at Dufton
Dufton is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, England. Historically part of Westmorland, it lies in the Eden Valley and below Great Dun Fell. It is mostly around 180m above sea level. At the 2011 census the parish had a population of 201 ...
, Cumbria
Image:Pennine Cycleway signpost - geograph.org.uk - 609156.jpg, Signpost near Slaggyford
Slaggyford is a village in the civil parish of Knaresdale with Kirkhaugh, in Northumberland, England about north of Alston, Cumbria.
It is set in the River Tyne, South Tyne valley (often called the Tyne Gap). Hadrian's Wall lies to the north o ...
, Northumberland
Image:Cyclists on the South Tyne Trail near Lambley - geograph.org.uk - 886415.jpg, On the South Tyne Trail near Lambley, Northumberland
Image:Ford over the river Breamish at Brandon - geograph.org.uk - 130467.jpg, Ford over the river Breamish
The Breamish is a river in Northumberland, England, which rises on Comb Fell in the Northumberland National Park on the southern side of The Cheviot. It is one of the nine rivers rising in the Cheviot Hills, the others being the College Burn, t ...
at Brandon, Northumberland
Image:Frost on the Union Chain Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1079303.jpg, The Union Chain Bridge crossing the River Tweed on NCN 1
See also
*The long-distance trail
A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, equestrianism or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents exc ...
s in the Pennines include:
:*Pennine Bridleway
The Pennine Bridleway is a National Trail in Northern England.
It runs roughly parallel with the Pennine Way but provides access for horse riders and cyclists as well as walkers. The trail is around long, extending from Derbyshire to Cumbri ...
:*Pennine Way
The Pennine Way is a National Trail in England, with a small section in Scotland. The trail stretches for from Edale, in the northern Derbyshire Peak District, north through the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park and ends at Kir ...
:*Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail is a long-distance path running from coast to coast across Northern England on a mixture of surfaced paths, with some short on-road sections, and with gentle gradients (it runs largely along disused railway lines and c ...
:*Way of the Roses
The Way of the Roses is a coast-to-coast long-distance cycle route of Great Britain and is based on minor roads, disused railway lines and specially constructed cycle paths. It lies entirely within the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, cros ...
*List of National Cycle Network routes
This is a list of routes on Sustrans's National Cycle Network within the United Kingdom.
As the cycle network has not been fully completed, some sections of routes are still under construction.
Single Digit Main National Routes
Double Digit ...
*National Trails
National Trails are long distance footpaths and bridleways in England and Wales. They are administered by Natural England, an agency of the UK government, and Natural Resources Wales, a Welsh government-sponsored body.
National Trails are ma ...
References
External links
* Sustrans website – Pennine Cyclewa
Peak DistrictSouth PenninesNorth Pennines
*
Route leaflet for Lancashire section – Pendle Council
{{-
Cycleways in England
National Cycle Routes
Footpaths in Cumbria
Footpaths in Derbyshire
Footpaths in Lancashire
Footpaths in Northumberland
Footpaths in North Yorkshire
Footpaths in West Yorkshire
Pennines