Hey all

Wondering if anyone knows of a safe route from Formby to South Lakes? Considering my options, but I think I'll be setting off at 530pm and hopefully ending up in the lakes before 1am.

Thanks!

Don't know about south of Preston but there's the Lancashire Cycleway which should provide minor lanes to get up towards Lancaster. Just South of Lancaster I'd cut east of the M6 and work your way along via Quernmore, Caton, Nether Kellet towards Carnforth. Cut back to the west of the M6 and head through the Silverdale/Arnside area to Sandside then lanes to west of the A6 to get you to Levens Bridge.

After that it just depends where in the south Lakes you are going, the further west you go there's a lot of twiddling around to avoid the A590. I grew up round there so can give you better directions to the specific village.

Brilliant. I can happily get to Preston and feel safe, your I put should help further north. I'll be on a gravel bike so I can ride on either. Thanks!

If you want a proper off-road Route (we are off roaders aren’t we ?):
Formby to canal at Burscough ( John Climber Moore’s Winter Bivvy Route)
Follow canal to Wigan then to Adlington (Bridge 64)
Bit of road to get through Adlington (but you can avoid most of it by leaving main road, and going via quiet residential road)
Cheeky bit to get over M61 to Horrobin Lane
About half a mile on Horrobin Lane to Rivington
Some good off road to get over to Holcombe Moor, then drop down into Irwell Vale
About half a mile through Edenfield to turn left for the big climb up to Cowpe Lowe (via Gincroft Lane)
You’re then on the MTL (Mary Townely Loop)
Head north and when you get to Hurstwood Res after half a mile head north on an excellent BW over Extwistle Moor
Follow it including Bronte Way, to Wycoller.
Then PBW to Barnoldswick, where I think it’s best to get on the canal, as far as Gargrave.
OR from Hurstwood Res find your way to go through Townely Park, and get on the canal at Burnley (only about 2 miles to the canal)
And then to Gargrave

The Dales:
Different possibilities depending:
Bell Busk, Otterburn, Settle
Cam End, Ribblehead

To get from the Dales to South Lakes will probably need minor roads, I just don’t know.
I rode once via Great Asby Scar to Orton, then west to Borrowdale (not The Borrowdale, there’s another one, good stuff too)

Hope that helps
(You did ask )

Wow, brilliant! I'll get on Komoot and get planning! Thanks so much!

You can follow the canal north from Preston to Carnforth, then one of a couple of NCN routes either side of Arnside to Levens, then along quiet back roads towards Windermere or Kendal. I can send a gpx if needed.

Lancaster Canal Preston to Carnworth

What’s it like ?

Rideable ?

Any problems ?

Are we talking safe from cars or youths

It's all rideable. Gets a bit wiggly in the middle. Not the fastest A-B but is a lovely green corridor away from major roads. If you're on Komoot you should see it here: https://www.komoot.com/tour/84737971?ref=wtd. If not, let me know and I'll PM a GPX.

quimarche wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 5:16 pm It's all rideable. Gets a bit wiggly in the middle. Not the fastest A-B but is a lovely green corridor away from major roads. If you're on Komoot you should see it here: https://www.komoot.com/tour/84737971?ref=wtd. If not, let me know and I'll PM a GPX.

I'm so sorry, I missed the reply as I didn't subscribe to it...

I'm on Komoot, so I've now saved the tour.

Thanks ☺