North West advice

[ducksdisease]

I'm looking for advice about a possible route in the North West.

The background to this is that I'll have a rental van that I'll need to return to the hirer either in Preston or Morecambe, then I need to get back to Fleetwood.

My cunning plan is to take bike in back of van and then cycle back to Fleetwood.

However, I am totally unfamiliar with the area. Can anyone recommend a safe route from Preston or Morecambe to Fleetwood? Or should I just ditch the plan & get public transport?

 

[longers]

Hi Duck and welcome,

Good route from Morecambe to near Fleetwood along quiet flat roads.

Morecambe to Lancaster along the cycle path, it'd be rude not to do a trip along the prom while in the area, you can cycle on the promenade itself.

Lancaster to Glasson/Conder Green along another good cycle path.

Then the A588 to Knott End for a brew and cake at Quinns bakery

After the A588 meets the A585 I'm not sure about the final run in to Fleetwodd but the first bit is very much worth doing.

 

[longers]

I could provide more details of the Morecambe and Lancaster end if you need them, and if I can remember them

 

[ducksdisease]

Thanks, longers. That sounds like a plan. I've just looked online to find out where Knott End is and have realised that I could cheat by hopping on the ferry to Fleetwood!

 

[longers]

Let us know how you get on.

 

[ducksdisease]

Will do

 

[Cranky]

Thanks, longers. That sounds like a plan. I've just looked online to find out where Knott End is and have realised that I could cheat by hopping on the ferry to Fleetwood!

I did Fleetwood to Morecambe last year as part of a longer tour. The ferry was part of the route.

From Morecambe it would be:
Cycle path to Lancaster, cross bridge, turn right along river and take NCN Route 6 (old railway path) to Glasson. Then minor road to Upper Thurnham, join A588/NCN6 via Cockerham towards Pilling. Take minor coast road (inc. short stretch of bridleway) to Knott End. It's a pleasant route and the A588 was quiet when I did it.

 

[Carboncyclestore]

I rode from my home near Preston to Southport to Join my Cycle Club Run today and we went to Knott End through the lanes.
Downloaded the ride from my Garmin and the route can be viewed at the link below.
Hope this helps.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/18313748

 

[Sheepy1209]

There's a bit of a tradition in Fleetwood of doing cycling round trips 'Over Wyre', possibly involving a pub or two, with the Knott End ferry being part of the route - so they're used to bikes.

Timetables here: http://www.wyrebc.gov.uk/Page.aspx?PgeID=47112

Should you end up travelling from Preston there's quite a few options from there - personally I'd head up the A6 to Broughton (or head for Woodplumpton), then go Inskip - Elswick - Singleton - join the A585 (Mains Lane) and follow that to the 'River Wyre' (Pub) roundabout at the junction with Breck Road - then head to Fleetwood via Thornton.

The A585 Amounderness Way (between the River Wyre roundabout and Fleetwood) is best avoided - not so much dangerous as unpleasant - there are better alternatives.

Public transport - train to Poulton-le-Fylde then taxi or 84 bus, or train to Blackpool North and the 14 bus.

On both routes there's a web of lanes between the main roads - a bit of planning can make for a rather pleasant ride. Good luck!

[edit: just looked at Carboncyclestore's Garmin route - some pretty pleasant roads there - just remember if you go via Little Eccleston you'll have to cross the Cartford Toll Bridge - and it's a daylight-robbery 10p for cycles!]

 

[g0kmt]

There is a bit of a cycle path between Shard bridge junction of A585 and the river wyre roundabout then you could ride through Thornton to Fleetwood.