Similar to Monsal Trail in NW?

Similar to Monsal Trail in NW?

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hab1966

Original Poster:

1,102 posts

218 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
My family and I, rode the Monsal trail today; youngest member being my 9yr daughter.

Our biggest mistake was our starting point which was the car park at Monsal Head as the climb back up was a killer, but once we were on the trail we enjoyed it, riding the entire length in two stages broken by lunch.

Are there any similar tracks/trails in the NW that we could look at? Must be 9yr old friendly - though she is pretty proficient on a mtb.

MC Bodge

22,465 posts

181 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
hab1966 said:
My family and I, rode the Monsal trail today; youngest member being my 9yr daughter.

Our biggest mistake was our starting point which was the car park at Monsal Head as the climb back up was a killer, but once we were on the trail we enjoyed it, riding the entire length in two stages broken by lunch.

Are there any similar tracks/trails in the NW that we could look at? Must be 9yr old friendly - though she is pretty proficient on a mtb.
There are various suitable sections of the Trans Pennine Trail.

anonymous-user

60 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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Depends where you're looking.

Flat and level and not bad in the Cheshire countryside close to a canal and villages
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_a...

Or the Tissington Trail
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/places-to...


DelicaL400

523 posts

117 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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I walked bits of the Monsal Trail last week, I'd not fancy cycling up that hill!

Whereabouts in the NW are you? It's worth looking at your local council website as they often has cycling maps on which show trails/cycle paths. As mentioned above the TPT has some good bits. Canals often have decent trails alongside, there are a few of those in the NW.

hab1966

Original Poster:

1,102 posts

218 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for all the info.

We are based in Wigan but used to live in Horwich, so had Rivington on our doorstep and did lots of miles around there, before daughter was born.

Also going to look at Gisburn and Delamere Forests too. We did a route around Delamere a number of years ago when daughter was on a tag-a-long.

Just looking for interesting rides that arent too hard so our daughter doesnt complain too much.


MC Bodge

22,465 posts

181 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
hab1966 said:
Thanks for all the info.

We are based in Wigan but used to live in Horwich, so had Rivington on our doorstep and did lots of miles around there, before daughter was born.

Also going to look at Gisburn and Delamere Forests too. We did a route around Delamere a number of years ago when daughter was on a tag-a-long.

Just looking for interesting rides that arent too hard so our daughter doesnt complain too much.
Delamere is mostly quite flat, with some singletrack if you know where to look. My kids (7&10) have enjoyed the singletrack (and the skills area) riding and managed the hills there.

Wacky Racer

38,803 posts

253 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
Walked and rode the Monsal trail in the last few months.smile

Not really local to you but The Longendale trail is excellent with lovely scenery.

Try canal paths, always flat and plenty of places you can enter and leave.


ian in lancs

3,810 posts

204 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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Grizedale in south lakes has lots of options

TvrJohn

1,058 posts

261 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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Go to Caton park at the car park just off the main road bikers stay at the front, car park at rear, toilets and brick built catering hut.
Across the road is the entrance to a disused narrow railway which runs alongside the river.

ride into Lancaster can drop into town for lunch etc or use the Sainsburys which is right next to the cycle path.

If you want to continue further along the same path it takes you all the way to Morecambe, ice creams along the front

Then if you cycle right along the prom till the end you can cross the road and get on another cycle path whick runs alongside the canal, this leads you back to the original path at the aqueduct in Lancaster.

Done it many times when our lads were small, cycle friendly

DelicaL400

523 posts

117 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
From Wigan you can go down the canal path to Pennington Flash near Leigh and there are a few tracks in there and picnic areas/loos etc.

A little further south you can go from Haydock down towards Warrington on the Sankey Canal Trail then turn right and head towards Spike Island on the Trans Pennine Trail.


towser44

3,655 posts

121 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
hab1966 said:
Thanks for all the info.

We are based in Wigan but used to live in Horwich, so had Rivington on our doorstep and did lots of miles around there, before daughter was born.

Also going to look at Gisburn and Delamere Forests too. We did a route around Delamere a number of years ago when daughter was on a tag-a-long.

Just looking for interesting rides that arent too hard so our daughter doesnt complain too much.
Delamere is mostly quite flat, with some singletrack if you know where to look. My kids (7&10) have enjoyed the singletrack (and the skills area) riding and managed the hills there.
There is a 2 mile link (the Oakmere Way) from Delamere Forest to join the Whitegate Way (6 miles) which in turn joins up with the River Weaver in Winsford and goes all the way into Northwich. There is a cafe at the old station at Whitegate on the Whitegate Way too. I've walked and cycled all this and it's nice and flat.

Some Gump

12,838 posts

192 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2020
quotequote all
Yes, monsal trail is lovely.

Could also do the middlewood way (marple to past macclesfield), not as pretty because not in the peaks but flatter as a result.

In fact...
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/cycle/cyc...

Any of this lot!

...and also the old rail line that runs from Thelwall outwards. Have walked some of it but want to go back with the kids on bikes.

The sustrans website has sewrchable maps with cycling routes on, i find it a pita to navigate but info is there.

Finally, if you can trust her not to fall in, theres miles and miles of lovely canals often with decent towpaths marinas etc.