Stockport to Bradford (and back?)

[Schneil]

Hi all

I don't know if this subforum is the best place to ask, but I'd like a nice road route between the two, from my house in Heaton Chapel to my parents in West Bowling.

For an off-road route I can use the Rochdale canal to Sowerby Bridge, then the Calder and Hebble Navigation to Brighouse. From Nrighouse, not 100% sure, but looks like if I head towards Scholes I can pick up NCN66 into Bradford.

However I'd like a route a bit less meandering and more diect. Can anyone suggest a good road ? I'm most likely doing it on a hybrid with panniers. thanks.

 

[ColinJ]

What do you mean by 'nice' and 'good'?

I drew a straight line on my map between the two places and there is an awful lot of urban sprawl along there, together with busy roads and big hills. I think I would struggle to find a direct route that I liked.

The best suggestion that I could come up with for part of it is to find your way to Greenfield, then go - Uppermill, Delph, Denshaw, climb the A640 to Buckstones, turn left and descend over the M62 on the B6114, through Barkisland to Greetland, Elland, Brighouse, Scholes ...

 

[Schneil]

By nice, I mean avoid a big hills and a busy roads where possible. I managed to find this route through a random google search, what do you think?

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Bradford_to_Manchester_via_Buckstones-Cycle-Route-1532.html

 

[fossyant]

I like Colin's suggestion, but it's hilly.

 

[steveoo]

A bit off course but you could ride towards dewsbury from brighouse either on the towpath or roads and pickup the spen valley greenway which would take you all the way to Bierley just up the road from west bowling.

 

[oldfatfool]

I'm possibly doing it in a fortnight and plan on a straightish line Huddersfeild/ Marsden/ Diggle/ Mossley/ Denton/ Bredbury. It is on some busy roads and 1or 2 hills in the way but looks about the quickest.

 

[ColinJ]

By nice, I mean avoid a big hills and a busy roads where possible. I managed to find this route through a random google search, what do you think?

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Bradford_to_Manchester_via_Buckstones-Cycle-Route-1532.html

I prefer my suggestion!

From Buckstones Moss, the route you found stays on A-roads longer, goes downhill but then requires a climb back up over 280 ft on a busy dual-carriageway, and is about a mile longer. The equivalent part of my route down past Scammonden is downhill nearly the whole way, is less busy and you save a mile.

The climb to Buckstones is a big one and you need to watch out for speeding bikers at times, but it is probably your best bet in terms of minimising total climbing and distance.

 

[Kestevan]

I'm with Colin on this one. The climb up to Marsden is a pig, the road is both fast and narrow and cars give you sod all room; on the whole not a pleasant route.

Buckstones is more of a drag, and if it's windy will be a pain, but the traffic is likely to be lighter and will probably show you more respect.

 

[Schneil]

HI everyone. I mapped out a route on bikely here:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/stockport-to-bradford

how's it look Colin?

 

[ColinJ]

HI everyone. I mapped out a route on bikely here:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/stockport-to-bradford

how's it look Colin?

About as direct and good a route as you are going to get, I reckon.

One thing though - is there a cycle path round that big motorway roundabout at the end? If there isn't, you are going round it the wrong way!

 

[Schneil]

Ah yeah just seen the blooper on the roundabout!

I've just done an edit. I've tweaked the route slightly so it skirts round the centre of Brighouse instead of going straight through it (which might be quite busy!)
I might cut out the A6025 Elland Road and use the Calder and Hebble navigation to get to Brighouse - it depends on the quality of the surface of the towpath.
I'm a little nervous about the A643, it looks to be a fast road, so I've skipped out a bit of that road instead.

Anyway I won't get chance to do it tomorrow, or next weekend (CC Jodrell bank ride), but will try it soon.