[Closed] Lancaster Riding

proper mtb or bridleway/towpath bimbling?

If it's proper MTb then no, not really. The latter has lots of options though.

For road riding its fantastic, for MTB it's pants I'm afraid. There's a decent descent off Claughton Moor near Caton but it's a road climb to access it but other than that, you'll need a car. You could get the train to Staveley or Windermere?

For road riding you can get the train out to Barrow then ride the Sustrans route back across the South lakes peninsulas with the westerly wind. It's a great ride that passes through Cartmel, a smashing place to stop for lunch.

bridleway/towpath bimbling

This was what I was expecting, it will be MTB that is with me. Just looking for something to fill a couple of hours in the morning.

Staveley or Windermere

Ill be in the lakes in Oct anyway!

There's some lovely stuff on the other side of the Trough around Dunsop Bridge, but doesn't really fit your 'kill a couple of hours from campus' criteria.

I've done a few road routes out from Lancaster. Go east and there are lots of options. Will take more than a couple of hours to do anything worthwile.

There's the shooters track around Clougha (off Littledale Road is easiest). It's estate tracks so bit cheeky. If you go out early or late, you'll avoid the estate workers.

Where is the descent off Claughton Moor?

Farleton Knott is a couple of junctions down (J36) with some fun descents. Also meant to be some bits to session on Nicky Nook.

What Globalti said or other variations in either direction down as far as Glasson Dock. Mostly traffic free pootling. Also a few bridleways Warton / Arnside area.

The seafront at Morecambe is surprisingly pleasant provided you only look towards the Lake District 🙂 If polite / sensible you can do cheeky across the grassy NT bit from St Peter's church at Heysham to Half Moon Bay cafe.

Sunderland Point is worth a look if you time the tides right. I think the bridleway on the west side remains passable when the tarmac road is cut off (obviously depends on height of tide, weather etc - don't take risks with the sea round there).

Sorry, meant Caton Moor. Start is by the windmills and passes Moorcock Hall then Claughton Hall and drops to the main road.

Thanks for the ideas guys, mainly this trip is that I will have the MTB with me rather than it being the main point as Im hoping to get some stuff in the few days before.

Sunderland Point is an interesting place and Sambo's Grave a poignant place to visit, especially if you have children with you. But the tidal road is absolutely flthy and your precious bike will be encrusted with salty mud.

From Lancaster you can ride down to Glasson Dock and even west to Knott End, cross to Fleetwood on the foot ferry and thence round the coast to Clevelys, then SE to Wyre Country Park, the fascinating Skippool marina, Shard Bridge and back through the lanes. Do it clockwise or anti-clockwise depending on wind direction to enjoy a blast up the front. The seafront, that is.

Sambo's Grave is usually decorated with all sorts of arty farty trinkets. There seems to be a cult grown up in recent years about Sambo. Political correctness, or just righting perceived wrongs? By all accounts he was well looked after here, just his burial was a bit "off".

Yes, the road can be filhty, and if you get the tides wrong then you are stuck for an hour or two. Bridle way to the west - as mentioned^^^ -is usually clear, but can get covered with a particularly high tide. Tide tables are a must round there.

Road was clean enough a week ago - not sure how often they scrape it clear. The bw was dry enough - hadn't seen the sea in a while. A lot of new fancy stonework walls and gates around Sambo's grave, plus a stone igloo camera obscura thing.

Salter Fell / Hornby "Road" (track) with Dunsop Head BWs and Trough Road would be a big day out.

If you don't mind mixing on and offroad, dare I say 'gravel', then up to the windmills and back down is a good little loop, as said by slowpuncheur.

From the uni you can go up and over Littledale, then over to Roeburndale, then across the moor to the windmills, and down the offroad section to the A683, and back along the cyclepath to Lancaster.

I can send you a route if you want.

^^ That's a nice lumpy route. Most of Roeburndale is unintentional 'gravel' - watch out for potholes and a couple of gates..

From the uni I would get on the canal then you can go either way. It spurs off to glass on dock then you take the old disused railway into lancaster.

Arnside knot is lovely but full of walkers and signs saying no cycling.

I like walking round the shore from hestbank to carnforth. Bit muddy but rideable. Bay garden centre is shut for refurb, archers is v good.

There's a few narrow tarmac tracks up by the transmitter above Bolton le sands. Stunning views and no one is ever up there, probably will be now....

^^ That’s a nice lumpy route. Most of Roeburndale is unintentional ‘gravel’ – watch out for potholes and a couple of gates..

Yeah, I was surprised to learn that it's a public road! Haven't ridden down from the turbines in about 20 years, but I do recall it being a fun descent.

I rode it this afternoon.

@reggiegasket a route would be ace, I can kind of see what you are describing on OS map!