Contents
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
Day Ride 8 A circuit from Whalley
Day Ride 9 A circuit from Colne
Day Ride 10 Colne–Accrington
Day Ride 11 Entwistle–Haslingden–Ramsbottom–Entwistle
Day Ride 12 A circuit from Leyland
Day Ride 13 A West Lancashire circuit
Day Ride 14 Preston–Whalley
Day Ride 15 Whalley–Longridge–Whalley
Day Ride 16 Preston–Longridge–Woodplumpton–Preston
Day Ride 17 Kirkham–Lancaster
Appendix A Further information
Appendix B Transport
Appendix C Bike shops
"domiciled in garstang, a few miles north of preston, jon sparks resides pretty much in the centre of his world, ideally situated to be better acquainted with the surrounding roadways than the majority of his readers. which, to place not too fine a point upon it, is precisely the sort of fellow i'd want to be guiding me around the lancashire countryside north west of manchester.
all [routes] are extremely well illustrated with both photographs and clearly defined maps, while sparks' narrative takes the prospective rider from start to finish via every turn in the route.
those northern and southern loops, while suitable for one-day rides by the intrepid cyclist aboard an appropriately speedy machine, are further split into smaller rides that might also occupy a more leisurely approach, festooned with a modest quantity of coffee and cake. each to their own; it's very much to the author's credit that his organisation of the book's contents allows for a very wide interpretation of what constitutes energetic and exploratory cycling.
if you plan on holidaying in the lancashire area for a day or considerably longer, it ill-behoves you to leave home without a copy of this book either in a jersey pocket or ensconced within a bar bag."
Brian Palmer, the Washingmachine Post
The guide makes imaginative use of the rail network. Admirable form a green perspective, this strategy allows a wider variety of day routes to be offered, as well as escapes options. It would be entirely possible to use bike and train to complete most of the routes described.
Overall, this guide can be recommended to get you away from the beaten track and to take you through some well-known beauty spots, as well. I have enjoyed reading it and will now tuck it into my jersey pocket and head for Wigan!
Seven Day Cyclist
