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Weather: Sunny
Stats: 72 miles, plus diversion of around 4 miles
Counties: Cheshire, Lancashire
GPS track map: Link here
All LEJOG cycling routes have the dilemma of how to negotiate the Liverpool-Manchester conurbation, and I am not aware of any route that totally avoids built up areas and busy roads. Our route started well with the first 15 miles on reasonably quiet roads, and passing the Anderton boat lift and crossing the Manchester ship canal on an impressive bridge.
We had a coffee stop just after the latter, and just after here our troubles began. The B5212 was closed for resurfacing. Nevertheless, our first few members were allowed through, but then the works foreman decided that all these bikes were getting in the way of his tarring operation, and banned us from proceding. The official diversion for cars was several miles and used busy roads. I was able to work out a shorter route on my mapping software which we took , but it involved some rough tracks. All this took us over an hour and quite a few more miles added on to an already long day.
The middle section of the route went through the town of Leigh and environs. I'm sure it's a nice enough place, but the roads were very busy. We grabbed a very late lunch in Chorley, and then had some substantial climbing to do over the shoulders of the Pennines, skirting Blackburn and eventually descending to Ribchester. Here the van was waiting for a much needed tea break, before we had to press on for another 10 miles to our hotel at Garstang. I finally got in at around 7pm, pretty tuckered out.
Next day
Weather: Sunny
Stats: 72 miles, plus diversion of around 4 miles
Counties: Cheshire, Lancashire
GPS track map: Link here
All LEJOG cycling routes have the dilemma of how to negotiate the Liverpool-Manchester conurbation, and I am not aware of any route that totally avoids built up areas and busy roads. Our route started well with the first 15 miles on reasonably quiet roads, and passing the Anderton boat lift and crossing the Manchester ship canal on an impressive bridge.
We had a coffee stop just after the latter, and just after here our troubles began. The B5212 was closed for resurfacing. Nevertheless, our first few members were allowed through, but then the works foreman decided that all these bikes were getting in the way of his tarring operation, and banned us from proceding. The official diversion for cars was several miles and used busy roads. I was able to work out a shorter route on my mapping software which we took , but it involved some rough tracks. All this took us over an hour and quite a few more miles added on to an already long day.
The middle section of the route went through the town of Leigh and environs. I'm sure it's a nice enough place, but the roads were very busy. We grabbed a very late lunch in Chorley, and then had some substantial climbing to do over the shoulders of the Pennines, skirting Blackburn and eventually descending to Ribchester. Here the van was waiting for a much needed tea break, before we had to press on for another 10 miles to our hotel at Garstang. I finally got in at around 7pm, pretty tuckered out.
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| Anderton boat lift, to lift boats from River Weaver to Trent and Mersey Canal |
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| On the bridge over the Manchester ship canal |
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| Negotiating rights of passage at the road closure |
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| Struggling around our improvised diversion |
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| On the fells above Ribchester |
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