Crook of Lune cyclepath, Lancaster - anybody done it?

[Globalti]

I'm thinking about a "tour of Bowland Fells" ride, starting in Whalley, heading out on easy roads to Settle thence NW to Ingleton and then SW to Lancaster. Does anybody know how early I will be able to pick up the Lune valley cycleway that runs along the old railway? Is it at the car park on the A683 just north of Brookhouse?

What's actually at the Crook of Lune, apart from a car park and beauty spot? I've heard there's a cafe somewhere along that stretch of the path, is it there?

From there we would carry on through Lancaster and take either the Clitheroe road through The Trough or more easily take the lowland route via Galgate, Garstang, Inglewhite and Longridge.

 

[Maverick Goose]

The Lune Valley Cycleway is well signposted from Lancaster City centre with the familiar blue and white signs and goes right past the carpark [the local TICs have some useful maps of the route available]. IIRC there is a cafe at the Crook of Lune carpark, but you're never far away from one in this part of the world...

 

[Spinney]

Used part of that in the summer on a long ride, going west.
Think I got on here - I think this is just a little way before the car park. Nice route.

 

[ColinJ]

The Lune Valley Cycleway is well signposted from Lancaster City centre with the familiar blue and white signs and goes right past the carpark [the local TICs have some useful maps of the route available]. IIRC there is a cafe at the Crook of Lune carpark, but you're never far away from one in this part of the world...

@Ajay met me at Lancaster railway station for one of his forum rides. The cycleway starts from the end of one platform!

Apart from a short stretch of quiet road, most of the cycleway to the Crook of Lune was a good converted railway line.

Yes, there was a cafe there, and public toilets.

 

[MontyVeda]

I'm thinking about a "tour of Bowland Fells" ride, starting in Whalley, heading out on easy roads to Settle thence NW to Ingleton and then SW to Lancaster. Does anybody know how early I will be able to pick up the Lune valley cycleway that runs along the old railway? Is it at the car park on the A683 just north of Brookhouse?
...

Used part of that in the summer on a long ride, going west.
Think I got on here - I think this is just a little way before the car park. Nice route.

they've extended the cycleway by a few hundred yards so one can now get on it well before Bull Beck...

... they've even put a nice little lay-by on the opposite side of the road to where it starts/ends so you can pull in and wait to cross safely.

Theres a butty bar at the crook of lune car park... but it may only be open on the weekend at this time of year.

the lowland route down to Garstang is lovely... I don't recommend the canal tow path though

 

[Globalti]

Thanks all.

MV, which route would you recommend rom Lancaster to Longridge, bearing in mind we will be tired by then? Would you stay on the cycle path as far as Glasson Dock then head south?

 

[Amanda P]

I'd only add that the cafe at the Crook o'Lune is very good - but you can't sit down and eat indoors - it's the kind that serves the food thru a hatch and you sit at benches in the open air.

(Mrs Uncle Phil and I were there in September on our way thru from Bridlington to Morecambe).

 

[MontyVeda]

Thanks all.

MV, which route would you recommend rom Lancaster to Longridge, bearing in mind we will be tired by then? Would you stay on the cycle path as far as Glasson Dock then head south?

I'd go most of the way to Glasson Dock... get off the cycle track at Conder Green and follow the

signs. That'll take you through Galgate, Scorton...

...east of Garstang and eventually (switching to route 90 i think) to Longridge. (route 6 carries on south to Goosenagh)

it's relatively flat as it skirts the lower flanks of the Bowland fells, far easier than going through the through.

 

[Globalti]

Thanks. We'll try not to get our bikes stolen at the cafe in Scorton.

 

[Globalti]

MV your second map shows a couple of biggish kinks around Garstang; on past trips coming back from the Fylde I've usually stuck to the old A6 and gone straight through the town, rejoined the bypass south of the town then taken that left turn over the M6 that links you onto the Inglewhite road. I don't mind using the A6 for directness - have even taken it all the way to the South Lakes on a couple of trips to Windermere.

 

[MontyVeda]

MV your second map shows a couple of biggish kinks around Garstang; on past trips coming back from the Fylde I've usually stuck to the old A6 and gone straight through the town, rejoined the bypass south of the town then taken that left turn over the M6 that links you onto the Inglewhite road. I don't mind using the A6 for directness - have even taken it all the way to the South Lakes on a couple of trips to Windermere.

it's just the National Cycle route... which tends to avoid main roads like the A6.