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approx 10 miles
"across the road from the Cemetery."
Take the path up that is right next to the Whittakers arms,
and follow the track up until you reach the bowling green
take the left hand track that steeply climbs the left hand side of the Coppice. (ref 2)
Go up the climb to the top and take the middle track, " straight on". (ref 3)
Make your way down to the underpass. Go under the bypass.
Do not go up to the farm, instead go across the cattle grid
and take the faint path right that faces the oncoming traffic of the bypass.
A bit scary I know, but the ride is better for it!
Take the obvious track upwards and join the Kings Highway. (ref 4)
enjoy the climb and follow good track across Moleside moor. (ref 5)
Now treat yourself to a bit of singletrack downhill, (ref 6) keeping left when it opens out,
drop down new slab rock section (ref 7) and on to vey loose quarry bit.
Climb out of the quarry and continue along the King's Highway, "now tarmac"
past a farm on your right after 400 meters, then 300 meters later
take a right fork that leads to the small hamlet of Stone Fold..
Keep going straight on though the small hamlet, do not take the turn down to
Baxenden, but continue straight on past a few houses then down
to the derelict farm building on your right,
and take a sharp right at the end of the building. (ref 8)
Drop down to Winfields, get yourself a pair of shoe's and take a right
out of the car park.
Head back across the roundabout and towards Accrington again.
Go past the Rising Bridge pub, and Holland's pies.
Just after Holland's pies take a sharp left at the house at the end.
Ride down to the perimeter fence of Hollands Pies, (ref 9)
follow the narrow path until it opens up onto what was the
old Accrington to Manchester railway line. (ref 10)
"past the now almost destroyed plastic Dragon". (ref 11)
Now enjoy easy gentle downhill on old railway bed for 2 miles (ref 12)
All the way down to Nuttall St. in Accrington. (ref 13)
Turn right at the bottom and follow the street until you come to the
Police Station. "You are now at Manchester Rd". Go straight across at the Swan Hotel
and go up Sandy Lane. Go to the top past the college and take the track thats next to
St. Anne's & St. Joseph's Primary school.
Take the steep track up until you reach a left turn at Spire farm. "approx. half mile"
"The farm with the Castle type thingys on the top"
Take fast downhill track and tun right at the bottom, (ref 14)
now follow steep main farm track up past some ponds " which should be on your left hand side"(ref 15)
until you find yourself at the underpass again.
Now make your way back across the Coppice and back down to
the Whittakers arms.
"Nice"
Your starting point;
The Whittakers arms.
Get some good nosh here!
Beer garden and a place to park yer bikes at the back.
"The left hand side of the Coppice".
"Time to get warmed up!"
"note" runners overtake bikers on steep climbs.
Save your strength!
At the top go straight on until you see the
bypass below you,
follow the fence line down to the right
and make your way to the underpass.
The King's Highway.
Climbing up towards Moleside, "Windy Harbor"
Go straight on and through a gate. its onwards and upwards. "Good views looking back whilst
climbing up onto Moleside Moor".
Free at last!
Looking back,
the stile just below the reservoir on Hameldon.
A good view of the Kings highway.
Its now downhill for a while
enjoy this rutted single track action, keep left at the bottom of this section.
View along the Kings highway towards Haslingden.
This used to be wet and loose,
in the summer of 2005 it was completely
resurfaced in readiness for the Pennine link route.
"can you spot the 3 dogs with the Lady?"
let you eyes follow the track into the distance.
There's a quarry in the dip,
enjoy!
(ref 8)
Time to
bail out at Winfields.
Drop down into the car park and head back towards
Accrington on the road.
(ref
9)
Half a mile later, Looking back.
Just after you go past
Holland's pies car park, take this sharp turn left.
At the bottom you follow the narrow
path around the perimeter fence of
Holland pies.
Looking back.
You will now be on the old bed of the
Accrington to Manchester railway line.
This one of the Kearns Allen lodges.
(ref
11)
Go past the now almost destroyed Plastic Dragon!
(ref 12)
..and follow the old course of the railway.
ps, the track leading off to the left is now part of the Pennine Bridleway
link route to Rivington Barn. "see the Cribden ride loop for a trip up there"
Until you reappear
on Nuttall Street.
From here you turn right, "away from those factories".
Go along the road for a quarter of a mile until you reach the Police Station. Go straight across the busy main Manchester Rd and up Sandy Lane.
Keep going up there, and tarmac turns back to good track at St Annes & St Josephs school, when you have passed the second farm building on your left turn left at the junction and you will see the view below.
(ref
14)Now, I
am just next to Spire farm,
"The
farm with the Castle type thingys on the top"
heading down towards Plantation Mill.
wahhooooo!!!!
"that's mountain bike talk for downhill".
You can
just make out one of the ponds (ref
15)
and the thin line of Hawthorns that is your
final climb of the ride.
" There is the Coppice in the distance"