Pennine Cycleway

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Pennine Cycleway
Length327 mi (526 km) [1]
Location Derbyshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumberland
Established2003
Trailheads Derby
52°55′19″N1°28′34″W / 52.922°N 1.476°W / 52.922; -1.476 (Derby)
Berwick-upon-Tweed
55°46′16″N2°00′25″W / 55.771°N 2.007°W / 55.771; -2.007 (Berwick-upon-Tweed)

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'. [2]

Contents

The majority of the route follows NCN 68. It also makes use of several other NCN routes including 6, 54, 62, [3] 70, [4] 7, 72 and 1. [5]

It has a total length of about 327 miles (526 km). The route was opened in stages in 2002–03.

History

The route was devised for Sustrans, a UK, partially government-funded charity that promotes sustainable transport, who were looking for an "exhilarating long distance pubs 'n' scenery challenge ride" to rival the Sea to Sea Cycle Route (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. [6] Cyclists marked the opening of the entire route in July 2003. [7]

Route

The Sustrans organization describe the Pennine Cycleway route in three sections: Peak District, South Pennines and North Pennines. [3] [4] [5] It goes through the National Parks of the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, and Northumberland, while skirting the eastern Lake District. About 20% is on traffic-free cycleway routes, and the remainder is along quiet low traffic roads.

Peak District

The Peak District section is 80 miles (130 km) long. It runs from Derby in the English Midlands to Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, passing Ashbourne, Buxton and New Mills, and includes the traffic-free rail trails at Tissington and Longdendale (also part of the Trans Pennine Trail). [3] The initial section to Etwall is part of National Cycle Network Route 54, and around Buxton short sections of the High Peak Trail and Midshires Way are followed. [1]

South Pennines

The South Pennines section is 124 miles (200 km) long, with 18 traffic-free. It runs from Holmfirth via Upperthong, Meltham and Slaithwaite, encountering the M62 motorway as it crosses the dam at Scammonden Reservoir. Passing through Barkisland, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge (this part of the route is shared with National Cycle Route 66) to Heptonstall, where the route splits in two. To get to Colne in Lancashire, riders can either head to Burnley and through Towneley Park to join the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, or past Widdop and Coldwell Reservoirs. Rejoining the canal at Foulridge, through Salterforth and Barnoldswick to West Marton in North Yorkshire, where the route crosses the A59, and on to Gargrave. Continuing through Winterburn and Airton (shared with the Way of the Roses) to Settle, and then Stackhouse, Wharfe, Austwick, Clapham, and Ingleton to Dent, Cumbria. After encountering the M6 near Tebay Services, it is on to Orton, Great Asby and Sedbergh, to finish at Appleby in Cumbria. This part of the route includes connections to Kendal and Kirkby Stephen. [4]

North Pennines

The North Pennines section is 150 miles (240 km) long, with eight traffic-free. The route runs from Appleby (with a branch from Penrith) to Berwick-upon-Tweed on the Scottish border, passing Slaggyford (where it follows the South Tyne Trail), Haltwhistle, Bellingham and Branton. [5] Between Renwick and Leadgate it briefly follows the A686 road which is also part of the Sea to Sea Cycle Route (National Cycle Route 7). The final ride from Norham is shared with National Cycle Route 1. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

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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">Trans Pennine Trail</span> Long-distance footpath in northern England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Peak Trail</span> Bridleway in the English Peak District

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tissington Trail</span> Bridleway in the English Peak District

The Tissington Trail is a bridleway, footpath and cycleway in Derbyshire, England, along part of the trackbed of the former railway line connecting Ashbourne to Buxton. It takes its name from the village of Tissington, which it skirts. Opened in 1971, and now a part of the National Cycle Network, it stretches for 13 miles (21 km) from Parsley Hay (53.1706°N 1.7828°W) in the north to Ashbourne (53.0196°N 1.7397°W) in the south.

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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>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parsley Hay railway station</span> Former railway station in Derbyshire, England

Parsley Hay railway station served Parsley Hay, a hamlet within Hartington Middle Quarter civil parish, about 9.3 miles (15 km) south east of Buxton, Derbyshire, on the LNWR line to Ashbourne. The nearest large settlement is the village of Hartington.

Thorpe Cloud railway station was opened in 1899 between the villages of Thorpe and Fenny Bentley in Derbyshire, south east of Buxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartington railway station</span> Former railway station in Derbyshire, England

Hartington railway station opened in 1899 about two miles away from the village it served - Hartington in Derbyshire, south east of Buxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashbourne railway station</span> Former railway station in Derbyshire, England

Ashbourne railway station formerly served the town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire. There have been two stations in the town. The first, opened in 1852, was operated by the North Staffordshire Railway (NSR); it was replaced in 1899 by a station at a new location, jointly operated by the NSR and the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). In 1923 the station passed into the ownership of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and in 1948 that of the London Midland Region of British Railways. It was finally closed to all traffic in 1963.

<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>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cycle Route 65</span>

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National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 70 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Walney Island in Cumbria to Sunderland. The route is fully open and signed. From end to end the route is 149 miles (240 km), but two sections are shared with other NCN routes leaving Route 70 at 128 miles (206 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Peak Loop Trail</span> Recreational trail in the English Peak District

The White Peak Loop is a 60-mile (97 km) route for walking, cycling and horse riding in the Peak District of England. The trail combines sections of the High Peak Trail and the Monsal Trail with linking sections through the towns of Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock. The White Peak Loop is being developed by Derbyshire County Council and as of 2022 some sections are not yet complete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay Cycle Way</span> Cycle route around Morecambe Bay in NW England

The Bay Cycle Way is an 80-mile (130 km) cycling route around Morecambe Bay in Lancashire and Cumbria in north west England. Most of it forms National Cycle Route 700, while other sections are waymarked as NCN 6, NCN 69 and NCN 70.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Route 68". www.sustrans.org.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. Waters, Mark. "Along England's backbone" (PDF). Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Pennine Cycleway (Peak District)". www.sustrans.org.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Pennine Cycleway (South Pennines)". www.sustrans.org.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Pennine Cycleway (North Pennines)". www.sustrans.org.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  6. Welch, Julie (30 November 2002). "Another link in the chain". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  7. "Proud new link in cycle route chain". Lancashire Telegraph. 14 July 2003. Retrieved 16 August 2015.


Coordinates: 54°7′N2°18′W / 54.117°N 2.300°W / 54.117; -2.300