Boost your mood & fitness!
Hidden Yorkshire Gems the Spen Valley Greenway!
Did you know…
… that being outdoors, surrounded by greenery and wildlife, does so much good to our physical and mental wellbeing?
- Relieves stress & helps you regain a sense of calm.
- Increased happiness.
- Helps you get a better night’s sleep.
- Improves your immune system.
- Regular walking, wheeling or riding makes your body feel better; it helps with muscle aches, pain, and stiffness, reduces your risk of many illnesses and improves life expectancy.
- Supports a healthy heart.
About the greenway
Whether you wheel, ride, or walk, the Spen Valley Greenway is still a hidden delight of nature for many and a perfect opportunity to start being more active; it’s a green corridor that goes from Oakenshaw to Ravensthorpe.
Originally, this traffic-free greenway was an old railway, making it perfect as it’s relatively flat and easy to walk, wheel or ride, so perfect to start getting your active outdoor boost on your own, with friends or family!
You will get fantastic views of the moorlands, even the nature reserve and rolling countryside from the greenway.
To start, you could use our map or start at Low Moor train station and head towards Ravensthorpe train station. Currently, there are no direct trains between the stations.
The greenway is open to walkers, wheelchairs, cyclists, and horse riders – at times, it can get quite busy, so stay to the left of the path. We recommend that if you’re exploring with a dog, you keep him/her on a lead (out of consideration for other users), and if you are cycling, always wear a helmet.
The Spen Valley Greenway is around 11.7km/7.3 miles long. To cycle the entire length (one way) would take around 1hour and 30 minutes; walking (one way) would take around 2 hours and 30 minutes. It is part of the National Cycling Network (CNC66 route). The different sculptures dotted around the greenway make it even more special.
Explore the greenway
Walk or wheel
This is around 1 mile and at a relaxed pace should take 1 hour and half.
Start from Streetbikes @ Spenborough Athletics Track (Bradford Road Liversedge WF15 6LW).
Car parking is available, a bus stop is nearby, and wheelchair-accessible toilets are available.
From Streetbikes, exit through the car park, turn left onto Primrose Lane, go under the bridge, and onto the greenway; once on the greenway, turn right; once you reach The Sunflower Pot cafe (drinks & snacks available), turn round and retrace your steps to back to the Athletics track.
Cycle
This is around 7.5 miles and, at a relaxed pace, should take 1 hour.
Start, as per the walking map, from Streetbikes.
Car parking is available, a bus stop is nearby, and wheelchair-accessible toilets are available.
From Streetbikes, exit through the car park, turn left onto Primrose Lane, and get onto the greenway. Once on the greenway turn left, heading to Low Moor; once you reach the train station, turn back on yourself, turn round and retrace your steps to back to the Athletics track, or cycle beyond the start point and head for the little cafe called, The Sunflower Pot, which is at the Liversedge section of the greenway.
About Active Travel by Streetbikes
Promoting a healthier lifestyle…
This is being provided to you by Active Travel by StreetBikes, which wishes to encourage a healthier lifestyle and better environmental transport in the Kirklees area by promoting places where you can walk, wheel, or cycle. Active Travel by StreetBikes also provides free community group walks (inclusive to wheelchair users, if you need a carer, please bring them), women’s cycling sessions, and bicycle maintenance sessions.
Streetbikes is a registered charity (no: 1176297) that aims to transform lives through cycling. It offers inclusive mixed-ability cycling sessions, volunteering opportunities, sells affordable recycled adult & children’s bikes, and bike maintenance & repairs services.
Boost confidence & learn to ride…
Learn to ride in a safe, encouraging & traffic-free environment at Spenborough Athletics Track, Bradford Road Liversedge WF15 6LW.
Women’s Only Learn To Ride
Wednesday evenings (during the summer).
Mixed-Ability Cycling
Tuesdays @ 10.30am – 2.30pm & Saturdays @ 12.30 – 3pm. A session cost £5 per person and includes your choice of bike (we have a large selection of standard and adaptive bikes) and a helmet.
Spen Valley Greenway Ride …
with a ride leader in a welcoming group setting setting off the track.