I declare bias as I live on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, near Clapham, at the bottom of the road up Bowland Knotts, meaning that all the Bowland roads are within a couple of hours. It is most certainly excellent cycling country.
I assume those loops are:
1. Up the Hodder valley from Slaidburn to the Cross of Greet, right at the bottom and back over Bowland Knotts, taking in Clapham and Settle. There are other ways back - via Wigglesworth or Bolton-by-Bowland, but if you want to do the 'passes' then do go over Bowland Knotts and from that direction. Same applies to Cross of Greet: that's the best direction, though both are good.
2. From Dunsop Bridge and up the Trough of Bowland, then keep going left to get to Oakenclough and back to wherever. That's a good route, certainly. Take the first left on descending from the Trough as that's the nicer road.
- Those two cover the three main roads over the hills in the F of B.
3. If I were you, and assuming you want to visit Settle as mentioned, I'd do a route taking in the road through Wigglesworth, to Settle and Clapham and wherever, perhaps separately from the Cross of Greet / Bowland Knotts loop. You can then do a loop from Settle taking in Malham without the day being more than the 90K you mentioned.
All of this is 'fairly hilly', but you presumably know this ...
As to places to stay, I can't comment from direct experience due to living here. If 'premium places' would include the cost of
The Inn at Whitewell, however, then I have always assumed that it's a very nice place, though know nothing beyond that it
looks good and seems busy often. It is also pretty much perfectly positioned. Arguably so is Slaidburn. Both are better than Clitheroe, though that is perfectly fine too.
I can attach gpx files of loops if they'd be of any help?
