WHERE CAN WE RIDE?
Fact Sheet Number 3
Cooper Bridge to Kirkheaton via Huddersfield Broad Canal and ICI path.
From lock number 1 of the Broad Canal at Cooper Bridge, ride for 1 mile along towpath until the fine gravel surface begins and we reach the 4th steel chicane stile, directly beneath a blue brick viaduct. Between the town side of the viaduct and a grey steel fence there is a short narrow path which leads from the Broad canal towpath left onto Ashgrove road.
Once on Ashgrove road, turn right up an avenue of trees past the council dustbin depot on the right and alongside Hansons Transport Co. with its large grey and red industrial shed. Continue past the shed but once past it look immediately on the left for an 8 foot high concrete fence which forms the boundary of ICI/Zeneca’s plant. Just before the fence a narrow, in places tarmacced, path – much used by cyclists – follows the boundary fence and over a couple of footbridges.
The first of which is over the River Colne and rideable, the 2nd is over the old railway line and is not! It involves carrying the bike up 3 flights and down 2 flights of steps. Once over this, Dalton Bank Road is at the top of the rise beyond the steel yellow posts. Cross Dalton Bank Road with care and turn right for a short stretch. It can be a busy road at times so ride sensibly.
After a few hundred yards take your 1st left immediately after a low rise Brown industrial shed and just before a 2 storey range of white buildings at right angles to Dalton Bank Road, into Jagger Lane and climb up the hill past Longos ice cream depot on your left. This is usually a quiet lane but still a tough climb and its rural nature belies its proximity to Zeneca’s’ industrial sprawl.
There is a brief respite as the road dips and twists around a farm before it climbs again and becomes Bank Field Lane. This then runs on past Kirkheaton Cricket Club, past the Spangled Bull pub and joins Shop Lane at its busy junction with New Road right in the centre of Kirkheaton.