Manchester/Oldham to Southport.....best route

[Pennine-Paul]

Been invited by the M-I-L to Southport in Sept,The Mrs is going by train and I said,

I'll cycle over it being a flattish 50 miles

I could go through the major towns i.e Bury Bolton Wigan Ormskirk

Or Possibly along the A580 (not on the road, is there a cycle path at the side??)

Or the longest route along the Trans Pennine Trail (I'm rolling on touring tyres at the mo)

Anybody got any thoughts on any routes

Ta muchly

 

[davefb]

the 580 does have a cycle path, though not sure for how much of the length... my mate has used it to cycle bolton <> liverpool .

if I was going, I'd be thinking a6/ chorley / euxton / croston, though I'm skewed because thats the way i drive in ! ( well m61 to chorley) and because the people we visit are in the north end of southport...

 

[Judderz]

The cycle goes mainly all the way from Swinton to Ormskirk, with it all being relatively flat.

 

[400bhp]

what bike are you on? Hybrid or road?

Here are a couple of routes I have used on my road bike:

http://www.bikeroute...x?course=237197

http://www.bikeroute...x?course=237168

there's a couple of "roads" near Southport that are more dirt tracks-if you're interested I can provide more info.

 

[400bhp]

1. the 580 does have a cycle path, though not sure for how much of the length... my mate has used it to cycle bolton <> liverpool .

2. if I was going, I'd be thinking a6/ chorley / euxton / croston, though I'm skewed because thats the way i drive in ! ( well m61 to chorley) and because the people we visit are in the north end of southport...

1. Yes it does but from memory it's not a place I would want to cycle on (broken grass-unkempt etc)

2. That's a route more or less I would choose if I didn't have much chance to plan.

 

[endoman]

what bike are you on? Hybrid or road?

Here are a couple of routes I have used on my road bike:

http://www.bikeroute...x?course=237197

http://www.bikeroute...x?course=237168

there's a couple of "roads" near Southport that are more dirt tracks-if you're interested I can provide more info.

your 2nd route looks very nice, used to bike round bits of that loads as a kid.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

what bike are you on? Hybrid or road?

I'll be on my fixed gear,I cycle on the odd rough track/towpath,sooner be on quiet roads tho

M-I-L's staying on south side of town nearer to Ainsdale,hence me going thru Ormskirk

 

[Ibbots]

I cycle out that way from Bolton quite a lot, some nice roads out through Eccleston and Croston, or for a bit of hilly fun on the way once you are the wrong side of the M61 try Red Rock to Standish, Parbold Hill, Rufford and Mere brow.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The East Lancs does have a cycle path but it's rubbish, it'll have your teeth out in no time at all.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Think i'll give up on the idea of the east lancs

I noticed the ncn 55 goes from Eccles to Wigan, that would get me past the worst of the towns

I could then take minor roads over to Ormskirk and then across to the south end of Southport

Anybody used the 55 Is it rough as a bears @ss or not??

 

[Ibbots]

don't know about the ncn55, sustrans says it's only proposed on that stretch. You could just take the A6 through Swinton to Westhoughton, head through Aspull to Standish then on to Ormskirk etc. I ride this stretch of the A6 most days as my Summer commute route -it's not too awful, only a few sets of lights and the traffic quite light during the holiday periods. Seem to get fewer gits than my alternative route through Bolton and Farnworth.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

That route looks to be pretty good and it's the shortest too at 48 miles

Will be travelling midweek after the rush hour so should be quiet

Thanx for the help everyone

 

[davefb]

ncn55 is 'interesting' , and it could be great, but some stretches are a bit muddier than you'd want.. ( though i suspect this depends on the weather , i've been on it once, and found out i need better mudguards )

it also has the problem of 'breaks' in the path where the railway has been covered over.. though where its okay, its a nice ride since its an old railway line


dunno what is like between trafford pk and the 602 though..

 

[400bhp]

dunno what is like between trafford pk and the 602 though..

The roads are fine, the only bad bit will be crossing the M602 in Salford at the r'about (looks like there is a cycle path crossing the middle of the roundabout though).