Cragg Vale to Hollingworth Lake

Our circular ride starts at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, just outside Brighouse, a peaceful woodland-and-wetland area beside the River Calder. From the free car park, we quickly join the Rochdale Canal towpath, which provides a gentle, scenic warm‑up as we head west toward Sowerby Bridge. The towpath is largely flat, winding past historic mills, lock gates, and wooded slopes as the Calder Valley begins to narrow around you.
We will continue along the canal through Sowerby Bridge and on toward Mytholmroyd, where the rhythm of the ride changes. Here, we leave the towpath and join the base of the Cragg Vale climb—England’s longest continuous ascent. The road rises steadily for about 5.5 miles, gaining roughly 968 feet at an average gradient of just over 3%. Although long, the climb is never severely steep, making it achievable and enjoyable for steady‑paced riders.
At the summit, we transition into a sweeping, exhilarating descent down Blackstone Edge, well‑known for its broad vistas over Greater Manchester and its flowing bends. This fast, open descent delivers us into Littleborough, where we loop around Hollingworth Lake, a scenic reservoir area with café stops ideal for lunch.
From the lake, we rejoin the Rochdale Canal toward Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, and back through Sowerby Bridge. Expect a mix of smooth and slightly rougher sections, but all set within classic Pennine canal scenery.

Up Cragg Vale and down to Hollingworth Lake

Canal paths some are bit bumpy, and roads.

Lunch at the lake and perhaps an afternoon stop in Hebden Bridge

Please have helmets, money for food and necessary stuff to repair punctures etc.

We never leave anyone behind