The Source to Sea Trail is an adventure by gravel bike or mountain bike into the heart of Yorkshire on old tracks set in the folds of the hills and on the moors where 10 of Yorkshires finest rivers rise.

This is the only bikepacking trail in the world that traces the watershed - the ridge of high ground - of a single large scale basin where rivers such as the Aire, Calder, Derwent, Esk, Nidd, Swale, Wharf, Ure and Don have their source and follows their flow to the sea.

Date: 23rd - 28th May 2026

Distance: 730kms

Elevation: 9,000 metres

Hub: Mytholmroyd Community Centre, West yorkshire

Tickets: £75

Entry to the Source to sea trail
Route itinerary
route profile

The trail connects bridleways across the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, the northern edge of the Peak District and the South Pennines. The trail is 70% 'off-road' with farmers double track across millstone grit, singletrack across limestone and greenways on canal towpaths and reclaimed railway lines.

It is the only bikepacking trail in the world that traces the watershed - the ridge of high ground - of a single large scale basin where rivers such as the Aire, Calder, Derwent, Esk, Nidd, Swale, Wharf, Ure and Don have their source and follows their flow to the sea.

Anna Cipullo shares her experience of the second StS event. It was Anna’s first bikepacking event and with plenty of amazing shots of the Yorkshire landscape alongside Anna’s highs and lows over the 730km route this is an excellent insight into facing the demands of long distance ‘rough stuff’ riding.

Adrian Wright (16/05/2025)

Source to Sea Trail #1
Source to Sea trail #2
GPX route file
 

included in entry:

1. GPS File

An up to date ‘field tested’ gpx file will be sent to your email address a week prior to the event.

It will be in two parts: an ‘outward’ leg from Mytholmroyd to Scarborough and a ‘return’ leg from the East Coast back to the Calder Valley.

2. event hub

The Event Hub for the 3rd event is Mytholmroyd Community Centre (MYCC) where riders register from 6am.

There’ll be refreshments (tea, coffee, juice), fresh fruit, porridge pots, toast and home made flapjacks in the Event Room.

The Event Room is to the left of the reception area and inside the room riders will find their personal envelope set out on the tables with (1) Registration form. (2) GPS tracker, (3) Yorkshire Divide bike stickers.

Bag storage area (but only accessed after yor ride during centre opening hours 7am-7pm).

The Community Centre has toilets, hot showers and a large car park / easy access to the train station.

Address: Caldene Ave, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge HX7 5AF

There will be a group start at 8am.

 
 
 

3. GPS TRACKER

Trackers are mandatory.

Hire of a GPS tracker provided by Follow My Challenge is included in the sign on fee.

The GPS trackers are issued to riders in the Event Room inside MYCC. A £30 deposit is required when a rider signs on and of course it is returned when the tracker is handed in at MYCC.

There will be a ‘dot watching’ page on the FMC and YD website.

 
 
 

4. Parking and Train Station

Free car /van parking for the duration of the event at the Event Hub in the very large parking space.

Camper vans can park up on the Friday before the Saturday start date and stay for the duration of the event.

Drivers must record their vehicle registration details at the reception desk and this will exempt them from the daily and weekly parking charges.

Mytholmroyd train station on the Trans-Pennine route between Leeds - Manchester is 5 minutes from the Event Hub.

 

5. Pie n Peas

On their return to MYCC riders can enjoy pie n peas from 10am-6pm on Monday - Thursday as these are the hours the kitchen is open.  All diets catered for.  State your preference for pie (3 types) and peas / beans when you register with SiEntries.

 

6. Badge

Every rider who crosses the finish will be awarded an embroidered cloth badge made in Leeds.

 
 
 
 

ACCOMMODATION

Riders have at least four options:

  1. Premier Inn, Halifax is in a central location and the chain lets us cyclists put our bikes in the room. The Premier Inn is a 3 minute ride to Halifax train station with regular trains to Mytholmroyd, a 50 minute ride or a 20 minute drive to MYCC. Address: Broad Street Plaza, Halifax, HX1 1YA

  2. Inns such as the Dusty Miller in Mytholmroyd is 2 minutes from the Event Hub with rooms recently refurbished. Address: Burnley Rd, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge HX7 5LH Phone: 01422 416688

  3. Hostel in Hebden Bridge gives you access to the vibrant shops and bars in the town, its an up to date venue and is a 15 minute ride to the Event Hub. Address: IOU Hostel, Highfield, Hebden Bridge HX7 8DG Phone: 01422 553578

  4. Old Chamber Camping is a nice place to stay with basic facilities but all you need with flat field, large stone barn with sofas and kitchen / showers and its above Hebden Bridge with a trail down into the town. On event day its a 10 minute downhill bike ride. Address: Spencer Ln, Hebden Bridge HX7 6JG Phone: 07814 321606

 
rider agreement
7 principles of self supported bikepacking
 

The trail is 70% ‘off-road’

Above Muker in Swaledale

Farndale Moors in North Yorkshire

Cleveland Hills

Whitby to Scarborough on the Cinder Track on the east coast

Vale of York

Approach to the Humber Bridge

Marsden Moor, 25km from the finish line

Colden Clough, first climb out of the Calder Valley