Introduction

Devised in 1985 by the now disbanded West Yorkshire County Council, the West Yorkshire Cycle Route is a 150 mile circular route that roughly follows the West Yorkshire County Boundary.  Primarily for leisure cycling, the route is mainly on road and is intended for use by all roadworthy bicycles.  The route is signed in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions, and is identified by the route logo, a white rose with a green background.

The West Yorkshire Cycle Route has recently been re-established and re-signposted.  It is supported by a very attractive laminated map that is available free on request from Leeds City Council.  Send an A5 sized SAE to Mark Robinson, Transport Policy, Leeds City Council Development Department, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds LS2 8HB.

Terrain varies greatly from the flat rolling farmlands in the north-east, rising quite steeply to the western sections in the Pennine hills. The route reflects this contrast and each section is graded; easy, moderate or strenuous, according to the steepness of the section.  Sections graded easy are predominantly flat and suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities.  Sections graded strenuous include steep climbs that will challenge even fit cyclists.

An excellent guide to the route, including details of points of interest along the way, ancillary routes, accommodation, railway stations etc is available price £4.99 from Gateway to Yorkshire (the tourist information office at Leeds railway station 0113 242 5242) and some bookshops.

West Yorkshire Cycleway by Richard Peace (1995). Published in the Biking Country series by Hillside Publications, 11 Nessfield Grove, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 6NU (ISBN 1 870141 38 5)

(For some reason, the book wrongly describes the route as going from Barwick in Elmet to Aberford. The signed route goes via Garforth and Kippax.)