Bikepacking options from/near Liverpool

[benp1]

There's a small chance I can get away for 2 nights on Halloween weekend. Draft plan is to drop wife, her friend, and kids in Liverpool on Friday (having driven up in the morning), go bikepacking, and then meet them for lunch on Sunday before driving home

So I'm probably free from around 1pm on Friday to about 12pm on Sunday.

I know there are a few people from the area on here so looking for some help. What are the good areas to go if I'm starting from Liverpool? I'll have my car, but would like to leave it somewhere safe

I'm sure it's fairly flat so happy to travel on a bit, maybe west or north, but ideally not much so I can maximise time on the bike - maybe keeping to an hour or so max?

Once I've worked it out, and confirmed it's definitely on, I'll stick up a post on the 'anyone playing out' section to see if anyone wants to join for some or all of it

[voodoo_simon]

Clwyds would be a worthy option, from Liverpool it will be about a 3 hour ride.

The trains from Liverpool to Chester is great, mersey rail will always let you onto a train, no need to book and the tickets are cheap too.

Personally, I'd get the train to the New Brighton area, so a tour of the Wirral and then head up to the hills from Queensferry/Connahs Quay

[benp1]

I was thinking of driving somewhere as it's quicker to get there and more importantly I need to get back to Liverpool for lunchtime

Clywds sounds good, don't really know much about it

Clocaenog Forest popped up when I was googling, and Llyn Brenig is fairly obvious on the map.

Are there any bothies in this neck of the wood? They all appear to be further west or south

[Bearbonesnorm]

Ferry to the IOM

[benp1]

I actually looked but ferry times are too restrictive!

on a slightly separate note, I'm surprised by the cost of hotels in Liverpool! They're a lot more expensive than I was expecting

[JohnClimber]

From the area :waveshello:

Clocaenog Forest, after this years rainfall is very damp off of the fire roads, leave it until a dry year.

Clywds are good weather depending

What about not driving and riding the Leeds Liverpool canal then spend a day exploring Rivington and Darwin area.

Macclesfield (and the forests around there) is an hour away and if you drive like me so is the south east of the Lake District.

Drive to the Mary Townley loop and or the Pennine Bridleway around there is another option.

[benp1]

Wow, 2 inspired ideas there, thank you

I like the sound of the Mary Towneley Loop (as I've seen it referred to so many times), as well as the Leeds Liverpool Canal

I wonder if the former is a bit too short, not that I'm massively fit, but over 2 days might be too sedate! Could always add bits on

For the latter I could ride it and then get the train back

One of the side plans is I pick them up on Sunday and we go to Manchester for lunch (long story), so if I left the car with them they could drive themselves to Manchester and I could even get the train from Leeds back to Manchester

John - have you ridden the canal path?

[Wotsits]

If you don't mind a drive of a tad over an hr from Liverpool then i'd consider the South Lakes Ben..

Staveley is a great base to ride from, could sort you out with a route(s) if interested..
Could even possibly join you if you wanted some company.

If you did the MTL you could quite easily extend the route as there's loads of great trails in the area, that ironically the MTL by-passes! Maybe start somewhere south & overnight in Hebden Bridge. Lots of options here also...

[benp1]

Hmmm, I thought I'd narrowed down my options and now I have more

I do like the sound of the Lake District, I've not ridden there before and the idea of that sounds great. Google maps says 1.5-2 hours to get to Staveley, that's the max that I'd go to but sounds OK. Would love some company if you're game? Waiting to confirm with the wife but provisional dates are Friday 30th Oct to Sunday 1 Nov. Route ideas also welcomed!

I like the idea of taking the opportunity to do something I wouldn't do, as I'm already up in this area. That's ways the Clywds are less likely right now as the distance is doable from home. The Canal route one way isn't something I'd normally do, nor is the Lakes as they're a bit of a mission from home. They also sounds more epic which is good with me!

[Wotsits]

What area of Liverpool would you be coming from Ben?

Tbh, i think you're better having a couple of options & see what the forecast is like nearer the time.
There's a few different directions you can go in this part of the country & we quite often do this when approaching the weekend to get the best riding..

If you've never ridden in the Lakes before i'd say as long as the weather is ok you wouldn't be disappointed..
I'll look at getting a route together for you to look at..

Also if you check the drive time to somewhere like Littleborough, Hebden/Todmorden (for the MTL) you might find that it's actually longer than to Staveley, the M60 & M62 round Manchester can be a nightmare & there's a lot of roadworks there at present..

[benp1]

Couple of options is a good idea. Although potentially not so good if anyone else is going to join as it makes planning a bit more difficult. Either way, don't fancy riding in a monsoon!

What area of Liverpool would you be coming from Ben?

Smack in the city centre probably, I'll be doing a drop off at a hotel somewhere central, then I'm free to go anywhere after that.

[Wotsits]

Couple of options is a good idea. Although potentially not so good if anyone else is going to join as it makes planning a bit more difficult. Either way, don't fancy riding in a monsoon!

Point taken!

If you're in the center i reckon you're looking at around 1 1/2hr drive to Staveley..

[benp1]

That's very doable. I'm looking forward to a 2 night trip, usually only get 1 night away.

Still need to work on getting it all confirmed, that's my plan for this week!

[JohnClimber]

If the weathers ok I'd go with Wotsit's idea of the south lakes or the Todmorden area.

If it's bad I'd take the Canal towards Leeds, as the wind (and rain) will at least be on your back all the way, plenty of cheeky bivi options out of the towns and plenty of places to eat in the towns. Get the train back. Job done.
It is possible in a day but a 2 of 3 dayer with diversions will be good as well

[benp1]

Good news, hotel booked, trip is on!

I like that idea John

Plan A - lakes
Plan B - leeds-liverpool canal
Plan C - maybe peak district or north wales (i.e. somewhere in a different direction)

decide based on weather

Jason - any route tips around Staveley welcome! I'll order the OS OL7 map now

[ootini]

Clwyds would be a worthy option, from Liverpool it will be about a 3 hour ride.

The trains from Liverpool to Chester is great, mersey rail will always let you onto a train, no need to book and the tickets are cheap too.

Personally, I'd get the train to the New Brighton area, so a tour of the Wirral and then head up to the hills from Queensferry/Connahs Quay

Is Connah's Quay much to look at on a bike? I'd have thought it would be a bit industrial etc. I'd have thought a train all the way to Prestatyn, then South on the bike would be a better idea. Straight in to the hills that way.

[voodoo_simon]

Clwyds would be a worthy option, from Liverpool it will be about a 3 hour ride.

The trains from Liverpool to Chester is great, mersey rail will always let you onto a train, no need to book and the tickets are cheap too.

Personally, I'd get the train to the New Brighton area, so a tour of the Wirral and then head up to the hills from Queensferry/Connahs Quay

Is Connah's Quay much to look at on a bike? I'd have thought it would be a bit industrial etc. I'd have thought a train all the way to Prestatyn, then South on the bike would be a better idea. Straight in to the hills that way.

Its poor show but it's a good way to get up to the hills from. Had to wepre Park direction and then it's uphill most of the way to the clwyds. If you're on the wirral and want to ride to some hills without transport, then go for it, if you've got transport, then drive to a better starting spot

[Wotsits]

Good news, hotel booked, trip is on!

I like that idea John

Plan A - lakes
Plan B - leeds-liverpool canal
Plan C - maybe peak district or north wales (i.e. somewhere in a different direction)

decide based on weather

Jason - any route tips around Staveley welcome! I'll order the OS OL7 map now

PM sent Ben..

The new OS maps apparently also come with a mobile download now
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/d ... luded.html