Snoopdougg wrote:Hey thanks for all the replies!
Rareposter - the route I planned in my Garmin is very similar to one you outlined in your post, with the expecting exception that I have took a right at slaidburn heading along the b6478 to take a left onto dugdale lane.
Is this road ok for road bikes? Or is it gravel?
Essentially I would be in dugdale lane, hole house lane, school lane, keasden road.
I guess it's just too know if these roads are ok to cycle on. They look ok from Google maps.
Thanks for all the other points as well. Absolutely cannot wait to experience this part of the country.
Yes, you're just extending the route a tiny bit, going over the moor a bit further along. You climb (there's a theme here...) out of Slaidburn up a steep zigzag road and along there to a crossroads. Turn left (Dugdale Lane) and it takes you past Gisburn Forest MTB trail centre, over the reservoir and it's the same sort of long drag up, long descent down.
Personally, I prefer the way I've suggested, I think the road you're on is better done Keasden -> Gisburn but that's just my personal preference.
The roads are potholed in places, often quite narrow but they're all suitable for road bikes. Note that the area around Gisburn can be quite busy at weekends with people driving to the trail centre with MTBs on the roof/back of the car. Most of them are reasonably OK towards their roadie colleagues but there's inevitably a few who misjudge the width of their car a bit on narrow lanes! It's a lovely area - just be prepared for the hills!