Lancashire Cycle route doing it for summer hols

[Manx Cat]

I fancied a cycle holiday in Europe this summer, but we have had a few housing crisis moments, and the euro is expensive so not for this year sadly.

Cheap option in stead was a cycle trip in UK. This time, not an organised one, but an off the cuff one organised by MC!


Chosen the Lancashire Cycle route, the Northern loop only. Offered it to the girls, and sadly Rosie has dropped out of the trip. This year her hayfever is bad and its uncomfortable for her to cycle any distance. On top of that, the teenage hormones are rampant, and she doesnt want an active holiday this year.

But, not so with eldest - Beth. She is very game, so long as it doesnt eat into her weekends, as she works for M&S and they do not expect her not to come to work over the summer (thats oK, she is well paid by M&S at least and loves the work in retail).


So, doing a Monday - Friday trip. Getting to have another go at Cross O Greets it seems. That Audax was rather handy as it used a lot of the Lancashire cycle way, so some of it will be familiar.

Found some good eating places, Docker Farm, and Wallis Ice Cream parlour... what more could a cyclist ask for.


Will send in a report of this trip, we are taking all our luggage with us, and staying at 3 B&B's (Brothers house for first night).


Going hopefully on 13th July, if I can get the B&B's booked today.


Any one suggest places to visit that are not museums she hates museums..... Averaging just 35 miles a day, so nice and leisurely and a good bonding trip expected.

Mary

[pal]

Well, Blackpool's not far off the route, and probably counts as not a museum! (Though some might argue, I suppose...). I was going to suggest Martin Mere, but that's on the Southern Loop -- there's a smaller version of a similar thing on the N. Loop at Leighton Moss, near Carnforth (http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/leightonmoss/). Carnforth railway station is worth a visit if you're a 'Brief Encounter' fan (and Carnforth itself has a fantastic 2nd-hand bookshop).The Roman remains at Ribchester are interesting (though I'm an ancient historian, so perhaps biased).

Other good food places to add to your list: the Three Fishes at Mitton (near Whalley), and the Bay Horse at ..umm .. Bay Horse (near Quernmore).

Hope you have a great trip! I'm a big fan of the Lancashire Cycleway -- it's a really well thought-out route.

[eileithyia]

As a cyclist you get free entry to Leighton Moss and the cafe is great. Silverdale is one of my fave cycling areas.

[geocycle]

Leighton moss is certainly wothwhile. Loads of good food places as others have mentioned. I think you meant Wallings Farm ice cream and puddings at Cockerham?? http://www.wallingsfarm.co.uk/

As a wild card why not make time for the play in the park in lancaster. Enjoy fantastic views across the bay to the Lakes as you follow the action around the park and usually really high quality acting: http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/theatre/ ... n-fleece-0

[JC4LAB]

If passing by Whalley I would consider a side trip around Pendle hill.maybe staying in Whalley and returning as suggested in the reply below.Its pleasant to see this hill from different angles..This can be done if you follow a single track road very steep in parts which surrounds the hill for about 14miles ..From Whalley an anticlockwise route passes through Sabden,Newchurch, Barley & Downham. then either Worsley or Chatburn bringing you a choice of busy or single track routes to take you back to Whalley.Newchurch viilage contains the witches Grave,The Eye of God on a Church which protects the village and the Witches Galore shop should be of interest to the younger .Take care on some of the steep down roads if trying this.

[Big T]

We did quite a bit of the Lancashire Cycleway on our JOGLE. It's very hilly, especially just north of Blackburn. We stayed at Whalley (pronounced Wall ee) Abbey, which is a nice place to look around and has a wonderful tea shop. They do B&B too, if you need it.

[patricktaylor]

It's a pity she hates museums. Lancaster Maritime Museum is a treat.

[Manx Cat]

Thanks for all this help folks, what ever did we do before the internet, its made a difficult task very very doable.


We have booked the weeks accommodation now. All around the meal stops of course! Yes, the Icecream place is called Wallings near Cockerham and near Bay Horse, and we intend to have afternoon tea there (a mile from B&B), then eat again as its our last night at the Bay Horse Inn food looked fantastic there. Just happened to have our B&B just a mile away from that too in the opposite direction, although we wont get there until the Thursday evening.

B&B's and eating places around Slaidburn were a bit thinner on the ground, so eating at a pub in Waddington or Clitheroe not sure which as yet, landlady said she would direct us, but its 3 miles away. Nevermind, the B&B looked gorgeous.

At Bilsborrow we are eating at Guys Thatched Hamlet. It looks a bit creeply touristy, but near a canal so got a B&B near to that.

Pendle hill looks like a good stop, and I like the idea of a witches shop! Wow.... Looking up the Play in the Park, but not sure on time. I would very much like to visit the sundial on the hill in Lancaster if the weather is suitable, but on the journey out of Lancaster, not into it, as we have a boat to catch at lunchtime.

Looks like a piggy Manx Cat to porkly cycle back home with all this ace nosh enroute, but thats cycling for ya!


Really looking forward to this now, all B&B booked, just waiting for payday to book the boat.



mary

[AndyB]

B&B's and eating places around Slaidburn were a bit thinner on the ground, so eating at a pub in Waddington or Clitheroe not sure which as yet, landlady said she would direct us, but its 3 miles away. Nevermind, the B&B looked gorgeous.

The Hark to Bounty (Slaidburn), Parkers Arms (Newton), Duke of York (Grindleton), Waddington Arms (Waddington, obviously!) were all pretty good pubs for food, although none of them are particularly cheap. If you really want to splash out (and you will have just finished the hardest section!), the Inn at Whitewell ls lovely too, and a flat-ish ride down the Hodder valley. The Duke of York in particular is very nice but quite pricey now, and there are a couple of decent climbs between Slaidburn and Grindleton. I've not been in the others for a little while.

[JC4LAB]

If heading though the Trough the road drops down to a stream just beyhond Whitewell..The resident ice cream van at the bottom has saved the life of many a low blood sugared cyclist..