Working up at Samlesbury this week and have the bike with me – rode Gisburn last night and hoping to get out again tonight but was wondering about finding some natural trails. Only got about an hour and a half for a ride so nothing epic needed! Had a look at Pendle Hill areas but it all seems to be footpaths..?

Longridge Fell is good fun, compact and plenty of hidden bits so great if you can ride with a local or if you’ve got a day to explore. (Strava can be helpful for finding the well-ridden routes).

Some great riding round the Trough of Bowland – Whitendale, Ouster Rake, Dunsop Breast, Beattrix Fell etc, and Waddington Fell has some decent riding from Pimlico side.

Pendle is a bit disappointing though…

If you get a full day, a great ride is to start from Dunsop Bridge, over Whitendale/Dunsop/Beatrix to Parrock Head/Laythom, over to Gizzy via Slaidburn, do a loop and head back.

That’ll wear you out!

Cheers for the suggestions – will check them out if I get more time, but unfortunately only have an hour and a half tonight!

+1 for Longridge Fell. Went up the other week for a bit of an exploration and was pleasantly surprised. Some of the cheeky bits are brilliant fun to ride quickly and the hidden stuff is pretty good! I went up on a blazing hot Sunday and only saw 3 walkers and they were all very pleasant and didn’t seem to mind sharing the paths.

I’d park near the woods if you can and go from there. I parked near the golf course and it was a quite peaty and grassy, possibly not ideal after a bit of rain.

Brilliant, thanks! Best place to park?

Edit; just seen, near the woods. Cheers!

I live locally so generally ride up from Longridge and onto the Fell at Cardwell Farm – that’s the grassy climb followed by the ride up alongside the wall to the Trig. It’s not a bad climb, even after rain – stay on the right of the wall though – it drains better.
There are 2 fire-road entrances, the Quarry near the top of Huntingdon Hall Lane or the one at the top of Kempel End. Both are a good starting point and once you get your bearings, you’ll be able to link a few climbs and descents together.

Checks in.

Keep your eyes open on the fire road into the forest from the quarry car park – proper dog poo alley 🙂

There are also some BW options that make a nice loop with a bit of road from Chipping. Leagram Hall down to Lickhurst Farm. Then through Lower Fence Wood and over back of Mellor Knoll. Up the Trough road, BW over Whin Fell – Ouster Rake (eek) – Brennands Farm and then back to Dunsop and Chipping on obvious (mostly tarmac) bridleways and road.

Anyone fancy a spin tonight then?

Well, good quick ride, though I hardly found any singletrack. Cheers to the couple I met on a GT and a Corsair walking the dogs – hope I didn’t waylay you too much!

Such beautiful scenery, but a lot of this: