Where to Ride: North West

There's some great on and off road riding in the North West from the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire to rugged off road trails in the Lake District. Add to this a well developed network of leisure routes on the flatter coastal area and it's clear that the North West offers a great escape for everyone.

Why not visit Cumbria's Whinlatter Forest, with mountain biking trails for all abilities and great facilities too. Lancashire's Bowland Fells offer superb cycling, great cafes and even better views, while moving further south, flatter Cheshire is a cyclists paradise, with the 176 mile Cheshire Cycleway the jewel in its crown.

Area Guide: Cheshire

We take a different perspective on cycling in Cheshire, with three easy routes linking with some of the county's finest National Trust properties. Ranging from 6 to 26 miles, the rides take in country houses, old mills and dramatic natural landscapes, linked by quiet roads and traffic free trails. Read more...

Area Guide: Manchester

The sprawling metropolis of Manchester might not, at first glance, seem a prime cycling location. The huge city, former cradle of the Industrial Revolution, is a busy, sprawling place, encircled by a busy motorway and dozen or so satellite towns. However, the city sits on the edge of some classic cycling country. We pick out six great rides from family-friendly to seriously challenging. Discover Manchester by bike.

More Ride Ideas

MTB: Lee Quarry - Rough, rocky and brutal, check out Lancashire's trail centre cum post industrial play park.
ROAD: Kirkstone Reckoner - A 40 mile road ride taking in the mighty Kirkstone Pass, Ullswater, the epic fell road toward Blencathra, Castlerigg Stone Circle and much more.
MTB: Behind Blencathra  - A classic short (15km), but satisfying MTB ride into the heart of the mountains just NE of Keswick
MTB: Pennine Bridleway - Three free downloadable route maps featuring the very best mountain biking that the Pennine Bridleway has to offer.
LEISURE: Hyndburn Greenway - The Greenway offers a great traffic free route, linking Accrington Town Centre with Blackburn, Rishton and Baxenden.
MTB: Altura Trail - Whinlatter - Read our trail review of the Lake District's longest purpose built mountain bike trail.
LEISURE: Wirral Wanderer - A 24 mile coastal and rails-to-trails classic on the Wirral Peninsula, including a train and ferry ride!
LEISURE: Isle of Man - Castletown - The Castletown circuit covers some of the gentler slopes of the south of the Island; a relaxing tour to St Mark's is easily accomplished by all age groups and levels of fitness.
LEISURE: Isle of Man - Peel - Peel and its surrounding area has to be the forefront for everyone's cycling plans of the Island.
LEISURE: Trans Pennine Trail - Stretching the breadth of the country from Southport to Hornsea, the Trans Pennine Trial is mostly off-road and largely purpose-built, using canals, riversides, disused railway lines, minor roads and urban cycle paths - over 70% of it is traffic free!
LEISURE: Ribble Valley Villages - An attractive exploration of this unspoilt area, which also highlights the natural differences between the two sides of the Ribble Valley.
MTB: Grizedale - North Face - 10 mile Red-graded, purpose built mountain bike trail in the South Lakes. Grizedale forest also offers great routes for families and beginners. Read our full trail report.
LEISURE: Cheshire: The combination of gentle rolling terrain, lots of quiet roads, quaint villages, canals and an increasing number of National Cycle Network routes mean that there are hundreds of miles of great riding to be had.
MTB: Mary Townley Loop: A challenging 47 mile MTB loop and the jewel in the crown of the fantastic Pennine Bridleway - read our full ride guide.
LEISURE: Lancashire Leisure Routes - A selection of leisure routes around Lancaster.
LEISURE: Wizard Trail - Cycle in the heart of Cheshire's wizard country on this easy route through rolling parkland.
ROAD: Scorton and the Bowland Block - a 26 mile hilly road route starting and finishing in the pretty village of Scorton.
LEISURE: Lune Valley Circuit - a great 42km leisure route on traffic free paths and quiet roads, exploring the Lune Valley.