From rail to trail: Some of the best cycle routes from Northern stations

It is free to take your bike on a Northern train, and you don’t need to book in advance, although we do operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bradford Forster Square: Pick up National Cycle Network route 66 at Bradford Forster Square to head south towards Dewsbury and the Spen Valley Greenway. The route north becomes the Canal Road Greenway which is car-free most of the way to Shipley.

Dent: A challenging but rewarding cycle. This is the highest main line station in England. From Dent Village (about 4 miles, at first steeply downhill from Dent Station) turn left towards Ingleton and follow the Pennine Cycleway to Settle Market Place.

Dronfield: A great place to access the Peak District, via bridleways at Unstone. There is also the option to link up to the Sheffield cycle route to Derby by taking the Lea Road over the bridge at the north end of the station, then turn right onto Cross Lane, then right onto Gomersal Lane, and left onto Gosforth Lane. This takes you to a bridge over the A61 bypass and suddenly you're in the countryside.

Edale: The heart of the Peak District, Mountain bikers can head up Jacob's ladder and emerge at Hayfield, where there's a railway path down to New Mills. For road cyclists, Edale provides access to Mam Nick - a classic climb - and a popular route is via Peak Forest to return to Sheffield via Tideswell & Eyam or Millers Dale and Great Longstone.

Garsdale: Not for the faint-hearted, but you can try out part of the Tour De France route from Garsdale Station. Take the A684 through Hawes and Aysgarth, then turn right for the B6160 through Buckden and Kettlewell. Alternatively, for a quieter tour of the Dales, turn right at Hawes for Gayle, passing the Creamery and take Beggarmans Road across the top to Buckden and Kettlewell.

Hebden Bridge: As you leave the station you will come across signs for National Cycle Network route 66. Turn Right for Sowerby Bridge or left for Rochdale. NCN68, the Pennine Cycleway, also passes through Hebden.

Meadowhall: Despite its highly urbanised location, Meadowhall is at the crossroads of a number of important cycle routes, many of which are on the NCN. Routes 6 & 67, including the Chapeltown Greenway for routes to Penistone, Manchester, Barnsley, Leeds, York & Hull. You can use the scenic Five Weirs Walk leading back into Sheffield City Centre, and the canal towpath for Rotherham and the canal network beyond.

Kirkstall Forge: From this station there is access to the National Cycle Network route 66 leading to a lovely route on the Leeds – Liverpool towpath.

Low Moor: From here there is access to the Spen Valley Greenway from the station - turning left will bring you down into Bradford, turning right will take you down to Dewsbury and the Calder Valley.

Many Northern stations also have bike storage facilities, allowing you to cycle to the station and leave your bike securely locked until you return from your train journey. So whether you use the train to commute, for day-to-day travel or to explore the north, including a bike on your journey is easy.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.