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Cycling
in Lancashire
Extensive
booklet with suggested
cycle routes in Lancashire. Extract:
'Lancashire has a fine
cycling tradition. In the west, the coastal
plain has two great attractions for cyclists: few gradients and many
places to stop for refreshments. Away from the busy seaside resorts, you
will find miles of quiet, silvery, beautiful, protected coastline.
Inland you will discover many quiet lanes linking ancient villages
through pastoral countryside where the sound of bird song will be your
only company. In the east the
countryside becomes hillier as you climb through the Forest of Bowland
and Pennine Hills. In between the hills you will discover lush green
valleys with pretty stone built villages with sheep on the moors and
cows grazing peacefully in riverside meadows. In spring there will be
lambs playing in the fields, bluebells in the woods and the sound of the
cuckoo will not be far away.
'Lancashire offers two
designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the north discover
the Arnside/Silverdale area with its narrow lanes, enchanting wooded
coastline and limestone hills. Further south the Forest of Bowland will
entice you with its open fells and green valleys.
For mountain biking,
Lancashire is a real paradise. There are many miles of rugged off-road
tracks and bridleways for you to explore, crossing remote uplands and
hidden valleys.'
Suggested
areas and cycleways:
Lancaster,
North Lancashire and the Lune Valley:
The Lune Valley
River Lune Millennium
Cycle Path
Lune Estuary Cycle
Path
Lancaster Canal
Lancaster - Morecambe
Cycle Path
Arnside/Silverdale
Area of Outstanding Beauty
Lancaster Cyclefest
Bowland Fells:
Slaidburn, Newton and
the Hodder Valley
Bowland Edge
Bleasdale and Beacon
Fell
Gisburn Forest
Moorland Passes (4
challenging rides)
Ribble Valley:
Ribble Valley
Clitheroe
Whalley
Fylde Penninsula and
Wyre:
Blackpool North Shore
Jubilee Cycleway
Lytham St. Annes
Fleetwood
Over Wyre
Preston, Chorley and
South Ribble:
Old Tramway Cycle
Route and Riverside Cycle Paths, Preston
Cuerden Valley Park
Cycle Route
Preston - Lancaster
National Cycle Route
Cycling on the Canal
Towpath
East Lancashire
including
Lancashire's Hill Country:
Pendle
Mountain Bike routes
Pennine Cycleway and
Bridleway
Leeds & Liverpool
Canal
Blackburn -
Accrington - Rossendale - Bury (on National Cycle Route)
Burnley - Padiham
Cycle Route
Witton Country Park
West Pennine Moors:
Mountain Biking from
Rivington
On-Road Biking
Biking around
Blackburn and Darwen
West Lancashire Plain:
Cheshire Lines Cycle
Path
Leeds & Liverpool
Canal (Liverpool - Wigan)
Leisure Lakes, Mere
Brow
Swan Link
The
Lancashire Cycleway
'The
Lancashire Cycleway is a challenging 260 mile figure of eight cycle tour
of Lancashire centred on Whalley in the Ribble Valley. The cycleway
takes you through the county's many diverse landscapes including the
Bowland Fells, West Pennine Moors, the outstanding coastal scenery
between Arnside and Silverdale and the rich pastures of the Fylde
Peninsula. Passing through many upland areas, the cycleway contains
steep climbs, as well as long downhill stretches. The cycleway follows
quiet roads wherever possible. Being in two halves, the cycleway can be
done over two weekends, or in a few days. You can get to Whalley by
train, so you do not need to take your car. It is also possible to ride
out to the cycleway from the mainline station at Lancaster along the
riverside cycle path to Halton.'
Information
courtesy of Lancashire County Council
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