Trans Pennine Trail

Last updated

Trans Pennine Trail route map Trans Pennine Trail.jpg
Trans Pennine Trail route map
Marker at one end of the trail (Hornsea seafront). Trans Pennine Trail Hornsea.jpg
Marker at one end of the trail (Hornsea seafront).
Road signs in Stockport referring to the Trail. 1st Heaton Norris Scout Group sign.jpg
Road signs in Stockport referring to the 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 canal towpaths). It forms part of European walking route E8 and is part of the National Cycle Network as Route 62 (referencing the M62 motorway which also crosses the Pennines).

Contents

Most of the surfaces and gradients make it a relatively easy trail, suitable for cyclists, pushchairs and wheelchair users. The section between Stockport and Barnsley is hilly, especially near Woodhead, [1] and not all sections or barriers are accessible for users of wheelchairs or non-standard cycles. [2] Some parts are also open to horse riding.

The trail is administered from a central office in Barnsley, which is responsible for promotion and allocation of funding. However, the 27 local authorities whose areas the trail runs through are responsible for management of the trail within their boundaries.

History

The idea originated from Barnsley, where the head office is now based. Work on the trail started in 1999. Early development was boosted by a £5 million investment by the Millennium Commission. The trail was officially opened in September 2001. However, the route was not fully completed until late 2004. It cost £60 million to construct.

Route

A gate on the trail near Hardy Farm Trans Pennine Trail - geograph.org.uk - 1383511.jpg
A gate on the trail near Hardy Farm

The main west–east trail starts at Southport, then heads south through the suburbs of Liverpool, through Widnes, Warrington, Manchester, Stockport and Hadfield. It then crosses the Peak District, heading up the Longdendale valley via the Longdendale Trail to Woodhead, then down through Dunford Bridge and Penistone, Doncaster, Selby, Hessle, Hull and Hornsea. This route covers 207 miles (333.1 km). Between Southport and Selby it is National Cycle Network, Route 62 and from Selby to Hornsea, NCN Route 65.

There is also a north–south trail that runs from Leeds and through Wakefield. It then passes through Barnsley and crosses over the main trail in the Dearne Valley area. After that it continues south to Sheffield and the Rother Valley Country Park before terminating in Chesterfield. This is NCN Route 67 and is 70 miles (112.7 km) long.

The route also has several deviations and loops in South Yorkshire, including one to Rotherham, NCN Route 6 and NCN Route 627 south of Penistone. Another 15-mile (24.1 km) spur runs from Selby to York, NCN Route 65.

The cross-continent European walking route E8 uses the trail between Hull and Liverpool to cross England. It also crosses both the eastern and western routes of European walking route E2. [3]

Certificates

National Cycle Network sign in Liverpool National Cycle Network 56 Trans Pennine.jpg
National Cycle Network sign in Liverpool

Certificates are handed out for covering different parts of the trail. In order to obtain them, trail users need to collect stamps at various points along the trail.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longdendale</span> Valley in England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Etherow</span> River in north west England

The River Etherow is a river in northern England, and a tributary of the River Goyt. Although now passing through South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester, it historically formed the ancient county boundary between Cheshire and Derbyshire. The upper valley is known as Longdendale. The river has a watershed of approximately 30 square miles (78 km2), and the area an annual rainfall of 52.5 inches (1,330 mm).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longdendale Trail</span> Long-distance rail trail in England

The Longdendale Trail is an English long-distance rail trail following the former Woodhead railway line, which ran between Manchester and Sheffield and closed east of Hadfield, Derbyshire in 1981. It has shallow gradients and a smooth surface that makes it popular with families and cyclists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M67 motorway</span> Motorway in Greater Manchester, England

The M67 is a 5-mile (8.0 km) urban motorway in Greater Manchester, England, which heads east from the M60 motorway passing through Denton and Hyde before ending near Mottram. The road was originally conceived as the first section of a trans-Pennine motorway between Manchester and Sheffield that would connect the A57(M) motorway with the M1 motorway; however, the motorway became the only part to be built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penistone</span> Town and civil parish in South Yorkshire, England

Penistone is a market town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, which had a population of 24,760 at the 2021 census. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is 8 miles (13 km) west of Barnsley, 17 miles (27 km) north-east of Glossop, 14.2 miles (23 km) north-west of Sheffield, 27 miles (43 km) south-west of Leeds and 29 miles (47 km) east of Manchester in the foothills of the Pennines. The town is frequently noted on lists of unusual place names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huddersfield line</span> Inter-regional railway in Northern England

The Huddersfield line is the main railway line between the English cities of Leeds and Manchester, via Huddersfield. It is one of the busiest MetroTrain lines. The route travels south-south-west from Leeds through Dewsbury. After a short westward stretch through Mirfield, where it runs on the ex-L&YR section, it continues south-west through Huddersfield, using the Colne Valley to its headwaters. The long Standedge Tunnel, just after Marsden, crosses under the watershed; the majority of the run down to Manchester is in the Tame Valley. From Manchester, some services continue to Manchester Airport and others to Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodhead, Derbyshire</span> Human settlement in England

Woodhead is a small and scattered settlement at the head of the Longdendale valley in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the trans-Pennine A628 road connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, 6 miles (10 km) north of Glossop, 19 miles (31 km) east of Manchester and 18 miles (29 km) west of Barnsley. It is close to the River Etherow and the Trans Pennine Trail. Although part of Derbyshire since 1974, like nearby Tintwistle and Crowden, the hamlet was in the historic county of Cheshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodhead line</span> Former Manchester to Sheffield railway line

The Woodhead line was a railway line linking Sheffield, Penistone and Manchester in the north of England. A key feature of the route is the passage under the high moorlands of the northern Peak District through the Woodhead Tunnels. The line was electrified in 1953 and closed between Hadfield and Penistone in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midshires Way</span> Long-distance footpath in England

The Midshires Way is a long-distance footpath and bridleway that runs for 230 miles (370 km) from the Chiltern Hills from near Bledlow in Buckinghamshire, through the Midlands counties of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, to Stockport, Greater Manchester. It also links several other long-distance walking routes or trackways including The Ridgeway, the Pennine Bridleway and the Trans Pennine Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennine Bridleway</span>

The Pennine Bridleway is a National Trail in Northern England.

The Pennine Cycleway is a Sustrans-sponsored route in the Pennines range in northern England, an area often called the "backbone of England". The route passes through the counties of Derbyshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland. It is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN). Sustrans founder John Grimshaw calls it 'the best National Cycle Network route of the lot'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stalybridge railway station</span> Railway station in Greater Manchester, England

Stalybridge railway station serves Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the Huddersfield Line, 7+12 miles (12.1 km) east of Manchester Piccadilly and 8+14 miles (13.3 km) east of Manchester Victoria. The station is managed by TransPennine Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penistone rail accidents</span> List of rail accidents in Penistone South Yorkshire, England

Over the latter years of the 19th and early years of the 20th centuries, Penistone in Yorkshire gained a name as an accident black-spot on Britain's railway network; indeed, it could be said to hold the title of the worst accident black-spot in the country. The main line through the town was the Woodhead route of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway between Sheffield Victoria and Manchester, London Road. The line was heavily graded with a summit some 400 yards inside the eastern portal of the Woodhead tunnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A628 road</span> Road in Northern England

The A628 is a major road connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire in northern England. It crosses the Pennine hills by way of Longdendale and the Woodhead Pass in the Peak District National Park. The road's altitude and exposure to bad weather create problems in winter and the road is sometimes closed due to snow or high winds.

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 66 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Kingston upon Hull to Manchester via Beverley, York and Leeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cycle Route 69</span> Cycle route in the United Kingdom

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 69 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Hest Bank to Cleethorpes. The route is incomplete and consists of one long section in Lancashire, and seven short sections in West Yorkshire. The open sections are signed in both directions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cycle Route 62</span> Long distance cycle route from Fleetwood to Selby, England

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 62 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Fleetwood to Selby. As of 2018 the route has a missing section between Preston and Southport but is otherwise open and signed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cycle Route 65</span> Long distance cycle route through East and North Yorkshire, England

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 65 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Hornsea on the North Sea Coast of The East Riding of Yorkshire via Hull and York to Middlesbrough. It is fully open and signed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cycle Route 67</span> Long distance cycle route running north-south through Yorkshire to the East Midlands.

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 67 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Long Whatton to Northallerton. The route is 124 miles (200 km) in length and is open but with sections missing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling in South Yorkshire</span>

Cycling is a popular method of transport in the county of South Yorkshire, England. Between 2006 and 2014, there was an increase of over 25% in the number of cycle journeys being made in the county's urban areas.

References

  1. "Trans-Pennine Trail". cycle.travel. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  2. "Accessible mapping | Trans Pennine Trail" . Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  3. "European long distance route Trans Pennine Trail". www.transpenninetrail.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
Template:Attached KML/Trans Pennine Trail
KML is from Wikidata