As the title suggests. Last year I rode Northampton to Glossop using a mix of off and on road, using well known routes like BVW, Tissington trail etc along with some lesser known stuff to connect up some quiet roads and get myself to Glossop in a day. Now I want to try and head from Glossop to the lakes, using the same kind of tracks, bridleways and trails. I think Northants to Glossop ended up with 35% road. Which felt about right. I don't mind road riding at all, but I would prefer quiet B roads, the aim is to make this a nice route with some cafe stops and take in some of the nicer parts of the route. A big help for getting distance covered fast was the ex-railway lines that were flat and fast and usually fairly direct. But I can't find as many this time round.
I will be on a Gravel bike, aiming to complete it in a day. With the final plan being to stack 3 days of riding back to back: Northampton > Glossop > Lakes > Southwest Scotland.
Heres the current route: (I'm loosely aiming for Windermere)
Il be able to recce the Peak district end of the route more easily. The further north I get the less knowledge I have!
Any suggestions, advice, good bits, nice cafes etc welcomed - thanks!
That looks pretty 'on-road' to me. All I'll add is don't do the Pennine Bridleway if you are expecting to cover that distance in a day. Took us 16 hours (over two days) to cover 85 miles back to Glossop from Giggleswick with packs and on MTB's - CX/gravel bikes would have been horrible.
A few years ago I did a "cross Lancs on a cross bike" ride starting from Rochdale and going over Rooley Moor Road, it finished in Arnside (technically Cumbria but I'd crossed Lancashire which was the main point of the route!).
Went over Salter Fell Road (long gravel section) from Slaidburn whereas you seem to take the road. Mind you I was heading further south to pass through Carnforth and into Arnside/Silverdale area.
I know the bit north of Lancaster well, you've got some lovely roads there which might be the best option given time contraints although there are towpath options too if you want them.
I'll see if I can dig the ride out, it'll be on Strava somewhere.
Edit: I hate looking at routes on Komoot, it's such a shit interface.
Currently is very on road, with a few bits off road. The hope is to add in off road options based on suggestions, but I found the best way was to start with some kind of route based off what I do know and then tweak and change it.
Pennine bridleway was on the list to look into, so I will take that off! Thanks 🙂
Isn't there the transpenine way or something similar that's already been mapped?
Went over Salter Fell Road (long gravel section) from Slaidburn whereas you seem to take the road. Mind you I was heading further south to pass through Carnforth and into Arnside/Silverdale area.
OK, just looked more closely at your route (have I mentioned how shit Komoot is for actually showing any worthwhile detail?!) and you DO go over Salter Fell Road (the gravel track).
That's fine - there's a rough section at the start (uphill) but after that it's all good, really nice trail.
Loaded gravel bikes on the PBW, especially North Peaks onwards is hard going. Been there done that. As others have said, it’s slower going than you think. Good fun though.
Isn’t there the transpenine way or something similar that’s already been mapped?
That does pass through Glossop but goes east<-> west between Liverpool and Hull, rather than north <-> south.
I'd say that making it to Settle on the PBW would be a pretty big day out
I'd be tempted to head into manchester on the canal, then pick up the route out of town through philips park and up the irwell sculpture trail to Ramsbottom. Then pick up the green lane to Accrington and onto the canal round to great harwood. Then onto Whalley through the scoutcamp (proper off road descent) and make your way over to slaidburn and pick up salter fell and on to Kirby Stephen/windermere as planned.
alternatively, from whalley head over dunsop fell to caton and then out to lancaster and the bay cycleway.
depends whether off road means traffic free or singletrack fun I guess (and how fit you are, I haven't a cat in hells chance of doing this route in a day regardless)
The route out of manchester to accrington is surprisingly off road actually, its my go to commuting route home when I don't fancy the A56 deathrace 2000
something like this:
I was going to suggest heading up the TPT to Dunford Bridge and then strike north to Holme and Marsden. It's my alternative and preferred variation of the PBW but it will be a lot harder.
As sensible alternative I fully approve skackboys suggestion of going up the irwell. Walked and cycled it. That IMO will be a lot nicer than what you have plotted but either way you must be a tough cookie.
Good luck and report back
Thanks all, very useful! @slackboy that looks ideal. I think I can probably throw in a few more off road bits north of Accrington just to keep it interesting.
My definition of off road in this case is anywhere where you can't drive a car. cycleways, bridleways etc. I'm happy on wide open gravel tracks but some nice bits of singletrack are welcomed. I found a good mix kept my head focused, ideally I want to keep the wheels turning so minimal hike-a-bike please!
I'm hoping to complete this in the summer, but I think some recce rides over the coming months will be a good idea.
I’m hoping to complete this in the summer, but I think some recce rides over the coming months will be a good idea.
That was what I did with my Cross Lancs ride - a few recce bits of the trails I didn't know just so I didn't reach a bit of trail and spend ages wondering which way to go.
The route I used is here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/592347571
(you may have to follow me on Strava to access it)
I did it on a gravel bike with 35c tubed tyres (it was a few years ago now!) but it was all rideable except for a short steep drop into Lumb (where the route cross Burnley Road East). Was a really nice day out!
If you do go over salter fell, it's worth a short detour into wray. The bridge house tea rooms is an excellent place to refuel and very popular with cyclists
Thanks @crazy-legs anything you didn't enjoy on that route? or worth avoiding?
A couple of suggestions,
the east end of Salter Fell Road has now been sanitized, great climb on a gravel bike.
From Lancaster you can head north on the canal, get's you to Carnforth and then the southern portion of the lakes is just a few km.
Sounds like a great trip, enjoy.
APF
If you want some more climbing 🙂leaving Clitheroe you can also get to Salter Fell by the grid of bridleways north of West Bradford with a bit of footpath to pop out at the top of Waddington Fell. Then all the way down to Newton and up the very quiet Back Lane direct to the start of Salter Fell (avoiding Slaidburn if you didn't need the shop or cafe). Either way Glossop to the Lakes off road ish is a big day out....
From Lancaster you can head north on the canal, get’s you to Carnforth and then the southern portion of the lakes is just a few km.
No need to go as far south as Lancaster. Salter Fell Road drops you into Wray / Hornby, then the route that cteagles plotted (and which I rode previously) goes up through Gressingham, down the wiggly descent past Capernwray and onto a track that joins the canal north of Tewitfield. You have to cross under the motorway there - when they built the motorway they rather annoyingly blocked off the canal at a couple of points rather than build a bridge over it but you can re-join it further north.
Thanks @crazy-legs anything you didn’t enjoy on that route? or worth avoiding?
The Mary Townley Loop section has some annoying gates on it and can be a bit muddy but you're not on it for long. I arrived at that route after several recce bits plus an article in a magazine plus a lot of sections of trail that I knew anyway. It worked well, I'd do it again. Happy to join you for some local routes, I'm only just over the hill from Glossop.
@crazy-legs Great thanks for that - and thanks for the offer of the ride. I'm not very often in Glossop but when I am and i've got the gravel bike I will drop you a message.
@alexpalacefan Thank you! @mick_r more climbing please! I don't mind the hills, but I probably shouldn't be detouring for any more of them!
V3 route here: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1444588785?ref=wtd&share_token=ah5ZL8zuHQjL3yyW4a8X4Z7tBax5Z9e0ZFd77nCrSe4e73YrR8
Route from Glossop to Forest of Bowland is feeling pretty good. And probably something that I can recce at some point soon.
Its looking loads better, i'm stuck at the Canal at Holme, unsure whats best to carry on. and cut across or jump over into the south lakes now. Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Yes, plot it in Ride With GPS or some sort of decent route package that doesn't ask me to log in, permit GPS and other shite.
🙄
Speaking as a local, Broadbottom to Hyde looks like you might want to rethink. I've only ridden the bit from Leylands Lane to Apple Street once, it was not great. Apple Street is a bastard climb, a great challenge though. If I went through Broadbottom on my extended commute to Hyde I'd normally follow this route to the canal
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45631130
Pennine Cycleway?
https://cycle.travel/route/pennine_cycleway
That would cover much of the distance. Might need a bit of tweaking?
You could divert on to The Way of the Roses (or C2C route) at somewhere around Settle maybe.
Speaking as a local, Broadbottom to Hyde looks like you might want to rethink. I’ve only ridden the bit from Leylands Lane to Apple Street once, it was not great. Apple Street is a bastard climb, a great challenge though. If I went through Broadbottom on my extended commute to Hyde I’d normally follow this route to the canal
I would be more inclined to just follow the trans pennine trail rather than ride up Morttram Road and down Matley Lane. Foolow TPT signs from Broadbottom Road and cut through to Mottram Old Road. Follow that and Turn Right down Green LAne. Heading down Green Lane and onto the old railway line and then follow that to the canal. Less on road stuff and a bit nicer scenery.
rather than ride up Morttram Road and down Matley Lane.
To be fair my route goes up the old road which is quite nice and usually quiet, not the busy main road, then Matley Lane is all downhill. The TPT is ok too though the on-road section from Hattersley to the turn off at Gee Cross can be a chore