Date: 20th / 21st September 2025
Distance: 151km (100 miles) / 236km (160 miles)
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.
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.
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
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.
NB. 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.
NB 2: On the event weekend we use a modified version of this route as we have a starting line in Mytholmroyd.
Gravel bike route
The ‘Washlands’ route is a ‘red’ grade that is rewarding ride over a number of days and easily linked via the many train stations.
It differs to the ‘black mtb’ route as the River Calder is crossed near Horbury rather than further downstream at Castleford and we take sections of farmers double track below Midgley moor rather than the moorland singletrack which is best left to the mtbers.
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.
