trans pennine

Cycling the Trans Pennine Trail: Denby Dale to Skelmanthorpe Route Review

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Denby Dale to Skelmanthorpe Route Review

As a Wakefield-based user of the Trans Pennine Trail, we wanted to explore some areas outside our home patch. We’ve always liked Denby Dale and Skelmanthorpe. They feel like a throwback to the traditional past of the area. Imagine my delight when analysing the local Trans Pennine Trail routes and I noticed that there’s a connection between Denby Dale and Skelmanthorpe and it’s largely all off-road.

This small section of the Trans Pennine Trail connects the two villages nicely and we couldn’t wait to try it out. We used the car for this one to transport our bikes to the area as we were short of time and we are firmly in the ‘leisure cyclist’ camp.

Starting at Gilthwaites Lane in Denby Dale (Next to Denby Dale Primary School), the route follows a trail winding through a serene mix of open fields and woodland before arriving in Skelmanthorpe. The mast at Emley Moor is always in your eyesight on this trip and although short it’s a nice simple route.

While only a short stretch, this portion of the trail provides a valuable link for locals, offering a practical walking route, enjoyable leisure rides and a way for students of Shelley College to walk independently and safely to school. 

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Cycling the Trans Pennine Trail: Sandal Train Station to Anglers Country Park Route Review

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Sandal Train Station to Anglers Country Park Route Review

I am fortunate to live close to the Trans Pennine Trail. I can easily reach the Wakefield sections from my front door and other sections within a short drive. This section is the link from my daughters’ school to Anglers Country Park (and beyond for those with more time).

I try to focus on rides of approximately 60-70 minutes. These are more convenient and consistent and can be part of an everyday exercise routine. Sandal Train Station is not part of the Trans Pennine Trail, but a multi-use section has been authorised for use and it links nicely with Oakenshaw Lane in Walton to create a mostly off-road cycle experience.

Exploring the Trans Pennine Trail is always a delight, and the route from Sandal Train Station to Anglers Country Park via Walton offers a perfect mix of history, nature, and cycling fun.

This stretch provides a stable and scenic ride suitable for beginner to intermediate cyclists, with a few narrow and uneven paths to challenge your balance and concentration. Here, we’ll delve into the route details, its history, and why it’s worth considering for your next adventure.

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Cycling the Calder & Hebble Navigation: Wakefield to Dewsbury Route Review

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Calder Hebble Navigation Cycle Review

The Calder & Hebble Navigation towpath is a route I’ve taken a few times but never written up here but it’s one many would enjoy. It’s flat, easy to navigate (it’s a canal so pretty straight!) and suitable for varying ability levels.

If you are looking for a relaxed jaunt on your bike with nice scenery and a flashback to Wakefield’s industrial past, this is a cool route. I took the route from the Navigation in Calder Grove to Dewsbury.  This route spans approximately 6.5 miles (10.5 km), making it an ideal choice for cyclists seeking a manageable yet rewarding journey.

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Cycling the Trans Pennine Trail: Chapelthorpe to Royston Route Review

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Trans Pennine Trail Chapelthorpe to Royston

The Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) is a popular multi-user trail crossing the breadth of northern England, with a mix of scenic countryside, woodland, and picturesque urban sections.

My local haunt is the segment which lies between Chapelthorpe in Wakefield and Royston in Barnsley, approximately 4 miles in length one way (8 miles round trip). I have cycled this route approximately 50 times in my life as in terms of proximity to my home it’s one of the easiest to get to without much road use.

It dawned on me today that it’s actually a brilliant beginners route for those wanting to dip their toe into cycling. It’s relatively flat, wide and traffic-free. Perfect for those stepping back onto the bike after some years off or little people making their first strides.

This review covers the highlights, practical details, and suitability of this beginner-friendly route, offering insights for families and solo cyclists alike.

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Skirlaugh to Hornsea Cycling for families (Trans Pennine Trail)

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Trans Pennine Trail Cycling To Hornsea Beach

Skirlaugh is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in an area known as Holderness. It is situated approximately 7 miles northeast of Hull city centre on the A165 road. Originally a farming community, it is now primarily a commuter village for Hull.

Having stayed last October at Willow Pastures Country Park lodge site we decided to stay again and utilise the proximity to the Trans Pennine Trail.

Last time we took the route from Skirlaugh to Sutton Village (towards the centre of Hull) and we were keen to take the opposite direction to the coastal region of Hornsea. Returning in June meant the weather forecast was great for the weekend and this was perfect beach weather.

I must confess we are not avid beachgoers however adding the 16-mile round trip cycle made it a really exciting prospect for the day. It was the furthest we had pushed out 7-year-old in terms of distance so we were keen to see how she would do. Packed to the rafters with snacks and spades we were raring to go!

You can actually travel in two directions. One is towards Hull City centre (approximately 8 miles) while the other takes you to the coastal region of Hornsea. As you can see from the map below Willow Pastures Country Park is a couple of minutes from the trail. (In the green).

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Greenwich Meridian Trail Cycling For Families: Fitties Beach to Cleethorpes

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We recently had the pleasure of visiting the East Lincolnshire coast for a half-term trip to our family members’ caravan. Of course, with any trip of this nature, we load the bikes on the back looking for a great spot to cycle traffic free.

Having researched before setting off we came across part of the Greenwich Meridian Trail which hugs the coastline between Fitties Beach and Cleethorpes. As a 3-mile traffic-free, flat route, this was perfect for the children to enjoy.

Having spoken with one of the caravan park residents, he informed me that free parking is available at the Humber Mouth Yacht Club which is directly on Fitties Beach. As a starting point, we recommend this over Cleethorpes which is far more commercial and as a result the parking is often pay and display.

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The Monsal Trail cycling for families

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The Monsal Trail Cycling For Families

The Monsal Trail is located in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England. This scenic trail runs along the former Midland Railway line and offers a unique experience for families to enjoy the beauty of the English countryside.

We parked at the old Hessop train station (Hassop Station, Hassop Rd, Bakewell DE45 1NW), which has been converted into a fantastic cycling dream, along with a lovely cafe, play area and ice cream truck. 

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Dalby Forest Cycling for families

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Dalby Forest, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. It’s over 8,500 acres in size and has everything you can want in a wonderful family day out. We visited in the warmer months with our at the time 5-year-old and 1-year-old to sample the cycle routes. I must add it’s an all-encompassing experience which is suitable for those with or without bikes.

From a cycling perspective, it’s geared towards all ability levels with over six cycling trails ranging from family (beginner) routes to advanced mountain biking trails (not for the faint-hearted)

There’s also a cycle skills area where those of varying ability levels can test their ability to determine which route is right for them. It’s great enjoyment for the kids too.

At the time of writing, we have visited Dalby Forest twice and given the expanse nature of this review, will be updated regularly with new information and pictures so stick with us!

We took the Adderstone cycle trail as this was the Green route (suitable for novice cyclists) which with a baby seat and a 5-year-old cycling solo felt like the correct route.

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Skirlaugh to Sutton Village Cycling for families (Trans Pennine Trail)

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Skirlaugh is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in an area known as Holderness. It is situated approximately 7 miles northeast of Hull city centre on the A165 road. Originally a farming community, it is now primarily a commuter village for Hull.

We had the pleasure of recently staying in Willow Pastures Country Park in Skirlaugh which is a small holiday lodge site. One of the draws to the lodge park was its proximity to the Trans Pennine Trail. They weren’t lying. The Trans Pennine route is flat and incredibly family-friendly with the majority of the route being on non-car routes.

You can actually travel in two directions. One is towards Hull City centre (approximately 8 miles) while the other takes you to the coastal region of Hornsea. We chose the route towards Hull City Centre but stopped at the village of Sutton. As you can see from the map below the village is in fantastic proximity to the trail. (In the green).

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Haw Park Wood cycling for families

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Haw Park Wood is situated 4 miles southeast of Wakefield. It’s located next to Anglers country park but can be accessed from both the Anglers country park side or alternatively via Waterton Park hotel. From the hotel, you can access the Trans Pennine trail Barnsley canal route which takes you to Haw Park Wood if you follow signs for Anglers country park.

Haw Park Wood is designated as a local nature reserve and is home to a variety of wildlife including Roe Deer, Crossbill and Great-Crested Newt and important plant species such as the Wild Service Tree.

Although small it’s a fantastic protected place for young children to practice cycling or as a family route if you venture from either the Walton or Anglers country park entrances.
You can actually combine both Haw Park Wood & Anglers Country Park if you utilise the car parking facilities as Anglers. 

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