Cycle Rides in West

All rides start from Railway Stations Cycle Rides in

Banks

Croston Leisure Lakes M6 Eccleston

Rufford Bescar Lane

New Lane Travelling by Train. Bikes and trains are natural partners; - Wigan - Southport better for the environment and, (Northern Rail) often, more convenient than using a Trains run approximately every 30 Standish car. This is certainly true in West minutes Monday - Saturday and Lancashire.The area is criss-crossed hourly on Sundays. (Northern Rail). Ashurst’s by rail lines, giving many options for All trains continue to Manchester. Beacon place-to-place rides as well as circular There are also connections at Wigan routes. Many of the stations are in to the West Coast Main Line. Aughton Lines Path rural locations, allowing you to start a ride without doing battle with Ormskirk - Preston (Northern Rail) Town Orrell urban traffic.They also offer ‘bale-out’ Trains run approximately every hour Green Upholland options on planned longer rides, e.g. Monday - Saturday. No Sunday Lydiate Wigan in case of mechanical problems or service. For further information M58 bad weather. telephone 0845 6001159 or visit There are three main routes. Bicycles www.northernrail.org are carried free of charge on all these routes. The National Rail Enquiry number is In the 19th century, the Industrial Most of the district is flat. Large areas have 0845 748 4950 or visit Revolution brought spectacular growth to few trees or hedges and the land stretches Liverpool - Ormskirk (Merseyrail). www.nationalrail.co.uk the towns and cities of eastern almost uninterrupted to the horizon. Trains run every 15 minutes Monday Lancashire.The west of the county It makes for easy cycling (except when - Saturday and every 30 minutes on became the main source of food for these there’s a breeze against you!). Sundays.There is no need to reserve A Circuit from Appley Bridge growing urban areas, and West Lancashire There’s variety in the east, where the two cycle spaces but customers are remains predominantly rural to this day, ridges of High Moor and Ashurst’s Beacon requested to try to avoid travelling A Circuit from New Lane with just two main towns, Ormskirk and flank the Douglas valley, and the landscape on busy peak hour services, if Skelmersdale, and a scattering of smaller is more pastoral.The district is easily possible. For further information A Circuit from Ormskirk towns and villages. reached from surrounding urban centres telephone 0151 236 7676 or visit like Liverpool,Wigan, Chorley and Preston, www.merseyrail.org A Grand our of West Lancashire and good rail links add to the options.

Canal Towpath (Burscough~Appley Bridge)

KeyKey Traffic-free Cycling The Cheshire Lines Path The main routes in this leaflet follow quiet The Cheshire Lines Path follows part of a A Circuit from Appley Bridge lanes as far as possible but busier roads still former railway line between Liverpool and have to be crossed and occasionally followed Southport, giving traffic-free riding across the Distance approx. 27.4 km/17 miles for a short distance. For those who would wide open spaces of the mosslands. Rufford prefer completely traffic-free routes there are For those arriving by train, the best station to Mawdesley B Take the next left on Back Lane and into several possibilities. start from is Ainsdale, on the present-day Andertons , emerging next to the pub. B Liverpool - Southport line, from where the Bispham Mill Go left and immediately right into Green Lane. At T junction go the left on B5246 then To wpath Cycling h 1st right. After 2km take 1st right on Wood Hoscar Lane and follow it round left into Bleak Lane, The Leeds-Liverpool Canal runs Parbold through the area and its which leads to a level crossing. Just after this towpath offers some fine cycling C fork left. At a 5-way junction go right and Newburgh A opportunities. For more then left into Hollowford Lane. Follow this to Ashurst’s information visit www. Beacon a swing bridge over the canal and then bear waterscape.com/cycling left on Back Lane. Follow this into Newburgh The best route starts from and a junction with the A5209 at a mini- Appley Bridge. If you get the roundabout.Turn right. (Post office and train back from Burscough A fine varied circuit, taking in the rolling hills Newburgh tea-rooms at this junction). In 50m Bridge or New Lane it’s and valleys in the east of the area as well as a turn left into Tabby’s Nook. downhill at the start and there’s taste of the flatlands of the west. If it isn’t hilly no corresponding uphill later. enough, Ashurst’s Beacon can conveniently be C Turn right at T junction and begin a steady As a one-way ride it’s about 10.5 km/ 6.5 miles route is well-signed (follow Trans-Pennine Trail added to the agenda. climb. Just over the top turn left on Beacon to Burscough Bridge. signs) on suburban streets and cycle paths Lane by the Skelmersdale boundary sign. At a From the station emerge to the road and turn before joining the Cheshire Lines proper.You Arriving by train: Appley Bridge is on the large roundabout take the 1st exit into the left, down the hill. Cross the canal and turn can make a one-way ride of it by catching Wigan - Southport line.The route also passes continuation of Beacon Lane and climb to T immediately right (parking here for those another train from Old Roan back into close to Hoscar, on the same line. junction opposite St Michael’s Church in arriving by car) to join the towpath. Follow it Liverpool. For those arriving by car there are Dalton.Turn left on Higher Lane and descend, past some locks. At Parbold it’s necessary to several access points, notably Arriving by car: Parking by the canal, just then turn 1st right on Hillock Lane. After a cross the canal on a road bridge.The towpath Moss and the former station site at Lydiate. below the start. steep descent turn right at T junction and resumes on the other side. follow the lane for about 2.5km to another T Continue along the towpath. After approx 9km Start A junction.Turn left and descend to Appley (5.5 miles) the towpath rises sharply on a Leisure Lakes Follow the station approach out to the road Bridge; the station entrance is a short way up steep little hump-backed bridge over the Leisure Lakes, at Brow, near Tarleton, has and turn right, up the hill. Climb steadily for the hill ahead. Tar leton branch of the canal. Continue straight a permanent off-road circuit which hosts about 1km, levelling out shortly before the ahead into Burscough Bridge. mountain bike races during the winter months. A5209 (pub on the corner). Go straight Just after passing under the There are races for all categories including across and soon climb some more, then A59 there’s access into a side- novices.There is also a large bicycle shop on follow the road as it swings round to the street; the train station is just site. Follow signs off the A565/ B5426. For right.Turn left into Courage Low Lane. Follow about 300m further up the more details visit www.leisurelakesbikes.com or this and its continuation as Toogood Lane into main road. phone 01772 813446. Andertons Mill, then turn left on Bentley Alternatively, continue along Lane.Take the next right on Moody Lane, the towpath approx another Maps keep left at a fork then go left at T junction, 1.5km to a swing-bridge by a into the outskirts of Mawdesley, and straight Most of West Lancashire is shown on ahead to Cedar Farm (excellent cafe). pub.Turn right and New Lane OS Explorer 285 Southport and Chorley station is approx 500m up the 1:25,000. The map shows some road names in lane. rural areas. Wide Open Mosslands: After 1km turn right at a crossroads where the main A Circuit from New Lane route initially appears to go Distance approx. 37.6 km/23.5 miles straight ahead, and after another 500m turn right Windmill Farm Rufford Start A again on Langley Rd. At the B Pool Bescar Lane From the station cycle south (lined with next crossroads go straight Hey D houses) then turn first right (sign for Martin ahead into Crabtree Lane A w Lane Inn, Cycleway sign). Follow the lane to a T (shortcut to New Lane Shirdley junction and turn right (Bescar). Keep straight Station goes left here). Hill Short-cut ahead at a crossroads then go right at a T Cross a swing bridge by the A570 junction (Churchtown). Cross a level crossing. Slipway PH and keep The road narrows to single track with passing straight ahead to a T 7 4 C 1 places.Take 1st left, go over another level junction where turn left. 5 A crossing and on to Pool Hey and a T junction 17.1 miles. Ormskirk with A570 (6 miles) If it’s a flat ride you’re looking for, this is the D Turn 1st right into one. It is worth saving for a calm day, however, B Turn left; there are separate cycle tracks Curlew Lane.The landscape here is Enjoy your cycling alongside the busy main road. In 500m turn very open.Turn sharp left into Mere as there’s little shelter from the wind that Cycling is meant to be fun. Many people, however, right onto Turning Lane. Go right at a T Lane (marked as Unsuitable for Heavy sometimes scours across the wide open don’t enjoy it as much as they should, because junction on the B5243 then 1st left and round Goods Vehicles). Follow it across mosslands. Once much of this land lay under they are riding bikes that are the wrong size or into the small village of . As the pancake-flat country, all once part of the waters of a vast lake, of which the present aren’t correctly set up for them. Any decent bike road bends left turn right onto Renacres Lane. Martin Mere.Take the 1st left just Martin Mere is but a tiny remnant. shop should help you set your bike up properly. At a T junction turn left on New Cut Lane after a ‘40’ sign onto another bumpy For most of the way the surroundings are Growing children will need to have their saddles (signed to Ormskirk). A bridge over an old but ruler-straight lane, to a T junction rural, but there is a short section through an raised regularly, perhaps every month railway here is probably the biggest climb of at its far end, where a sign discloses industrial estate, which isn’t pretty but is Of course, safety is equally important. the route. that it’s called Cross Meanygate. preferable to the busy A59. Just after this Wear bright-coloured or reflective clothing. Ride At a T junction turn left on the A5147 for Turn left past Windmill Farm and then there’s a possible short-cut back to New Lane in single file on narrow or busy roads: keep left but 200m then 1st right.Take great care at this Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands station, which brings the total distance down to not right in the gutter.Take particular care at right junction, stopping if necessary, as much of the Tr ust centre (both have cafes). Soon 26.4 km/ 16.5 miles. turns: if necessary stop on the left and wait for a traffic moves far too fast through the village. after this turn right (Cycleway sign) break in traffic. And it’s always wise to wear a Cross a steep little hump-backed bridge then and New Lane Station is about 1km Arriving by train: New Lane is on the Wigan - helmet: adults should set a good example here. Southport line.The route can also easily be keep straight ahead, passing turnings to right away. reached from Ormskirk or Burscough. and past a garden centre (tea-room).

Arriving by car: Informal parking opportunities C Where the road bends right just past Asmall at many places along the route. Hall, take the lane on the left. At a T junction turn right onto the A570 for 400m then take Public Toilets: None on the route. 1st left, just past a petrol station, into Talkin Lane. Go straight ahead at the next crossroads Refreshments: Several pubs and cafes along into Blackacre Lane.Turn right at a T junction the route. onto Pippin Street.Turn left at a roundabout and wind through Burscough Industrial Estate. Attractions: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Martin Mere;Windmill Animal Farm (familiar and exotic animals, miniature railway) M6

A Circuit from Ormskirk At a crossroads by a large pub, the West Distance approx. 33.8 km/21 miles Tower (currently derelict), go straight ahead into Swan Lane. Cross the dual-carriageway Start A Clieves A59 into the continuation of Swan Lane. Hills Follow the cycle path down the side of the A Follow the road round right where it station car park. Keep straight ahead at the 1st becomes Back Lane then swing left on Sudell fork then right at T junction.The path emerges Lane. At T junction turn right on Pygon’s Hill A577 to a suburban street by the gates of a Aughton Lane. Go up to a bridge over the canal. 500m residential home. Go left up the street to T A further on bear right at a junction with 57 C A59 Town 0 junction and turn left again. Follow the road triangles of grass into Eager Lane. 22.5km/ 14 Green B downhill and out into open country.Turn right miles Lydiate into Lane then right again into Castle Lane. Follow this to the A577 at Westhead. Bickerstaffe C Pass some old sluices and up to a swing The Lancashire Cycleway Go left, then 1st right into School Lane. After Maghull M58 bridge over the canal. Continue to T junction This figure-8 route takes in much of 1km go right on Vicarage Lane then 1st left with the B5195.Turn right then 1st left on the best cycling the county has to There are no major climbs on this circuit, (Wellfield Lane). At its end go right then 1st Clieves Hills Lane, which gives the biggest climb offer.The northern and southern though Clieves Hills can feel surprisingly testing. left, climbing gently past a prominent ‘flying on the route. Panoramic views encompass the loops, which meet at Whalley in the However, there are plenty of undulations and saucer’ (actually a water-tower). Go straight Lake District as well as the Welsh hills.Turn left Ribble Valley, are each around twists and turns to keep up the variety and a across the A570, then immediately fork left. at T junction onto Fir Tree Lane. Go straight 225 km/140 miles in length. couple of places where the views are Go right at Cropper’s Lane and follow it to T ahead at a crossroads then descend, now with surprisingly extensive. junction. Go left (Long Lane) and follow it views of the Lancashire moors. As the road straight ahead to reach the A506. 10.5km/ 6.5 levels out turn right onto Narrow Lane. Arriving by train: Ormskirk can be reached by miles. Continue to T junction and turn right. Primrose trains from either Liverpool or Preston. In case Hill Garden Centre and coffee shop (closed of mechanical problems, or bad weather, it’s B Turn left and then 1st right, passing a Mon,Tues) is 100m along. Follow the road into easy to bale out at Town Green, on the converted windmill and over the M58 into the outskirts of Ormskirk. Look for Brighouse Liverpool- Ormskirk line. Bickerstaffe. Just past the church follow the Close on the left and just after passing it take road round right then steadily downhill with the next narrow, apparently unnamed road on Arriving by car: Parking in Ormskirk is views ahead over Liverpool to the Welsh hills. the left. From its end come out to a pedestrian difficult, with many car-parks limited to 2 hours, As the road levels out bear right into New crossing on the A59. On the far side is and it might be better to start from Town Way, signed ‘Unsuitable for Heavy Goods Coronation Park. Follow the marked cycle Green. Vehicles’. Continue, with a slight dog-leg where route through the park, skirting the pond, to New Way crosses Back Lane, to T junction. run alongside the exit from Morrison’s Public Toilets: In the centre of Ormskirk. Turn right and re-cross the M58 to reach a supermarket car-park. Join the exit lane and go cross-roads. Go straight ahead into Bowker’s right at the traffic lights. Refreshments: Pubs at regular intervals; cafe at Green Lane and follow this to another Follow the road over the railway (NB public garden centre near end. crossroads on the B5197, and the Derby Arms toilets a short way down Moorgate, just before pub at just over half-distance. the railway bridge) and at the next set of traffic There is a guidebook by Jon Sparks, Go straight ahead at the crossroads into lights go left. At the next junction go left again, published by Cicerone Press. Mickering Lane and follow it, passing under the re-crossing the railway, then follow the one-way For a West Lancashire ride based on railway, to the outskirts of Aughton. Bear left system right along Railway Approach. At its end the Cycleway route see the here (not sharp left into Beech Road). go right, crossing the railway a third time, and following pages of this leaflet. then left into Station Approach to finish. Turn left and soon follow the road round To wn Green to New Lane A Grand Tour of West Lancashire right and begin the climb onto High Moor - ~16.6 km/10.3 miles welcome pub (Rigbye Arms) at top. Continue Cross over the railway and continue into Distance approx. 60.8 km/37.8 miles to T junction and turn right. Continue to Aughton (several pubs).Turn right at the meet the A5209. village green, pass the church and follow the Cross the A road and begin a long descent lane to the dual carriageway A59. Cross, turn into Appley Bridge. Just before the bottom, a right along cycle track for a short distance Continuation of lane on the left leads to Appley Bridge then go left. At T junction go right on B5195, Cycleway station.The next stage goes straight ahead. then 1st left into Fir Tree Lane. Continue straight ahead for 3km along the ridge of Appley Bridge to Town Green Clieves Hills, swinging left near the bottom of Continuation ~18.1 km/11.2 miles the descent. of Cycleway From the station cross the canal and river At a ‘Give Way’ on a bend turn right, then and begin a long climb to . PH (Star right again into Asmall Lane.Turn left at end New Lane Inn) as the road levels out briefly. Follow the into Northmoor Lane, then next right just road round then turn right into Farley Lane before a canal bridge. Go right again at T and resume the ascent, finishing on a sunken junction into Morris Lane and on to Pinfold. lane through woods.Turn right at T junction Cross A570 into Smithy Lane and follow it to and follow the road more easily along the Heaton’s Bridge.Turn left at T junction onto crest of the Ashurst’s Beacon ridge, with the B5242, over the canal then 1st right into views over Skelmersdale, Liverpool, the Lane. Wirral and the Clwydian Hills, in Wales.There Take the next right into Merscar Lane. After are two pubs along the summit stretch. two right-angle bends this runs parallel to the A fast descent leads to a sharp right-hand canal. At T junction turn left into New Lane and bend. Immediately after this turn left, and over the level crossing just by the station. descend more gently to a roundabout.Take the fourth exit, then at T junction turn left New Lane to Rufford towards Skelmersdale. Just before the next ~15.4 km/9.6 miles This tour, based on the route of the Lancashire Public Toilets: None on the route. main junction turn right onto a narrow lane Follow the road north-east from the station Cycleway, takes in most of West Lancashire, and follow it to its end near a large (Marsh Moss Lane). At T junction turn left on from the hills in the east to the levels in the Refreshments: There are numerous pubs and roundabout. Continue in the same direction, Tar lscough Lane. Follow it past the Wildfowl west. It passes the stations at Rufford, Appley several cafes along the route. Many of these then at T junction turn right into Spa Lane. and Wetlands Trust Centre at Martin Mere and, Bridge,Town Green and New Lane so can be will be mentioned at the appropriate point. At the next crossroads, by the Plough Inn, go about 1km further on,Windmill Animal Farm. started at whichever is most convenient and is straight ahead into Dick’s Lane. At the village Continue to T junction with the B5246. Go left described in corresponding sections. Attractions: Ashurst’s Beacon (country walks, of Westhead turn right onto the A577 then for another 2km to , where the road panoramic views);Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, 1st left into School Lane. After 1km go right makes a sharp bend left.Turn right into Mere Arriving by train: As mentioned above, there Martin Mere;Windmill Animal Farm (familiar on Vicarage Lane then 1st left (Wellfield Brow Lane. After about 1km take a minor road are several stations on the route. Appley and exotic animals, miniature railway); Rufford Lane). At its end go right then 1st left, on the right, marked ‘unsuitable for wide Bridge and New Lane are on the Wigan - Old Hall (magnificent sixteenth-century house). climbing gently past a prominent ‘flying vehicles’, just before a group of glass-houses. Southport line.Town Green is on the saucer’ water-tower. Follow the lane to its end at the A59. Liverpool- Ormskirk line and Rufford is on the Rufford - Appley Bridge Go straight across the A570, then bear right Go straight across into the tiny village of Ormskirk - Preston line. ~10.7 km/6.6 miles (sign to Aughton Park). Follow this road, , turn left and then 1st right by the post Follow the B5246 east from the station. keeping straight ahead at a crossroads on the box. Now cross over the canal: this is the Arriving by car: There is a car-park at Turn left on Daub Lane (tea-room at junction). outskirts of Aughton Park. Go left on the Tar leton branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Ashurst’s Beacon (west of the summit) and Go right at T junction and right again at the B5197 on the edge of Town Green, then 1st Canal. Follow the towpath past Rufford Old informal parking opportunities at many places next. Follow lane through Bispham Green right into Town Green Lane, reaching Town Hall and at next bridge come up to the road along the route. (pub) to its end at T-junction. Green Station in about 500m. and turn left to Rufford station. Cycle Routes in Ormskirk and Skelmersdale

Both Ormskirk and Skelmersdale have a Acknowledgments number of dedicated cycle routes and there Research, text, photographs and maps are plans to improve them further. by Jon Sparks. Thanks to Bernie Carter for company on most Ormskirk of the rides. New cycle paths have been opened across Part funded by the West Lancashire Coronation Park and serving the railway Community Rail Partnership. station. Both of these are used in the Ormskirk Mapping based on Ordnance Survey ride (pages 8-9).There are plans to improve mapping ©Crown Copyright. cycle access in the town centre. Lancashire County Council Licence Nº 100023320 2005 Not to scale, not all roads are shown. Skelmersdale A comprehensive network of cycle routes is being developed, radiating out of the town COMMUNITY centre, and including links to Beacon Country IL Park and to Dalton, which allows connections PA R T to the route of the Lancashire Cycleway (pages 10-11) and to the Appley Bridge circuit (p5).

Merseyside For free leaflet on cycle rides from Merseyrail Stations “Merseytravel Rideabout” guide ring Please follow the British Waterways Cycling 0151 330 1066 Code when riding on canal towpaths

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