Rooley Moor Roughstuff

The route is mainly on the road but has two significant hilly ‘gravel’ sections. The overall climbing is 900m and it qualifies for 1xAAA point. The minimum speed is therefore just 10km/h giving 5 hours to complete. It also qualifies for the PARTY award. Badge available Cost will be £3.00 inc P&P. Email if you’re interested.
The route as planned starts/finishes at Hollingworth Lake visitor centre and car park (you can start anywhere along the route though). There is a nice buttie/tea shop at 9km, ‘Healey Deli’ (closed Mondays), just before you head off road for the first time (I’m not counting the short canal towpath section earlier as proper off road). The first control is on top of Rooley Moor and you are back on tarmac at 19km for a road climb to the next control and then a descent to Bacup at 32km where I recommend a stop at ‘The Circle’, a fantastic converted church serving food throughout the day. After here more road to Whitworth to control at Tesco Express before the second off road section from 40km to 48km and the last control at St Andrews Church, Calderbrook.

The ‘gravel’ on both sections varies from cobbles, larges setts, broken tarmac/brick, hard packed gravel and earth/mud/puddles depending on the weather. Be warned a road bike is not suitable for these sections unless you want to carry/push it!

Please ensure you have appropriate repair kit and know how to use it, suitable clothing for the expected weather, a fully charged mobile phone and someone you trust knows your route and will raise the alarm if you are not back when expected.