Looking for a big day out, ideally starting in/ around Rossendale on Saturday. MTL was my first thought as it’s signposted etc, but remember all the gates from rides of sections in previous years.
Assume it’s in good condition at the moment with the dry weather, but is there anything else I should ride instead? Vaguely remember a route being talked about on here as the tour of the towers (Darwen, Peel, plus others?) but could do with a gpx as my local knowledge is poor having moved away 14 years ago.
MTL is fairly straightforward and should be dry although we've had some heavy rain round here lately. 5-6 hours depending on your fitness. Stock up on water where you can as there are a few remote bits.
By yourself? Alllow an extra hour for the gates. I know people joke about it, but there must be more than 100 on the route and it's a right pain.
There's a nice route up robin hoods, round to entwistle, up to Darwen tower, over andc round witton weavers way and then back to entwistle and round the horseshoe back to rammy.
It's not technical and there is a bit of road down into Darwen, but it's about 35 miles.
You could add the golf ball and kings highway to make it longer
Stock up on water where you can as there are a few remote bits.
I remember doing it one year when it was really sunny. About 8 of us all ran out of water. Thankfully the golf club filled all our camel backs up.
although we’ve had some heavy rain round here
I was at widdop on Sunday. It was wet and it's had a few hard rain storms since but it's soaking into the ground rather than turning muddy.
By yourself? Alllow an extra hour for the gates.
Yes, so many gates and last time I went not all of them opened and you have to lift your bike over them.
I think my preferred way is clockwise. Long easy climbs and fun descents.
I think my preferred way is clockwise. Long easy climbs and fun descents
Lol I thought clockwise was long grinding climbs and descents that were over way too soon. YMMV! Anticlockwise the climbs are hard but over quick with a long descent as a reward - this direction is my preference! Either way I prefer to do it in one long day, add another hour for getting lost if you've not done it before.
Lol I thought clockwise was long grinding climbs and descents that were over way too soon.
I guess it just depends on the wind!
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/mary-townley-loop-clockwise-or-anticlockwise/
