Castle Hill Circular Cycle
Distance: c. 5.8 miles / 9.3km
Starting and finishing point: Honley Library, West Avenue, Honley
Considerations: Route is on roads throughout. Some roads can be busy at peak times.
Warning: Wear a suitable helmet when riding on the road, and follow the rules of the road. Regularly check breaks and tyres, and always make sure your bike is roadworthy before setting off.
The problem with cycling in Honley is that there are no shortage of hills. If you’re a keen cyclist, you’ll only just be warmed up at the end of this ride. If, however, you’ve just started cycling and want to give yourself a challenge, this is a good route to try.
- From the library, follow Westgate, through the village into Eastgate and down to the traffic lights.
- Go straight ahead at the first set of lights on to Station Road.
- Take care crossing the junction with New Mill Road.
At busy times you might feel happier dismounting and using the crossing.
- Head up Station Road, which turns into Northgate.
This is the challenging part of the route as you climb approx. 360 feet in exactly a mile. Don’t worry though, there are flatter sections where you can get your breath back. There’s also a roadside bench about half-way up the hill if you want to stop and enjoy the views for a while.
- At the top of Northgate turn left and enjoy the view towards Castle Hill.
- Follow Hey Lane, which passes the cemetery and bends right along Ashes Lane at the bottom of Castle Hill.
- Turn sharp left on to High Lane, but take care on this steep downhill as there are traffic calming humps just before the junction with Hall Bower Lane.
- Continue straight ahead along Jackroyd Lane and turn left at the traffic lights by Newsome Church.
- Follow Newsome Road South.
- At the mini roundabout take the first exit (straight on) and head down Bridge Street.
- At the junction by Laxmi and Berry Brow Liberal Club, turn left on to the A616 Woodhead Road.
- Continue straight ahead and join the cycle path which runs until you reach the outskirts of Honley.
- At the Co-op filling station, the road branches. Take the right-hand branch and follow the A6024 Woodhead Road, through the first set of traffic lights.
- At the next set of lights turn right on to Eastgate.
Be careful as you take the right-hand branch. If you prefer, keep in the left lane and follow New Mill Road for 20 yards or so. At Station Road, dismount and use the crossing to turn right into Station Road then go straight ahead at the traffic lights.
- Follow Eastgate up through the village where it turns into Westgate and drops down to the roundabout by the library.
- Congratulations, you’ve made it!
Warning: Wear a suitable helmet when riding on the road, and follow the rules of the road. Regularly check breaks and tyres, and always make sure your bike is roadworthy before setting off.