Lancashire Road Cycling Routes – pedalnorth

Jubilee Tower Lancaster Cycle Route

Pedalnorth Website — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:58:39 +0000

JUBILEE TOWER, ABBEYSTEAD

A classic Lancashire cycling route

This short but rewarding road cycling route in Lancashire takes you into the hills and open countryside, visiting the climb of Jubilee Tower before descending back to the village of Garstang. It’s a route for an easy evening or to lik in to a longer ride in rural Lancashire.

Route Information

Distance: 24 miles
Ascent: 1,550 feet

OS Link:

Refreshments: FiG Tree Fairtrade Cafe at Garstang or The Priory at Scorton.

Character: A gently undulating climb to a high and wild moor, topped by a preposterous folly. Sensational views in clear weather, with the Welsh, Manx and Lakeland hills spanning the westward horizon.

Route

1. Head out of Garstang on the Lancaster Road (i.e. pedal North).

2. Turn right at the mini-roundabout into Green Lane East and gain a narrow lane barred to cars.

3. Turn right at the end and meander through the meadows of Wyresdale to the village of Scorton.

4. Turn right at the Priory into Snow Hill Lane and climb over the M6 and into the Forest of Bowland AONB. The sassier lasses round these parts buy tee shirts such that the words “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” undulate across their chests.

5. Turn left at the top and follow a high terrace, dodging jaywalking pheasants as you go.

6. Another left turn at the end (no signage) then pay heed to the Ford sign as it can reach respectable depth and the surface is rather too cobbled for hitting at high speed on skinny tyres.

7. Drop to the main Scorton-Abbeystead road and turn right. Follow this up a series of rises until a steep pull out of narrow gulch where the road runs parallel to a stream.

8. At the top of this climb, turn left (unsigned) to a spectacular, winding descent into Abbeystead.

9. Turn left and then, where the road turns 90 degrees to the left, go straight on, signposted “Quernmore 5”

10. Climb through plover and hare country, turning left at the top to the Tower. Look on the verge on the right for the memorial to cyclist Peter Nowell.

11. Plunge to Quernmore Crossroads, turning left. Try to combine admiring the view with staying in the saddle on the hairpin.

12. Follow the switchback southwards, re-crossing the motorway on Whams Lane

13. Left at the bottom will take you into the hamlet of Hollins Lane, convergence with the A6 and the homeward leg

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Fylde Coast Cycle Route

Pedalnorth Website — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 13:32:34 +0000

FYLDE COAST
A ride around the Lancashire coast

Image by Michael Beckwith,Unsplash

Route Information

Stats: 49 miles of reasonably flat riding

Map Link:

Refreshments & Where to Stay: Preston and Blackpool are nearby, as is historic Lancaster

Character

A great loop around the westernmost lump of Lancashire. Although Blackpool lacks certain finesse, the atmosphere is generally cheery and the views are stunning. On a clear day, the panorama includes Wales, the Isle of Man, the Lakes, The Howgills, The Dales (Ingleborough’s bony crown is pre-eminent), the Bowland Hills, Winter Hill and Ashurst Beacon. The short ferry hop makes this a memorable excursion.

Route

1. Head out of Garstang on Moss Lane, over the humpback bridge. Cross the A6 with care at the Bellflower.

2. Turn right into the ominously-named Kilcrash Lane. Follow this through flat farmland to Pilling and turn left into Head Dyke Lane

3. At Preesall, turn right to Knott End and follow this down to the slipway. Ferries generally run on the hour and half-hour and the trip takes all of five minutes. Expect to pay £1.50 for you and a further 50p for the bike.

4. At the farther shore, take up the promenade and dodge the hordes of strollers, giddy kiddies and unleashed dogs through Bispham and Blackpool.

5. At Squire’s Gate, join the main road heading south (there’s a good continuous cycle lane) but you can duck back onto promenade at St Anne’s if the main road is too busy for your liking.

6. Rejoin the main road, then turn left near Lytham Windmill into Station Road.

7. Meander through to the incongruous picture-postcard village of Wrea Green, its thatched roofs looking ill-suited to Lancashire’s rainfall.

8. Go straight on at the church (village stores on your right) and (easily missed) take a shortcut by a wall (just before the main road) into Kirkham. Cross the dual carriageway with care.

9. In Kirkham, turn left into Carr Lane and zigzag North and East to Inskip.

10. Turn left on the B5269 then right (after the village) into Pinfold Lane.

11. Turn right into St Michael’s Lane at the end and pass Myerscough agricultural college to join the A6 at Guy’s Thatched Hamlet.

Lancashire Road Cycling Routes – pedalnorth

Jubilee Tower Lancaster Cycle Route

JUBILEE TOWER, ABBEYSTEAD

Route Information

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