Hi Bob.
As ASC1951 suggested, you could take the A-road through Colne and head for Silsden. That would be the easiest to navigate and if you avoided the busiest times of day, might not be too bad. I also thought of proposing the route mentioned by Mooster - those are very nice roads, but you are actually starting from Crosby so you'd be going a bit out of your way. I might as well give you my suggestion too, although it sounds as though you might have already set off! Blimey - more suggestions are coming in as I write this!
There is a youth hostel at Haworth which is on my route. It would be a strenuous 80 miles to get to that in one day, but that would leave you a much easier hilly 25 miler for your second day and you wouldn't have to carry camping gear.
I plotted a rough route from Crosby to Leyland on quiet roads and that looks to be about 33 miles. I'm sure that you can work that bit out for yourself anyway.
My map shows a cycleway leaving Leyland eastwards on the B5248. It crosses the M6 and goes on to Whittle-le-Woods. My route then passes under the M61 and meanders NE through Brindle, Hoghton, Samlesbury Bottoms, to Mellor.
The cycleway then heads in a more easterly direction through the outskirts of Wilpshire and over a couple of nice hills (I rode over them recently) through York (the village, not the city!) to Whalley. There's a nice cafe at Whalley abbey. I'm sure that the abbey would be signposted.
Passing through Whalley, climb up to traffic lights at the junction with the A680. Directly opposite the lights there is a car park at Whalley picnic centre. Toilets and drinking water can be found there, and usually an icecream van by the gate.
You could take the A-road to Padiham, but it would be a shame because that is busy, and there is a very nice quiet alternative scenic route. Turn right at the lights (or left as you exit the picnic centre), then almost immediately take the lane bearing left off the main road. That takes you 4 miles round the back of Read to Padiham.
Head towards Burnley on the A671, but turn right onto the A646 on the outskirts of Padiham.
It's basically a long drag from Padiham up through the traffic lights at Rose Grove. Beyond that there's a nasty steepish climb up to the traffic lights at Manchester Road. Descend the other side and stay on the A646 through the junction with the A671 and 3/4 mile further on you come to Walk Mill. Turn left and climb a steep little hill up to Mereclough. Turn left towards Burnley, go past the Kettledrum and about 1/4 mile further on turn right for Worsthorne.
Eventually climb to a crossroads at Haggate and turn right there. Descend into the village then after a long draggy climb, bear left (note the World War II pillbox in the field above left!) and descend to Coldwell. The activity centre there has a good cafe and is open most days until about 4 pm.
Climb to the crossroads and turn right. after that it is up and down and round to Trawden village. I usually take the right turn out of the village and do the steep climb over to Laneshaw Bridge. The easier way to get there would be to pass through Trawden on the B6250. take a right onto the A6068, then turn right at Laneshaw Bridge.
After that it is a long climb up to the moors, including some steep bits. Follow the signs for Oakworth, and from there drop down into a steep-sided valley and grovel your way back up to Haworth. The YH is in the Mytholmes area of the town. It would be quite a nice place to stop for the night.
From Haworth I would climb up to Harden, then descend to Bingley. There is a steep hill to climb to get to Menston and on to Otley. I'd take the B6451 out of Otley, cross over to the B6161 and that takes you over to Harrogate.
Phew!
I think all of the suggestions are fine. Just don't go via the A59!!! Enjoy the ride.
Think I'll have to invest in that software..
