This 150 mile signed circular route roughly follows the West Yorkshire county boundary. Much of it is on quieter minor roads with the occasional track section and some mixing with heavier urban traffic. The real essence of the West Yorkshire Cycle Way is a long distance
challenge route. Traffic-free sections are:

From Garforth, running between Great Preston and Kippax, to Allerton Bywater.
The sections between Pontefract and Hemsworth and to the west of Hemsworth are on not-too-busy roads and also include a track section.
There is a very pleasant section between Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge which is also part of the Calder Valley Cycle Route.
See Cycles on Buses for The Hebden Bridger, a rural bus service with a bicycle-carrying facility. In general there are also quiet road sections, which feature some steep climbs, along much of the sparsely populated western and southern section as the route crosses the edge of the Pennines.

For the recreational user the route offers a real variety of landscape with everything from easy to strenuous riding available. The greater part of it is within reasonable riding distance of public transport and it is well signed. For further information refer to the West Yorkshire Cycle Route map (see Cycle Maps and Guides), available from most West Yorkshire tourist information centres.

Although the route is waymarked by the
'bicycle and white rose' the detailed OS based
map is essential for those wanting to complete
longer sections

Main Index - Buses and Cycle Routes - Trains and Cycle Routes