Haworth Old road - route

[Mapplebeck]

Hi, I've just see Claire Balding on telly, allegedly cycling from Haworth old road, off Hebden Bridge rd - known as Cock Hill to locals - all the way to Haworth. I didn't think that road went all the way to Haworth anymore - does anyone know if it's rideable on a road bike?

 

[Hacienda71]

I rode over Cock Hill to Hebden Bridge and back a couple of times last week. But that was just the main A road between Haworth and Oxenhope to Hebden Bridge. The Tour had been over it earlier in the summer. @ColinJ is your man in those parts for local knowledge.

 

[ColinJ]

The Old Road fizzles out and becomes a bridleway at the top of this steep hill ...

Here ...

It gets rougher higher up and isn't really suitable for a road bike for about 2 miles.

The 'Britain by Bike' programme hops about a bit and a couple of the views are not taken from where they are supposed to be, but overall the route pretty much follows my 'Trauma of Trawden' loop.

 

[Mickthemove]

Did Claire balding so route just after the show abt a month ago and it becomes totally impossible on a road bike , we. Had to carry our bikes! Still getting abuse from the lad I took on that little trip! Should've asked @ColinJ first!

 

[ColinJ]

I just watched the programme again to remind me where the route was supposed to go. Yes, she did say the Old Road and that was shown on the onscreen map, but I think the cobbles of the Old Road probably got broken up years ago. All that is left now are broken bits of stone, ruts and mud!

The producers used artistic licence at the end of the show. CB should have been looking down from the Heptonstall hillside but instead she was standing on Badger Lane coming down from Blackshaw Head on one of the nearby hills. It gave a spectacular view down the Calder Valley across Hebden Bridge towards Halifax, but you do not go that way on the route shown in the programme.

 

[john riley]

She said she could see Hebden Bridge in the distance. She must have bloody good eyesight as she was passing Trawden rec at the time!

 

[Mapplebeck]

I thought something was amiss! Thanks for the info. I still might do CB's route and just push it where it becomes unride-able. Cheers.