Yorkshire
Free cycle maps are listed at bottom of page.
Open routes
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National Route 1 |
National Route 1 of the National Cycle Network is currently open and signed between the Humber Bridge and Whitby via Scarborough and includes the traffic-free Scarborough to Whitby railway path. The route forms a part of North Sea Cycle Route.
The route is also open between Staithes and Middlesbrough via Redcar. It is an eventual aim to complete the route between Whitby and Staithes.
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National Route 6: Worksop - Rotherham - Oxspring |
National Route 6 enters Yorkshire at Netherthorpe, just outside of Worksop. The route passes through Rotherham to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre and into Sheffield following the River Don. The route is still proposed heading north out of Sheffield, though is open from Grenoside to Oxspring where it joins National Route 62 - this section of National Route 6 is also a part of the Trans Pennine Trail (central). From Meadowhall you can follow National Route 67 to Grenoside.
When complete National Route 6 will extend all the way from central London to the Lake District.
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National Route 62 - Trans Pennine Trail |
National Route 62 enters Yorkshire high on Woodhead Pass, climbing to the highest point (435m) on the Trans Pennine Trail (west) as the route crosses the Pennines before dropping down to Penistone and Brampton. From Brampton the Trans Pennine Trail (east) continues to Selby via Doncaster. The Trans Pennine Trail itself continues beyond Selby to Hornsea using National Route 65 (see below).
For more information and route updates, including diversions following the major flooding on route in 2007 please check the Trans Pennine Trail Project website.
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National Route 65 - White Rose Cycle Route |
National Route 65 forms the main part of the White Rose Cycle Route between Hull and Middlesbrough via Selby, York and Easingwold. The route incorporates the traffic-free York to Selby and York to Beningbrough routes.
National Route 65 - Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail (east) also follows National Route 65 between Selby and Hull and continues along the Hornsea Rail Trail to Hornsea from the Summergangs area of Hull.
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National Route 66 - White Rose Cycle Route |
National Route 66 is open between Hull and York via Beverley, Market Weighton and Stamford Bridge as an option on the White Rose Cycle Route.
National Route 66: York - Manchester
Between York and Manchester the route is still under development, however some significant sections are open:
- Thorp Arch to Wetherby on the Wetherby Railway Path (pdf)
- Manston to Shipley via Leeds using part of the Aire Valley Towpath
- Bradford to Dewsbury Moor including the traffic-free Spen Valley Greenway
- Ravensthorpe to Bradley on the Calder Valley Greenway (pdf)
- Elland to Warland via Sowerby Bridge and Todmordon.
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National Route 67 - Trans Pennine Trail |
National Route 67 is a north / south route option of the Trans Pennine Trail (central) and is open between Leeds, Barnsley, and Sheffield.
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National Route 68 - Pennine Cycleway |
National Route 68 is a long distance cycle route called the Pennine Cycleway. The middle section passes through Yorkshire and is known as Pennine Cycleway: South Pennines & the Dales. This section starts or finishes in Holmfirth skirting the eastern edge of the Pennines through Marsden and Sowerby Bridge. From Hebden Bridge the route has two options either direct to Colne or via Burnley. After a stretch along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal the route enters the Yorkshire Dales National Park, passing through Settle, Ingleton and Dent and then through Cumbria to Appleby-in-Westmorland.
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National Route 69 |
National Route 69 is still being developed though it is open between Silsden and Shipley using part of the Aire Valley Towpath and a short section of Great Northern Trail is also open.
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Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way |
The Yorkshire Dales Cycleway (Regional Route 10) is a challenging 130 miles (210km) circular route in the Yorkshire Dales National Park starting and finishing in either Skipton or Ilkley. Harvey Maps have published a Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way map.
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Regional Route 52: Barnard Castle - Whitby |
Regional Route 52 forms the Whitby option of the Walney to Wear & Whitby (W2W) long distance cycle route. The route starts in Barnard Castle and crosses the North York Moors in to Whitby.
Route development
Way of the Roses
The Way of the Roses is a new ‘coast to coast’ route between Morecambe on Lancashire’s Irish Sea coast and Bridlington on Yorkshire’s North Sea coast which is due to open in September 2010. Passing through the historic cities of Lancaster and York, the 169-mile route also links the Forest of Bowland AONB, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Nidderdale AONB and the Yorkshire Wolds. Sustrans is co-ordinating the initiative on behalf of partners in both counties and is publishing a map of the whole route, which should be available in August 2010.
An alternative southern strand between the Dales and York via Harrogate and Knaresborough is scheduled to open in 2011, using the Ripley-Bilton Connect2 scheme route over the River Nidd gorge.
The Way of the Roses route uses existing and new National Cycle Network routes.
Dearne Valley
Rotherham Council has completed a new off road section of TPT in the Dearne Valley. This now keeps the Trail off road virtually all the way from Barnsley to Doncaster, with just a short section through Harlington village on quiet roads. Work on this section has also included reclamation and landscaping of a former coal washing site, including the planting of 66,000 trees on the site.
Wetherby to Thorpe Arch
The section of Route 66 from Wetherby to Thorpe Arch Trading Estate is now complete, providing a safe walking and cycling route to work and also for leisure users. The next section, including the refurbishment of the viaduct over the River Wharfe, depends upon the development of the former papyrus mill. If you want to explore this path unfortunately there is no easy train access, but rather than drive with your bikes, consider taking the bus and hiring a bike from the trading estate.
Construction here has been funded by Leeds Council's Local Transport Plan.
The Great Northern Trail
On the Great Northern Trail our plans to complete phase one by extending the trail from Harecroft to Denholme have been delayed. However, we have been able to accelerate plans for phase two, Thornton to Queensbury, after reaching agreement with four of the five landowners on the route.
Construction here has been funded by the Aggregates Levy, Bradford Council's Local Transport Plan, and the Railway Heritage Trust.
Ryedale Cycle Trail
For more information on the campaign behind using the disused railway between Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside for a cycle trail visit www.ryedalecycletrail.org.uk.
Free cycle maps for Yorkshire
Calder Valley and Birkby Bradley Huddersfield to Dewsbury via Mirfield
(National Routes 66 & 69) - Sustrans, tel: 0845 113 0065 or download (pdf)
Great Northern Trail Cullingworth
(National Route 69) - out of print but available to download (pdf)
The Wetherby Railway Path Wetherby to Spofforth via Thorp Arch
(National Routes 66 & 67) - Sustrans, tel 0845 113 0065 or download (pdf)
Doncaster Greenway (North) Woodlands, Scawthorpe, Bentley & Doncaster Town Centre
(National Route 62) - out of print but available to download (pdf)
Aire Valley Towpath Route
(National Routes 66 & 69) - British Waterways, tel: 01977 554 351 or download (pdf)
Spen Valley Greenway and Ringway Dewsbury to Oakenshaw
(National Route 66) - Sustrans, tel: 0845 113 0065 or download (pdf)
The Aireborough Greenway Guiseley to Yeadon
(National Route 5) - Sustrans, tel: 0845 113 0065 or download (pdf)
The Airedale Greenway Keighley to Shipley
(National Route 696) - Sustrans, tel: 0845 113 0065
Spen Valley and North Kirklees Cycling Map - Kirklees MC, tel: 0800 731 8765
Huddersfield & Central Kirklees Cycling Map - Kirklees MC, tel: 0800 731 8765
Sheffield Cycle Map - Sheffield CC, tel: 0114 273 4479
Darnall & Tinsley Cycle Map - Sheffield CC, tel: 0114 273 4286
Rotherham CycleCity Map - Rotherham MBC, tel: 01709 822 951 or view map online.
Cycling in Doncaster - Doncaster MBC, tel: 01302 735 151
Hull Cycle Map - download from Hull CC or tel: 01482 612108
Beverley Cycle Map - East Riding of Yorkshire Council, tel: 01482 391746
Harrogate Cycle Map - Harrogate BC, tel: 01423 556 967
York Cycle Map - York CC, tel: 01904 613 161
Scarborough to Whitby - Tramways Cycle Hire, tel: 01947 820207
Bradford Cycle Map - Bradford District Council, tel: 01274 431184
Leeds Cycle Map - Leeds CC, tel: 0113 395 1470
West Yorkshire Cycleway - Leeds CC, tel: 0113 395 1470