I gave up on Bikely because it wouldn't let me save my route. I've put it
here on MapMyRide instead. Sorry if you are not already registered - I've just discovered that the site requires you to register before allowing you to download routes!
Some notes ...
I know the route from Whitebirk roundabout, Blackburn as far as Shaw. I'm looking at OS maps to guess the nicest route from Heaton Park to Whitebirk, and I have no idea from Shaw so listen to what Pennine-Paul has to say about that.
I tried routing to the west and north of Blackburn but the ride came in way over-distance so I've gone south and east instead.
I didn't like the look of Bury, so I have routed via Radcliffe instead. There might be some reason why that isn't a great idea, but I'm not a local so I don't know. It looks a lot less busy than going via Bury, that's all!
I was thinking along the same lines as User482 and selected Affetside rather than Tottington.
I thought the road from Edgworth to Blackburn looked promising and Dellzeqq has confirmed that.
The roads I chose from Grimshaw to Whitebirk look like the best choice to me.
The dual carriageway from Whitebirk wasn't too bad last time I did it. I wouldn't fancy it in bad weather or in the rush hour, but I think there was a cycle path alongside it anyway. I have taken the route off up a hill half way along the bypass. You could stay on the A6119 and then take the A666 to Wilpshire but my way is nicer!
It's a descent from New Inns all the way to the
Ribble, just pausing to cross the beastly (geddit?) A666 on the way down.
Turn right just before the bridge and follow a lovely little lane round to Whalley via Old Langho and Billington. Apologies for the steep little climb on the way, which caught out some fixie riders on one of my rides in the spring!
Climb up to the busy A671. Spring Wood picnic centre is directly across from the traffic lights. There are toilets there if you need to empty yourself, or top up your bottles. There is also usually a van parked at the entrance where you could probably get hot or cold drinks.
You only need to do a few yards on the A671 before turning left off it. Head round to Sabden and from there you have a choice - a
really nasty steep climb of Black Hill to Padiham Heights or take the longer route which is merely nasty!
I agree with Christopher about the Forest of Pendle route but I would follow it all the way to Blacko, avoiding Barrowford - much nicer. It's a singletrack road in places with great views of Pendle Hill.
I agree that the A681 is a lovely climb in terms of gradient and scenery, but I take issue with Christopher on the safety question. It actually featured in a list of the UK's most dangerous roads! It would have been superb before fast-moving traffic came along, but it is twisty turny and I found that drivers were cutting me up quite badly. I rode up there on the North-West Passage audax in 2007 and met a very irate audaxer in Gisburn after the descent from Greystone. A farmer towing a livestock trailer had overtaken him on a blind bend and then swerved left into him when confronted by an oncoming truck! The cyclist had been left battered and bruised at the side of the road. TAKE CARE UP THERE!
The little lane from Stocks House to 'Barlick' (Barnoldswick) is another delight, but not one for iffy weather conditions.
You'll no doubt know the roads from there round to Hebden Bridge? Very up and down but lovely cycling.
I'm not quite sure why your original route went down Main Street in Haworth? You come from there, so you know what you are doing, but I wouldn't ride down a steep little cobbled Yorkshire street which has tourists meandering about all over it when I could stay on the main road and bypass it! (Unless of course you want to stop off at one of the cafes there, in which case - carry on!)
The Crag Vale climb is long by UK standards but not steep, averaging 3.3% for 5.5 miles, with only one steepish bit halfway. The cross-headwind higher up can often be more of a problem than the hill.
From Blackstone Edge, you have that fabulous descent to Littleborough, and an easy ride back from there. Pretty much all of the climbing is finished 20 miles from home!
Let's hope that we get another fine Spring. I'd be tempted to save the ride until then.
I hope that helps!
