Preston to Skipton for Le Tour via the Trough

[PK99]

I'm planning to stay with a friend in Skipton to see the tour pass their front door!

I fancy combining this with a ride from Preston through the Trough of Bowland, its only 50 miles so could be a day ride but I fancy stopping a night, maybe at the Inn at Whitewell.

Do any locals have advice on routes?

 

[ColinJ]

It's a lovely area for cycling and there are endless possibilities for long, challenging routes. Are you thinking of a 50 miler to Whitewell, stopping, then doing another decent ride the next day, or then just taking a more direct route to Skipton? (I.e. do you want a 50-ish miler to Whitewell from Preston via the Trough, then something similar to Skipton?)

 

[PK99]

It's a lovely area for cycling and there are endless possibilities for long, challenging routes. Are you thinking of a 50 miler to Whitewell, stopping, then doing another decent ride the next day, or then just taking a more direct route to Skipton? (I.e. do you want a 50-ish miler to Whitewell from Preston via the Trough, then something similar to Skipton?)

A 50 miler to Whitewell would be perfect, then a more direct, but still scenic, route to Skipton. Hills are not a problem.

TIA!

 

[ColinJ]

Are you starting from the railway station in Preston? I was going to ride from there yesterday, but was put off by bad weather. I had already worked out what looked a nice route out of Preston on the 'Guild Wheel' cycle path beside the Ribble. My plan was to follow that as far as the B6243 Longridge Rd.

I haven't actually ridden that yet, but people who have told me that it is very nice.

For you, I was thinking - turn left onto Fishergate by the station. Follow that down Fishergate hill then left onto Broadgate to get on the Preston Guild Wheel cycle path and follow that anticlockwise. Eventually that comes out past the crematorium onto the B6243. Follow that towards Longridge, but turn left off it at Grimsargh. No point in going into Longridge itself, so head north towards Whitechapel.

Turn for Lyndeth before Whitechapel to get on the narrow clockwise one-way singletrack road round Beacon Fell. There is a visitor centre with a cafe up there, and you could detour up to the viewpoint to check out the scenery.

Come off Beacon Fell to the NW and do a steep descent to the bridge over the Brock at Brockmill, then the steep little climb back up from it

Head north to Oakenclough round the western flanks of the big hills, with flat lands of the Wyre district further to the west.

Go NW through Street to Five Lane Ends, then NNE to Quernmore. Turn R at the crossroads and do the stiff climb up to the viewpoint at Jubilee Tower.

Head SE from the tower to rejoin the road below the Fells at Marshaw and continue round over the gorgeous Trough of Bowland to Dunsop Bridge. Whitewell is about 2.5 miles further on, to the south.

That's about 45 miles, with some significant lumps, and some lovely scenery.

I could knock up a GPX file for you if you have GPS?

I'll have a think about a nice route to Skipton.


.

 

[Blue Hills]

If he doesn't mind hills Colin you can send him over to Cow Ark for starters.

 

[ColinJ]

If he doesn't mind hills Colin you can send him over to Cow Ark for starters.

Without any warm up ... that's just cruel!

I was thinking of the longer and easier way to Cow Ark along the old roman road ...

 

[PK99]

Are you starting from the railway station in Preston? I was going to ride from there yesterday, but was put off by bad weather. I had already worked out what looked a nice route out of Preston on the 'Guild Wheel' cycle path beside the Ribble. My plan was to follow that as far as the B6243 Longridge Rd.

I haven't actually ridden that yet, but people who have told me that it is very nice.

For you, I was thinking - turn left onto Fishergate by the station. Follow that down Fishergate hill then left onto Broadgate to get on the Preston Guild Wheel cycle path and follow that anticlockwise. Eventually that comes out past the crematorium onto the B6243. Follow that towards Longridge, but turn left off it at Grimsargh. No point in going into Longridge itself, so head north towards Whitechapel.

Turn for Lyndeth before Whitechapel to get on the narrow clockwise one-way singletrack road round Beacon Fell. There is a visitor centre with a cafe up there, and you could detour up to the viewpoint to check out the scenery.

Come off Beacon Fell to the NW and do a steep descent to the bridge over the Brock at Brockmill, then the steep little climb back up from it

Head north to Oakenclough round the western flanks of the big hills, with flat lands of the Wyre district further to the west.

Go NW through Street to Five Lane Ends, then NNE to Quernmore. Turn R at the crossroads and do the stiff climb up to the viewpoint at Jubilee Tower.

Head SE from the tower to rejoin the road below the Fells at Marshaw and continue round over the gorgeous Trough of Bowland to Dunsop Bridge. Whitewell is about 2.5 miles further on, to the south.

That's about 45 miles, with some significant lumps, and some lovely scenery.

I could knock up a GPX file for you if you have GPS?

I'll have a think about a nice route to Skipton.


.

sounds spot on - I'm from Preston (40 years ago) so the place names are familiar. A gpx would be great, i use a gamin 800.
yes the idea will be to ride from the station

 

[Blue Hills]

actually Colin although it's my historical patch and I still ride that way sometimes (it is wondrous) I wouldn't mind the GPX as well.

 

[Spinney]

Used to cycle occasionally from Carnforth to a friend who lived near Oakenclough - I can vouch for the good views westwards from that bit of road, and the general wonderfulness of the Trough of Bowland as a whole. Several cafes on route - and I seem to remember zillions of ducks if you stop on the green at Dunsop Bridge!

Edit: and if I stopped faffing around on CycleChat and got on with my work instead, I might manage enough free time to go back up there for some more riding!

 

[ColinJ]

Ok, I'll put the GPX up tomorrow.

I have also worked out a suggested Whitewell to Skipton route: Whitewell, Lees, Roman Rd, Cow Ark, Micklehurst, Kitchens, Waddington (Country Kitchen there is one of our regular cafe stops), Chatburn, Downham, Twiston Moor, Lanefield, Blacko, Stone Edge, Colne Edge, Salter Syke, Black Lane Ends, Elslack Moor, Carleton-in-Craven, Skipton. 30 scenic miles, very lumpy in the mid-section after an easy beginning.

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes Dunsop Bridge is a fine place.

If the OP fancied a quiet rest a small detour to that small church reputedly built with racehorse winnings is recommended - just open the door and switch on the light - even a rabid atheist like me likes it. (also useful if it's chucking it down)

Nice traditional Moorhouses pub in Blacko in a terrace of houses. Rising Sun?

 

[ColinJ]

Ok, here's my suggested route to Whitewell. The road sections of the GPX file will be accurate enough to navigate by. The section on the Guild Wheel path is roughly correct, but it isn't shown on my OS map so I can't plot that section accurately. That will not be a problem because it will be obvious on the ground and it will be well signposted. I have attached the GPX file below.

Here's a simple map:

Profile:

Guild Wheel page and Guild Wheel map PDF.

I'm just doing the Whitewell to Skipton route now and will post that below soon.

 

[wiggydiggy]

If anyone wants an off road route BTW Leeds/Liverpool canal goes through Skipton and can be joined at Blackburn. Various options for Preston>Blackburn, most direct is on road using A675 through Walton and join canal at Hoghton or (I did this) quick train Pres>Black and off you go.

 

[ColinJ]

The Whitewell to Skipton via Blacko GPX file is attached below. I have just 'travelled' the whole route in the Google Street View car and it lovely. At least it will be in sunshine ... I wouldn't fancy it in foul weather, but we will not be getting that for the Yorkshire TdF stages, so not to worry!

Simple map:

Profile:

That's all folks!

 

[Blue Hills]

Thanks for those Colin - some of it familiar, particularly that alarming spike at the end of the first one, followed by swift descent.

Can't see on a casual look how close that gets to Colne but that features:

The cheapest Wspoons I've ever been in.

and the nearby grave of Wallace Hartley (Spoons named after him) with a really nice view.

Hope to ride that way again soonish.