Headwaters Trail
Info: New entries for this event closed on Monday 29th April 2024 at 19:00.
Supported Ride - 16 years or older
Bikepacker 18-25 years old 'just ride option' - 18 to 24 years old
Donate and ride the trial later (badge sent in the post) - 18 years or older
Donate and ride the trail later (badge sent in the post) - 18 years or older
Plus 6% booking fee
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The Headwaters Trail is an 'off-road' adventure by gravel or mountain bike on old drovers lanes, bridleways and greenways across three stunning areas - the South Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and Peak District - on a unique route that is approximately 80% 'off-road'. There is a short film about the trail at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIgbEAQAHHY
The trail takes you on a 325km (200 mile) circular route over Pennine moors where the three rivers that powered the first cotton mills and coal mines of the Industrial Revolution have their source - the head of the waters of the Calder, Aire and Don - and out over a diverse landscape with its woodlands, moorlands and farmland.
There is also a 250km 'short' route option. See the Yorkshire Divide website for a comparison of the Day 1 'long' and 'short' routes.
The route takes you through Hebden Bridge, over the moors to Malham Tarn where it turns south to pass through Hetton and out along the ridge above the Aire valley with its hidden gravel singletrack. The return leg is via traffic free greenways and quality gravel trails on canal towpaths and reclaimed railway lines that cross the broad floodplain to Castleford and Elsecar before ace trails in Wharncliffe woods and back across the Pennine moors via Marsden to the finish line in Mytholmroyd. The trail has 4,750 meters of climbing.
Three entry options on the weekend:
(1) Bikepackers tickets - This is a self-supported ride using the gpx files and the Event HQ with its pie n peas for when you return on Monday. This is split by age because age shapes income and that can be a barrier to young adults hence the £25 for those 16-25 years of age and £50 for those 25 and above. Its to help break barriers of age and class.
(2) Bikepackers ticket + tracker - This is a self supported ride with hire of a GPS tracker so friends and family can see your progress across the trail in addition to the gpx files and the facilities at the Event HQ.
(3) 'Ride, eat, camp, tracker' ticket - This is a supported 'all-inclusive' option which includes:
(i) GPS tracker so friends, family and event officials can see your progress across the trail
(ii) Luggage transfer of all your kit between sites
(iii) Evening meals and breakfasts provided on site by an artisan food vendor. The food in the evening will differ on the Saturday / Sunday night. The breakfast will be the same solid fare. All diets catered.
(iv) GPX files and the facilities at Event HQ. This option is not all luxury as you still need to ride between the stages and put up your own tent!
The Headwaters Trail event includes the following FOR ALL RIDERS:
- Starting line - riders can depart on the Saturday between 5.30am - 9am (NB: riders on the supported option should aim to be riding on the trail between 7-8am at the latest as its a solid 10 hour ride to camp 1)
- GPX file - Sent to your email address two weeks prior to the event (on Monday 22nd April).
- Event Hub - Every epic adventure needs support and so Mytholmroyd Community Center will be our hub where all riders gather, sign on, fuel up and swap stories. The Center has toilets, showers and a large free car park whilst Mytholmroyd train station, on the main line between Leeds and Manchester, is 5 minutes away.
- Badge - Every rider loves a patch and so on the Yorkshire Divide there is an embroidered cloth badge made in Leeds for every rider.
- Finishers certificate - A unique certificate that celebrates your achievement in completing the route will be presented to you at the finish line on the Monday.
- A challenge not a race - The event is not a race and as such we will NOT be recording riders times on their certificates. Riders can of course record their own time and this will be used to establish a male / female FKT.
- Pie n Peas - In the Event Room on Monday 6th May riders can enjoy pie n peas from 11am-6pm. All diets catered for. The Event Room is not staffed on the Sunday so if you arrive back to Mytholmroyd on the Sunday it is unavoidable that there'll be no pie n peas in the Event Room as we'll be at the campsite 80kms away!
- Event Room - please note that the event room will only be staffed by Event Officials on Saturday morning till 10am and on Monday from 10am-6pm. The Community Center as a public facility is open over the three days from 10am - 5pm so any rider can access the loos and showers in that time.
- Refunds - full refunds issued up to Friday 1st March 2024. Up to Friday 5th April 2024 then 50% refund of the signing on cost. After Friday 5th April 2024 no refunds are possible as we start to pay the many bills and the 'pot' is soon empty. The option of transfer to the event in 2025 is available or transfer to our sister event the Calder Divide Trail on 14/15th September.
Maps, photos and trail info at: https://yorkshiredivide.co.uk/
The organisers do not provide insurance. Being insured through either British Cycling or Cycling UK would help cover for bike loss or injury. Personal insurance is advisable but not mandatory.
View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.
View the Event Cancellation / Refund Policy.
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