Start (A). Follow the cycle straight ahead into Bowker’s A CIRCUIT FROM ORMSKIRK path down the side of Green Lane and follow this Distance approx. 33.8 km/ 21 miles the station car park. Keep to another crossroads on straight ahead at the 1st fork the B5197, and the Derby Clieves then R at T junction. The Arms pub at just over half- Hills path emerges to a suburban distance. Ormskirk A street by the gates of a Go SA at the crossroads residential home. Go L up into Mickering Lane and the street to T junction and follow it, passing under the Aughton turn L again. Follow the road railway, to the outskirts of downhill and out into open Aughton. Bear L here (not country. Turn R into Lathom sharp L into Beech Road). At C Town Lane then R again into a crossroads by a large pub, Primrose Hill Garden Castle Lane. Follow this to the West Tower (currently Green B Centre and coffee shop the A577 at Westhead. Go L, derelict), go SA into Swan (closed Mon, Tues) is 100m Lydiate then 1st R into School Lane. Lane. Cross the dual- along. Follow the road into carriageway A59 into the Bicker- After 1km go R on Vicarage the outskirts of Ormskirk. staffe Lane then 1st L (Wellfield continuation of Swan Lane. Look for Brighouse Close Lane). At its end go R then Maghull Follow the road round R on the L and just after M58 1st L, climbing gently past where it becomes Back passing it take the next a prominent ‘flying saucer’ There are no major climbs on this circuit, though Lane then swing L on Sudell narrow, apparently unnamed (actually a water-tower). Go road on the L. From its end Clieves Hills can feel surprisingly testing. However , Lane. At T junction turn R straight across the A570, on Pygon’s Hill Lane. Go up come out to a pedestrian there are plenty of undulations and twists and turns then immediately fork L. Go to a bridge over the canal. crossing on the A59. On to keep up the variety and a couple of places where R at Cropper’s Lane and 500m further on bear R the far side is Coronation the views are remarkably extensive. follow it to T junction. Go at a junction with triangles Park. Follow the marked L (Long Lane) and follow it of grass into Eager Lane. cycle route through the Arriving by train: Ormskirk can be reached by trains straight ahead to reach the 22.5km/ 14 miles park, skirting the pond, to from either Liverpool or Preston. In case of mechanical A506. 10.5km/ 6.5 miles. run alongside the exit from problems, or bad weather, it’s easy to bale out at Town C. Pass some old sluices Morrison’s supermarket car- Green, on the Liverpool- Ormskirk line. B. Turn L and then 1st and up to a swing bridge R, passing a converted over the canal. Continue to park. Join the exit lane and Arriving by car: Parking in Ormskirk is difficult, with windmill and over the T junction with the B5195. go R at the traffic lights. many car-parks limited to 2 hours, and it might be better to M58 into Bickerstaffe. Just Turn R then 1st L on Clieves Follow the road over the start from Town Green. past the church follow the Hills Lane, which gives the railway (NB public toilets a Public Toilets: In the centre of Ormskirk. road round R then steadily biggest climb on the route. short way down Moorgate, Refreshments: Pubs at regular intervals; cafe at garden downhill with views ahead Panoramic views encompass just before the railway centre near end. over Liverpool to the Welsh the Lake District as well as bridge) and at the next set hills. As the road levels the Welsh hills. Turn L at of traffic lights go L. At the out bear R into New Way, T junction onto Fir Tree next junction go L again, signed ‘Unsuitable for Heavy Lane. Go straight ahead at re-crossing the railway, then Goods Vehicles’. Continue, a crossroads then descend, follow the one-way system with a slight dog-leg where now with views of the R along Railway Approach. New Way crosses Back Lancashire moors. As the At its end go R, crossing Lane, to T junction. Turn R road levels out turn R onto the railway a third time, and and re-cross the M58 to Narrow Lane. Continue then L into Station Approach reach a cross-roads. Go to T junction and turn R. to finish.