In praise of the pootle

[LeetleGreyCells]

Does anybody (sorry, any pootler) know of a good book that shows the best bridalways and ex-railway routes that could possibly be linked for a decent length ride? My local one is the Wirral Way and, I have recently discovered the Whitegate Way which can apparently be linked to Delamere Forrest without too much trouble.

I bought a book yesterday which you may find useful, Traffic-Free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton (ISBN 978-1900623216) which lists the three rides you mentioned. You probably already know about these, but here’s what I’ve found looking in the contents for your neck of the woods, there’s North Wirral Coastal Park north of Wirral Way; south-east of WW is Shropshire Canal (Chester to Ellesmere Port); south of that is Chester to Hawarden Bridge. Further afield, east of Liverpool is Otterspool Promenade alongside the Mersey; and Liverpool Loop Line north of that.

Hope that helps . The book has over 400 rides all over the country. I find it useful.

 

[Fab Foodie]

How many fellow pootlers have we got on CC then?

Me.

 

[derrick]

This needs a poll

 

[tyred]

I love a good pootle



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[welsh dragon]

I also agree that bimbling is equally as good as pootling. I never get beyond either of those 2. It's great fun.

 

[JPBoothy]

Mmm, my pootling diet may need some work though!

 

[Alan O]

Does anybody (sorry, any pootler) know of a good book that shows the best bridalways and ex-railway routes that could possibly be linked for a decent length ride? My local one is the Wirral Way and, I have recently discovered the Whitegate Way which can apparently be linked to Delamere Forrest without too much trouble.

These maps are worth getting if you don't already have them (they're free)...
https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travelling-around/cyclingandwalking/Pages/Merseyside-Cycle-Maps.aspx

Here's a couple I did in 2017...

1) On to the Liverpool Loop line at around the halfway point (very near where I live), and follow National Route 62 north along the Loop Line, onto Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath for a bit, and then cross-country to just south of Southport. Then back along the coast on route 810 - I headed in on Queens Drive as that gets me home, but the dock road would get you the city centre. About 40 miles.

2) Start on the Loop Line again and head north to the canal towpath, then follow the canal all the way round to the Liverpool dock road and then on to the Pier Head. From there I headed along the river front and then inland to Speke at the south end of the city and back on to the Loop Line again and home. Also about 40 miles.

A couple of longer routes I'm thinking of start across the river and the Wirral coastal route/Wirral Way, then find someway to get to Runcorn (maybe via the Whitegate Way, which I hadn't hear of before, and Delamere?), cross the bridge and along the river route and inland through Hale to Speke, head in for the Loop Line, then (if I don't feel tired enough to just want to head home) pick up either my first route above to Southport and back or my second canal route and round to the city centre. I haven't worked out the distances for these two longer options, but I'm guessing around 100 miles and 80 miles.

With 1 and 2, the Wirral Way route, and the Liverpool waterfront route, I'm intending to put together pootling routes of various distances this year.

 

[DaveReading]

I love a good pootle

 

[mjr]

Does anybody (sorry, any pootler) know of a good book that shows the best bridalways and ex-railway routes that could possibly be linked for a decent length ride? My local one is the Wirral Way and, I have recently discovered the Whitegate Way which can apparently be linked to Delamere Forrest without too much trouble.

Not a book but http://cycle.travel has some good guides. The route planner mostly is wary of gravel but so am I so that's OK.

 

[Maenchi]

good to know there are plenty of pootling cyclists on here, ...........I just can't cycle any other way......

 

[ChrisEyles]

@tyred I love that bike - perfect for pootling!

 

[Welsh wheels]

I've tried my hand at quite a few different kinds of cycling over the last few years. Started out with long-ish, fast-ish road rides, then discovered MTB'ing and started pushing my boundaries at that too (until a few nasty crashes made me promise to Mrs Chris to reign it in a bit!).

But over the last year my favourite rides have been the ones where I've made up a packed lunch, taken a thermos flask and an OS map (sometimes even a pair of bin's for some en-route birding) and pootled through the local back lanes and bridleways.

There's something very nice indeed about a lower distance and pace ride where you can take your time and smell the roses.

Here're some pics from today's pootle, a couple of hours up and down the Exe valley

View attachment 390132 View attachment 390131 View attachment 390133 View attachment 390134 View attachment 390135 View attachment 390136 View attachment 390137 View attachment 390138

I wish I could enjoy a pootle, but sadly I'm a philistine and I can never just sit and enjoy nature very well.

 

[ChrisEyles]

I wish I could enjoy a pootle, but sadly I'm a philistine and I can never just sit and enjoy nature very well.

There must be some prime pootling territory around South Wales! Give it a go - don't forget the thermos

 

[Saluki]

I do like a nice pootle. I am off for one in a while.

 

[Fab Foodie]

View attachment 390186

Mmm, my pootling diet may need some work though!

Looks about perfect.... apart from the choice of table-mat....