9. Turner Lane, Swartha, Leeds Liverpool Canal, Silsden, Kildwick, Bradley, Roman Road

16.1 miles, 2770 feet of ascent (26.4 km, 627 metres of ascent)

A ride over Addingham Moorside, down through Swartha, then along the Leeds Liverpool Canal through Silsden, Kildwick and Bradley, before climbing out of Bradley over Silsden Moor to Draughton Moor, before returning to Addingham via the Roman Road.

Started by riding up the village and then taking Silsden Road to the roundabout on the bypass.  Go straight across the roundabout and take the first left up Turner Lane to the cross roads at the top, turning right and then follow the road past Brownbanks Caravan Park on the left, down the hill and take the next left signposted to Swartha. Continue through Swartha and follow the road down to Howden Road on the outskirts of Silsden.

Turn left at Howden Road and after a short while take the first right down towards the canal (note: there may be a road closed sign at this road but it is open for cyclists and pedestrians to access the canal towpath). At the canal go over the bridge and turn right. Follow the canal towpath which is fine for all types of bikes until reaching Silsden.  Continue following the towpath through Silsden to Kildwick (but note from Silsden to Kildwick the towpath surface changes to a track through grass which can get quite muddy and does have quite a few tree routes making the surface uneven and not really suitable for road or touring bikes).

At Kildwick the towpath again changes, for the better, to a gravel track. Follow the towpath all the way to Bradley, passing the Polish Airmen Memorial Site. At Bradley turn right over the bridge and cycle up through the village. On reaching the Methodist Church at a T-junction with the village shop on the right, turn right, and continue until reaching Silsden Road on the left. Take this left and cycle all the way up the hill onto Silsden Moor. Follow this road all the way to Cowburn Farm and then take the next left up Jowett's Lane and up onto Draughton Moor.

Where the road meets the Dales High Way at High Edge turn right onto the bridleway to descend an old Roman Road.  The first 3/4 of a mile of the bridleway  is suitable for mountain and hybrid bikes but will be very rough for touring or road bikes, after that the bridleway is tarmac. If you don't want to use the bridleway either carry on to meet the Skipton Road  to cycle back into Addingham, or backtrack to meet the Silsden  Road  at Cringles to drop down into Addingham.

At the bottom of the hill where there is a sharp right bend, go straight on through a gate to the main A65 road.  Carefully cross this road and go through the gate on the other side to cycle down Moor Lane to the T-junction with Skipton Road. Turn right here and follow Main Street back down to the Swan.

To display a larger map and see the option to download the gpx file please click on the GPX Track link above.