Trans-pennine routes (Liverpool/leeds)

I'm planning on my first long-ish ride being a springtime trip over to Leeds from my house. I live near St Helens (between Liverpool and Manchester) and was wondering if anyone knew of any nice trans-pennine passes I could consider as an option for my route?
Google maps would send me over the A58 through Rochdale/Ripponden but I've got a feeling that won't be such a picturesque trip!

All I know is that with MIchelin maps you can see not only the small roads but also the topography. I bought a bunch for a Euro bike tour (which I unfortunately didn't do in the end).

I'm sure there's better advice than that coming.

hi mate.. I live in halifax, right near ripponden. I've done a couple of rides out west (southport, blackpool)... I'll have a look for my 'mapmyride' routes on the internet and see if there's anything that would do for you coming across to leeds from st helens.
For quietish, picturesque routes you might be better going via Burnley, hebden bridge etc.. Very hilly though, are you planning on doing it fixed?

Thanks so far guys.
Defiantly not fixed, no!

ignore the burnley comment, my geography failed me and I thought st helens was further north.

the road to huddersfield via delph & marsden A62? is pretty stunning, again hilly.

the A58 from rochdale into halifax is not too bad, quite fast once you've got up an epic climb at littleborough.

A62 looks like a winner so far.

+1 for the A62, it's an amazing route out of oldham. Can't vouch for the bit after Marston though.

When i did it I took a section of an Audax route, which takes a little detour through holmfirth. It's very "scenic" round there. When i got to Emley Moor and the transmitters i was dead. I had to push my 25kg laden tourer up a short drag. When I got to the top I sat down and cried.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Liverpool-to-Leeds

When you heading over? You going for any event?

Ooh a blast from the past.
No specific event no, just something I'd like to achieve really! I'll head over this spring/summer at some point when I'm feeling fit.

There's an actual transpennine cycle network.

http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/

Or you could follow the Leeds/Liverpool canal. I've done it twice (on a mountain bike). It's a two-day expedition, at 140 miles. We stayed overnight at a hotel in Kelbrook, just before Earby. Second day was the easiest, 50 miles down through Skipton to Leeds. Stunning scenery (for the most part).

There's an actual transpennine cycle network.

http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/

Last time I did the Liverpool-Manchester section of that I had numb palms for days. That bit of the route is good for horses, who don't seem to mind huge potholes, but not much else. I think if you were going to try that a mountain bike would definitely required.

Good job my girlfriend and I didn't try that on Saturday then, we decided to go over to the Wirral instead.