Calder Divide Trail

Calder Divide Trail The Calder Divide Trail is a long distance circular route that connects the old network of packhorse

As you ride this lane it’s one continuous track but on the map it has different names such as White Wall Lane at the low...
16/06/2026

As you ride this lane it’s one continuous track but on the map it has different names such as White Wall Lane at the lower end and Springs Road at the top.

On the 5th Calder Divide Trail we climb up this track to reach the ridge above Holme Valley and then it’s the long descent down Wessenden Valley to Marsden.

Black Hill, the highest point in West Yorkshire at 583m, looms over us but it’s mostly eyes on the track as you pick the best line up and dab the brakes on the steep descent into the Colne Valley.

Event: 5th Calder Divide Trail
Date: 19th - 20th September
Routes: Two grvl and two MTB
Distance: 100 miles or 150 miles
Options: Ride in one day or two, bivy on moor, camp or BnB
Tickets: £25 / £65 / £85

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

The OS map people created a visualisation of Britain’s main rivers and this one shows the River Calder and its connectio...
13/06/2026

The OS map people created a visualisation of Britain’s main rivers and this one shows the River Calder and its connections to the wider Humber Basin.

Can you see the Calder?

From where the river rises on Flower Scar Moor above Todmorden to Castleford where it flows into the River Aire, the River Calder is a mere 45 miles in length.

Along the way the Rivers Colne, Holme and Spen merge with the Calder and so the basin of the Calder takes in a wide area from Hebden Bridge to Marsden, from Wakefield to Newmillerdam and from Midgley to Shepley.

In simple terms the Calder Divide Trail embraces ‘12 valleys, 6 moors, 1 floodplain’ and when you’re out there riding along the watershed it really is a green and pleasant landscape.

Short film, route maps, GPX files and event details on the CDT website.

Event: 5th Calder Divide Trail
Date: 19th - 20th September
Routes: Two grvl and two MTB
Distance: 100 miles or 150 miles
Options: Ride in one day or two, bivy on moor, camp or BnB
Tickets: £25 / £65 / £85

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

10/06/2026

Heading to Kirkhamgate via Gawthorpe Lane, a classic double track that flows nicely. It’s on the outward section of the Calder Divide just before the loop down towards Stanley Ferry.

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

The Calder Divide Trail event is a multi-day adventure along the watershed of the River Calder. The watershed of the Cal...
09/06/2026

The Calder Divide Trail event is a multi-day adventure along the watershed of the River Calder.

The watershed of the Calder that we trace is not a fixed line, permanently marked on a map. It's a broad divide that separates rivers along a ridge of high ground.

In this corner of Yorkshire the watershed is crossed by tracks etched into the landscape over the last 700 years as farmers, labourers and merchants went about their day-to-day lives.

This has gifted us one divide but many trails you can take to explore this diverse landscape.

The 5th event is on 19th - 20th September and with 80 riders currently signed on we'll be full pretty soon with 100 riders. 👍

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

08/06/2026

10 miles after leaving the start line at Mytholmroyd Community Centre riders are on a smooth gravel track passing through the hamlet of Walshaw where the route splits with the two MTB routes taking riders up to Shackleton Knoll.

The track is a steep climb on a field which, thanks to the sheep, is finely mowed. Once through the gate however the track is on open moorland and it’s narrow, twisting and of course rough.

From here it’s a long and rocky descent to the abandoned farm called House of Nook or what is known as ‘House of Sh*t’ due to the stream which used to flow through the ruined cow barn and leave a deep yellow pool on the trackway!!

Nowadays it’s dry as the steam has diverted through some hidden underground passage but the track is still a fab descent on a MTB.

The two gravel routes take riders east through Walshaw and along a double track that keeps to the 600 metre line to pass through the collection of farm buildings at Shackleton with views across to Heptonstall perched high above the Calder Valley.

All four routes meet at the House of Nook and take the long, flowing track down to the single span packhorse bridge over Paddock Gate.

Event: 5th Calder Divide Trail
Date: 19th - 20th September
Routes: Two grvl and two MTB
Distance: 100 miles or 160 miles
Options: Ride in one day or two, bivy on moor, camp or BnB
Tickets: £25 / £65 / £85

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

On the Southern Washlands the Calder Divide Trail takes riders across a long and flowing gravel track. This is St Aidans...
03/06/2026

On the Southern Washlands the Calder Divide Trail takes riders across a long and flowing gravel track.

This is St Aidans where the River Calder joins the River Aire and for 40 years it was an opencast coal mine where 6 million tonnes of ‘black gold’ was dug out by huge ‘walking’ drag lines the largest of which was over 1,200 tonnes.

In 1988 one of the diggers cut too close to the bank of the River Aire and for two days the waters of the river poured into the deep pits. Today those scars are healed by reeds and massive ponds home to an impressive number and variety of birds.

‘Oddball’ sits on the high bank looking out at this green and blue oasis. We pass this giant drag line, the size of 60 double decker buses, as we head to Castleford, the furthest point east on the Calder Divide.

Route: ‘Washlands’ CDT
Event: 5th Calder Divide Trail
Date: 19th - 20th September
Routes: Two grvl and two MTB
Distance: 100 miles or 160 miles
Format: Bikepacking and campsite
Options: Ride in one day or two, bivy on moor, camp or BnB
Tickets: £25 / £65 / £85

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

01/06/2026

A tough climb, a long descent on an old track, a singletrack cutting through the heather and a bit of greenway to connect the good stuff.

The Calder Divide Trail does this and it puts you on the watershed where the River Calder, River Holme and River Colne rise and flow to meet the River Aire at Castleford.

Event: 5th Calder Divide Trail
Date: 19th - 20th September
Format: Bikepack or luggage transfer
Routes: GRVL at 100km and 160km
MTB at 105km and 155km
Campsite: At the half way mark (or go Air BnB)
Hub: Mytholmroyd Commmunity Centre

Ticket: £25, £65, £85

In aid of Overgate Hospice

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

Busy in Marsden as I pop to the Coop on Peel Street for snacks and water.I reckon I’ll need the fuel to get up the stone...
31/05/2026

Busy in Marsden as I pop to the Coop on Peel Street for snacks and water.

I reckon I’ll need the fuel to get up the stone causeway on Marsden Moor.

The climb is worth the effort as it’s top riding on a few miles of moorland singletrack that sits below P**e Hill.

Event: 5th Calder Divide Trail
Date: 19th - 20th September
Tickets: From £25

Gravel bike routes:
‘Coxley’ 100 miles
‘Washlands’ 145 miles

MTB routes:
‘Chelburn’ 100 miles
‘Whirlaw’ 150 miles

Trail info and gpx files are on:

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

30/05/2026

Eroded trails are damaging to the moor and often not that much fun to ride so when local groups work together to regenerate moorland habitat and improve access then it’s a win win.

There are still long sections of the bridleway across Marsden Moor that are ‘natural’ so this is no tame, dull trail centre.

There are streams to cross, rock gardens to navigate and a feeling of a wide open green space to enjoy.

All four routes on the 5th Calder Divide Trail weekend on 19th - 20th September take riders across this moor. It’s a place you’ll remember riding!

www.calderdividetrail.co.uk

Address

Mytholmroyd Community Centre
Mytholmroyd
HX75AF

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