Bowland

A scenic tour over the Pennines to Settle, return over the Bowland Fells with great views of the Three Peaks and then Pendle Hill.

The start is Denshaw Community Centre where there is limited parking, but plenty of additional space on surrounding streets.

From there it is left and left straight into the first climb of the day up to Buckstones that feels like you are heading into the Alps.  A fast decent through Barkisland followed by a steep decent into Sowerby Bridge.

The first control is in Luddenden just before the steepest climb of the day Stocks Lane which takes you up to Mount Tabor and Wainstalls before passing Halifax sailing club (as seen in Happy Valley) and the drop down to Oxenhope.

From Oxenhope you head to Stanbury and the run over the moors to Laneshawbridge, with Pendle Hill in the distance, which you will see up close later on.  Onward through Barnoldswick and Wiggleworth to Settle for the next control with its cafes and a bike shop, if you need it.

Next is 30K along the valley on quiet lanes to Wray for the control before the turn for home and the biggest climb of the day up to the Cross of Greet.  What follows is a glorious roller-coaster of a ride across the forest of Bowland down to Slaidburn and a well earned rest at the Riverside Tearooms for the control. 

From Slaidburn we head over to Chatburn at the foot of Pendle Hill for the climb up to Barley where you take the left hand Barley New Road to reach Jinny Lane where if your quick you can call in at the last operating Clarion House for one of their famous pints of tea or coffee.

From Pendle Hill you drop down to the Colne valley before climbing past Nelson Golf Club to the final control at Briercliffe.

You are now on the home stretch, down through Todmorden and Littleborough where swinging under the viaduct left and right you get to visit Hollingworth Lake, the Weavers Seaport with its arcades and cafes.  Dropping to Milnrow and then Newhey takes you to the final climb of the day up Wicken Hall Clough before the drop to Denshaw and Arrivée back at Denshaw Community Centre.