| 1. Starting out on Cowlserley lane you head towards Colne Valley High School. Once you get to the first school gate you have a nice short steep downhill (Causeway Side)onto Manchester road (A62).
Turn left and head towards Slaithwaite (Slawit as it's locally known). When you get to the Star pub you turn right down in to Slawit, once at the roundabout you turn left then the hill climbing starts.
You ride past the Shoulder of Mutton pub and following the road up to your right (Bank Gate),up under the viaduct. At the top you turn left on Longlands road which continues in to Heys lane.
When you pass Wilberlee school you turn left at the bus turning circle onto Intake Road and follow this road up past the farm entrance on your left (second hair pin bend) and continue to the top and take the first right turn available on to Laund Road. After approx 100 yds turn left onto Burnt Platts Lane.
Follow this road until it goes into a dirt track and continue to follow this track until you hit the main road (New Hey Road, A640).
Turn left and follow this road past the Buckstones car park on the moor top on your left then approx half a mile further past the old Buckstones inn on your right. Continue on this road until you come to a lay-by on your left with a path going across the moor (approx 1.5 miles).
Opposite this lay-by you will see the trail going over the moor towards Windy Hill.
Stay on this path until you come to the main road (Rippondon Road, A672). Go straight across the road and car park and follow the short trail to the road then turn left, you will see the Saddleworth moor junction on the M62 on top of Windy hill which is Britain's highest motorway, hence the name of Windy Hill.
Follow the trail to the right then round to the left as the trail goes around the parameter fence. Stay on this trail until you come to a fork in the lanes, turn right and head for Hollingworth Lake.
Follow this trail until you come to a cross road the you see a sign on left for the Pennine Bridleway. Follow this down to Piethorne reservoir, cross at the back of the res and follow the track round to the left and towards Hanging Lees reservoir. Stay on this track until you hit Ripponden Road again next to the Rams Head Pub. Resist the nice smelling pub food and turn left and go approx .5 mile.
Turn right onto Rapes Hwy heading towards readycon reservoir. Stay on this track until you hit New Hey Road again. Turn Left and uphill to the lay-by you past some time ago and turn right to go over the moor. Caution should be taken here as it is easy to get on the wrong path, head on the path that goes off to your left (approx 10 o clock using a clock face as ref).
Follow this trail all the way into marsden, care should be taken down this trail if inexperienced as the trail is well rutted. Once back on road turn right and follow to railway bridge then turn right into Marsden centre. Follow road and turn left before village hall (Brougham Road).
When you hit the main road (Manchester A62) go straight across and climb up chain road. Follow this until you pass the White House pub, continue for approx 300 meters then turn left (Varley Rd) then your next right onto Holt Head Rd. Follow all way to Bulls Head pub then approx 100 meters turn 2nd left onto Gilroyd Lane and back down to Linthwaite, enjoy the freewheel downhill, you've earned it. |