The Lancashire Cycleway. Jon Sparks

      Jon Sparks is a photographer and writer based in Garstang. He has been a lover of cycling, especially cycling in Lancashire, for many years. His background includes riding road-races and hill-climbs very badly, and time-trials not quite so badly. More recently he has become a dedicated mountain biker and has also ridden a number of road sportives.

      Jon is also a walker and (now very occasional) rock-climber and mountaineer. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      Outdoor Photography (with Chiz Dakin)

      © Jon Sparks 2017

      Second edition 2017

      ISBN-13: 978 1 85284 849 1

      First edition 2003

      ISBN-10: 1 85284 384 5

      ISBN-13: 978 1 85284 384 7

      Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

       Route mapping by Lovell Johns www.lovelljohns.com.

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

      © Crown copyright 2017 OS PU100012932.

      NASA relief data courtesy of ESRI.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/849/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Acknowledgements

      I’d like to thank everyone I have ever ridden with. That’s a long list, but I would particularly like to mention: my late parents, for many things, including having the good sense to move to Lancashire; Mike Thompson, for sharing the first steps into serious cycling; members of Cambridge University Cycling Club in the mid-70s; members of Lancaster Cycling Club and especially the ‘Kellet Wheelers’ from the late 70s to late 80s; and more recently Jonathan and Julia Westaway.

      Various members of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild have been eternally generous with those two vital commodities, information and inspiration.

      I would also like to thank Alasdair Simpson of Lancaster County Council for large amounts of information and other assistance.

      Last, and anything but least, I can never sufficiently express my gratitude to my partner Bernie Carter, for everything from pizza to proof-reading, and above all sharing great experiences, from New Zealand to Old Hutton.

      Front cover: On Merrybent Hill (Northern Loop, Stage 2)

      CONTENTS

       Map key

       Overview map

       Route summary tables

       Introduction

       The Lancashire Cycleway

       Preparation

       Bike choice and setup

       Clothing

       Carrying gear

       Potholes and pitfalls

       Deviations from the route

       Signage

       Maps, apps and timings

       Using this guide

       The Northern Loop

       Stage 1a The Lancaster Link

       Stage 1 Halton to Hornby

       Stage 2 Hornby to Slaidburn

       Stage 3 Slaidburn to Whalley

       Stage 4 Whalley to Bilsborrow

       Stage 5 Bilsborrow to Great Eccleston

       Stage 6 Great Eccleston to Halton

       The Southern Loop

       Stage 7 Whalley to Laneshaw Bridge

       Stage 8 Laneshaw Bridge to Holcombe Brook

       Stage 9 Holcombe Brook to Appley Bridge

       Stage 9a The Wigan Link

       Stage 10 Appley Bridge to Croston

       Stage 11 Croston to Whalley

       Day Rides

       Day Ride 1 Lancaster–Silverdale one-way

       Day Ride 2 Lancaster–Silverdale–Lancaster

       Day Ride 3 Lancaster–High Bentham

       Day Ride 4 Lancaster–High Bentham–Lancaster

       Day Ride 5 High Bentham–Slaidburn–High Bentham

       Day Ride 6 High Bentham–Long Preston

       Day Ride 7 Clitheroe–Slaidburn–Clitheroe