Cycling in Yorkshire
Cycling in Yorkshire
22nd January 2022
This bike ride is from Ossett to Oakenshaw via Dewsbury. It is Stage 12 of the Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire.
I did the ride on my mountain bike - you never know with Sustrans paths - but in fact any bike would be fine; there's a tarmac surface all the way.
It's downhill from Ossett to Dewsbury, then gradually uphill from Dewsbury through Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton to Oakenshaw.
Distance: 11 miles
each way, so 22 miles there and back
Time: around 1h15 each way, so 2h30 in total
The overview map from OpenCycleMap above shows the route from Ossett to Oakenshaw in red.
This is the ride on Plotaroute; you can download a navigation file from there.
This is the Sustrans leaflet for the Ossett to Oakenshaw bike ride.
Ossett seems to be quite a thriving, bustling town, on market day at least.
The route on the GPS file starts from Saporito and Another Scoop on Bank Street.
Head down Bank Street, cross Queen Street, and continue on West Wells Road. There's a section with cobbled paving and big CYCLISTS DISMOUNT signs. The signs seem to be an overreaction to an uneven surface.
West Wells Road leads to the Dewsbury-Ossett Greenway. It goes through a grassy area, then there's quite a steep downhill.
The greenway goes through the Earlsheaton tunnel. The Sustrans leaflet says it has bat-friendly lighting. It's probably ok to risk waking up some bats by shouting to see if you get an echo.
At the bottom of the hill there's a portrait bench. One of the figures is Brian Robinson, winner of the 1961 Dauphiné, and the first British Tour de France finisher and stage winner. He grew up in Ravensthorpe near Dewsbury.
Approaching Dewsbury, you head along a path by the river Calder, then up Sands Lane. Turn left along Longcauseway towards the centre of Dewsbury.
Dewsbury is the one tricky place to navigate on this ride. The Sustrans/Ordnance Survey map is not up-to-date, and takes you into Dewsbury, where one-way streets make it impossible to follow their route. Ignore that map.
There are no route names or destinations on the signposts, just a route number (NCN Route 69).
The signs and my GPS file take you left off Longcauseway onto Link Road, left on Wilton Street, then on a narrow path by the Calder to come out on the A638 near Asda.
When I rode it, the path by the Calder was strewn with rubbish, including old clothes and broken glass. It was quite unpleasant and I don't recommend it.
An alternative route would be to stay on Longcauseway past Dewsbury Sports Centre to the A638, then turn left along the pavement of the A638 (whether it is technically shared use or not).
Whether you take the path by the Calder or my alternative route, you reach the junction of Mill Street West and an entrance to the Calder Valley Greenway. Follow the Calder Valley Greenway (still quite grotty and rubbish-strewn).
You come to a bridge by the river Calder.
At the far end of the bridge, you go under the railway then reach Ravenswharf Road. At a T-junction, turn left on Huddersfield Road, and you'll see the Spen Valley Greenway.
Cross Huddersfield Road and go up the ramp to the Spen Valley Greenway. Now there are no navigation issues - just follow the greenway.
There are houses on the right, and Dewsbury Country Park is on the left. You come to Heckmondwike, then Liversedge (where you pass the little Sunflower Pot café).
There are some sculptures along the way. One piece is made out of digger buckets.
A bit further on there's an oversize concertina sculpture.
Horses are kept in the fields either side of the greenway.
There are more sculptures, this time iron sheep. Where did you think wire wool came from?
The path continues through Cleckheaton.
I followed all the rules on the Spen Valley Greenway - ding your bell, slow down, stop if necessary, and say thank you when people let you past.
Most people I came across were lovely, but on occasion there was some hostility from people who resented me being on the greenway on a bike at all. There was also a series of passive-aggressive messages scrawled on the path in yellow chalk.
The Sustrans rules say you should share the path with care, and respect other users. It's not just about demanding respect and consideration from others, it means showing respect and consideration yourself.
Although there isn't a specific Sustrans rule about yellow chalk messages, there should be: 'If you're tempted to scrawl on the path in chalk, stop, take a deep breath, repeat "I mustn't be a numpty" three times, then have a cup of tea instead.'
A bridge takes you over the M62 at its junction with the M606.
The other side of the motorway, continue to Oakenshaw.
The GPS route takes you as far as Kingsmark Freeway where you turn around. Just before that, you pass Victoria Park on your right, and that might make a better turnaround point.
Return the way you came.
Have you done this bike ride? What did you think of it?
The Ossett to Oakenshaw ride is covered by the 1:25,000 OS Explorer map of Bradford & Huddersfield, number 288.
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