The Calder Divide Trail is a multi day adventure across 12 valleys, 6 moors and 1 floodplain in West Yorkshire. From ancient bridleways across the Pennine moors to new gravel paths in the Southern Washlands and on through the center of small towns like Hebden Bridge and Marsden this trail takes you through a diverse and stunning landscape.
The CDT is in aid of Overgate Hospice. The daily running costs of Overgate Hospice in Elland, West Yorkshire, is in the order of £2,000 a day and so that is the target we set ourselves. The 2022 event raised £2,250 for the local hospice, in 2023 we donated £4,850 and in 2024 we donated £2,437 making a total of £9,537
Riders receive gpx files to all routes so you can decide nearer the time which to ride and swap between them on Day 1 and Day 2.
GPX Route File
The GPX file shown below is the ‘original’ route which connects tracks and lanes around the watershed - the edge of the ‘basin’ - of the River Calder and its fluvial sisters the Colne, Hebble, Holme, Ryburne and Spen.
British Rail have closed a section of the Spen Valley Greenway where a pedestrian and cycle bridge crosses the main road. There is a short detour through the center of Dewsbury. The detour will be in place till 2027 as the rail improvement project is a major affair.
The watershed of the Calder is not a fixed line, permanently marked on a map. It is a broad divide that separates rivers along a ridge of high ground.
This corner of Yorkshire the watershed is criss-crossed by bridleways, causeways and greenways 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. In summary there are five trail options along the Calder Divide:
The Calder Divide Trail is a single fixed 145 miles route for rider, runner or walker
The Calder Divide Trail bikepacking event has four route options from 100 to 150 miles.
Gravel tracks to the EAST on the level floodplain
Old packhorse lanes to the WEST in the steep Pennine hills
Gravel bike route
The ‘Washlands’ route is the long gravel bike route and a rewarding ride over a number of days. It is easily linked via the many train stations. It differs to the ‘black mtb’ in three aspects:
It takes gravel tracks below rather than over Midgley Moor
It takes in ace gravel tracks through parkland at Bretton Hall
The trail climbs up to Flower Scar Moor (Source of the Calder) and the huge descent directly into Todmorden
Overgate Hospice, Elland
For over 40 years Overgate Hospice has provided vital support for people with life limiting illnesses. Will Norman was part of our ‘Bike Club’. Tragically Will died in 2021 from cancer and his last few days were in the care of Overgate Hospice. When I last met Will I made a promise to him to ‘do a big ride’.
The Calder Divide trail is that ride and we’re proud to be able to aid the work of the hospice over the last three years with a donation of over £9,500.
The three CDT events that we have held to date have only been possible with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers. Melanie Williamson was in that team.
Mel was the person who organised the pie n peas and so was vital in keeping the riders fueled. More than that she took time to talk to every rider. Mel was a ‘doer’ and a proper people person. Mel died at the age of 62 years of age from an aggressive cancer which took her in a matter of months. Her last few days were in the care of Overgate Hospice.
The 2025 CDT will be our 4th event in aid of Overgate Hospice and we will once again aim to raise a minimum of £2,000.
