This blog has been given to us from our Guest Blogger Garry Cook
Cycling in a dreamland of undulating hills, strolling through a picturesque village and then
dining in some of the country's best restaurants.
I’m in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire’s at its most brilliantly rural. It’s also a destination for cyclists beyond compare.
A criss-crossing of fabulous country roads and Quiet Lanes, the staggeringly beautiful scenery make the area a honeypot for day-tripping cyclists and touring families.
Unlike the Lake District, just an hour further north, there are no major single site
destinations in the Ribble Valley like Lake Windermere, Levens Hall or Grizedale Forest.
Instead, there are miles and miles of glorious countryside, punctuated by picture-postcard villages like Dunsop Bridge, Chipping, Slaidburn and Waddington.
Those who should know rate the area highly. The Queen famously stated in her autobiography that she wanted to retire to the area, while Olympics cycling gold medal hero Sir Bradley Wiggins regularly trains here. And it’s easy to see why.
Cycling is undoubtedly the best way to experience the area. A mixture of flat touring roads and spectacular hilly climbs means the Ribble Valley rider is spoilt for choice.
Many cyclists visiting for the day use Whalley as a base. An hour from Manchester and situated conveniently off the A59, the road which links northern Lancashire to the M6, this busy village has ample free parking and some delightful cafes to refuel after a day in the saddle.
Heading north past the train station on Mitton Road (B6246) you are soon onto the country
lanes which make cycling so enjoyable.
For an easy day, head round Longridge Fell and Jeffrey Hill through Chaigley to Chipping or keep going north to the Inn At Whitewell, where The Queen has lunch when she is in the area, and on to Dunsop Bridge.
For the more adventurous keep going north past the Red Pump Inn at Bashall Eaves and beyond Browsholme Hall before taking a sharp right just after the bridge. You’ll recognise where to turn because the sign post points to Whitewell in both directions!
Up a short hill and turn right again, signposted three miles to Newton, and a long, steep hill is rewarded with views good enough to knock you off your bike. It’s here you will realise what the Ribble Valley is all about: lush green hills as far as the eye can see, the Trough of Bowland looming in the distance and the sort of up and down roads ahead of you which make cycling such a joy.
For those of you who want the perfect round trip, head to ‘the Trough’, as it is known locally, and stop at the cycle-friendly The Priory at Scorton. This is the perfect all-day ride.
But the hilly loop from Newton to Slaidburn, or the steep climb from Newton over Waddington Fell to the village of Waddington offers a shorter-distance - but very steep - test.
A favourite stop-off for cyclists is Puddleducks Café at Dunsop Bridge. Here you can enjoy a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich down by the river.
The steep climb from the Inn At Whitewell is not for the faint-hearted. And for those who
want an even tough test, the climb from Hodder Bridge, near Chaigley, up Jeffrey Hill is as difficult as it gets.
By the time you’ve done all that, the coffee and cake on offer in Whalley – I particularly love Benedicts on George Street – will taste better than ever.
Garry Cook
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