Trans Pennine Trail

Anyone on here done this by bike? If so any advice. Start on Monday .

 

Watch out for people in bushes vvanking over a picture of Heckingbottom in lycra

 

Be careful with the signs. In places the trail splits into different routes for walkers, cyclists, horses and Hecky hunters. There's also lots of branches leaving the main trail to visit outlying towns, make sure you stay on the main route.

 

Thanks. I'll watch out for that!

 

Yes that does look a bit complex on the whole route. The only bit i'm really worried about though is when i come of the route to go up to Stairfoot and then hope that the former rail line to Cudeth gets me to the village. I think it still exists but can't confirm it.

 

dont know where it comes out in cudeth but walked part of it the other day and we were on the edge of the village.

 

I've ridden from Woodhead to Hornsea, are you doing the full route from Southport?

 

I am
Southport - Altrincham
Altrincham - Barnsley
Barnsley - Selby
Selby - Hornsea.

Bloody hell, I realise I've just described out future fixture list if these owners don't pull their fingers out.

How did you find the section through Hull? Looks a bit grim.

 

Yes, done it four times in recent years, once from east to west. Did it in four sections. Southport to Stockport, stayed in Travelodge. Stockport to Barnsley, stayed at home. Barnsley to Howden, stayed at Bowman's pub and Howden to Hornsea. I'm getting on a bit, you might want to do it quicker, but that's hard enough. Some parts of it you just can't ride, especially a huge flight of steps next to the Mersey.

 

I did it back in 2013, the Hull section wasn't too bad and the signage was pretty much spot on at the time. Did it at a similar time of year, but did Barnsley to Hornsea in a single day, starting on the TPT at Royston, through Stairfoot and then the route you'll be following. I'm guessing some of the route further East may have been surfaced by now, not that it was a problem back then to be honest.

The spur from Stairfoot to Cudworth you mentioned is still there, I occasionally use it, and it brings me out at Ring Farm Stables at the bottom of Carrs Lane.

Google Maps generally picks up the TPT/NCN well, and I also use the Cyclestreets app which I think is developed with Sustrans.

Enjoy it, some of the route is stunning and you're never too far away from urban areas if needed.

 

Four times! Have you got OCD. Your highlights and lowlights?

 

Cheers Bud, that's really helpful. Especially the info about Carrs lane. Should be able to make it to Snydale Rd from there.

 

Highlights, getting to the end. Lowlights, rained everyone we did it. Pennine section is hard but once that's over it's mostly flat. Last time we did it, one of my tyres was in tatters. We had to walk 7 miles to get to Halfords In Warrington. We'd done the Way of the Roses from Morecambe to Bridlington, then ride down to Hornsea to do the TPT east to west. I was 62 then. It nearly killed me. I think into electric bike territory now.

 

I’ll be keeping an eye out for you

 

yep. Those are certainly my shorts in every way!

 

Respect!!! - you daft old bugger! I did the Way of the Roses a couple of weeks ago. Brilliant ride. Now here’s the confession. I’m doing this on an E-bike. Never will I ride an ordinary bike again.

 

Only done sections of it. Shame they haven't opened up the Woodhead tunnel to cyclists. It's a bit of a climb from Woodhead to the top of Dunford Bridge. It's slightly messy around Oxspring where you get off the Don Valley trail and work your way up to Silkstone Common. Nice downhill section from there down to Worsbrough. The section from Park Road to Wombwell is now tarmacced which is a bonus because it used to get really muddy. It would be rude not to have a swift half at the pub in Sprotborough. I've never yet managed to cycle straight past it. Top side of Hull to Hornsea is a nice ride.

 

Go that way and you will go over the old viaduct. If you wanna be on Snydale Rd then you could turn right just before the viaduct, go through the wood passed the lakes whilst more or less following the river Dearne. This brings you out near the bridge on the bad bend on Edderthorpe Lane.

 

I fancy doing both routes Tosh. I remember them as railways. Probably do the Carrs Lane one into Cudeth then down Darfield Rd to Edderthorpe Lane the day after.

That takes me back a bit to the early 80’s when me and a mate used to spend Friday night round the Town, back to the Pinfold in Cudeth for one before then walking!! to Darfield to spend the night at his before travelling to an away game (with Mr Badger) the day after. Lovely times. Amazing what you can do after a few beers.

 

Some parts are much easier to follow than others. I also find that it can get a bit confusing in places where the old railway tunnels have been closed, cuttings infilled etc. so the TPT is diverted from the original route. It’s a great ride down into Barnsley from Woodhead!