Manchester to Morecambe

Ride leader: Andrew

Here we are again, the Manchester-Morecambe FNRttC on 23 May 2025.

Not much has changed from last year’s ride although, hopefully, trains from London won’t be cancelled like they were last year. As far as I’m aware, this is the hilliest (by some margin) of all the FNRttC: we go up to 339m/1110ft above sea level so please bring your climbing legs !

In summary, the ride is about 105km/65 miles long and we head out of Manchester from the meeting point at Victoria Station through Prestwich Forest Park (off-road, very dark,) to Radcliffe, Bury and then Tottington. Apart from the flat trail, this part of the ride is mostly up long, gradual climbs on urban roads.

After Tottington we climb onto the moors above Egerton. There is one short, steep ramp but, after that, the gradients are relatively benign although they do go on for quite a while. The roads are, usually, very quiet.

Once we’ve reached the top, there is a long, long descent to Blackburn and the (not quite) half-way stop at the Euro Garage on Whitebirk Services.

Suitably refreshed, there is then a further brief spell of suburbia, before another epic descent to Ribchester. This is followed by the last significant climb of the ride, the drag up to Longridge.

The rest of the route is best described as "rolling" and we tend to ride this as a fairly compact group.

Weather permitting, we'll skirt Lancaster by using the coastal path and head to Morecambe by the bike route built on an old railway line.

After pictures with Eric, we'll have breakfast (venue TBD but likely to be the Wetherspoons in Morecambe).

Victoria Station is on the North side of MCR centre near the Cathedral. If you're riding across town from Piccadilly Station, please be aware of the tram tracks and cross them at right angles.

It's probably best to book trains back to home from Lancaster; there's much more choice and it's a short, flat ride from Morecambe. As far as I'm aware, all the trains from Morecambe go through Lancaster anyway and you'll probably have to change.

Only Northern Trains don’t need bike reservations (although whether an advertised service is running is anybody’s guess); with all of the others you’ll need to book a space for your bike unless you’re on a folder.

Please be aware that, apart from being the hilliest of the FNRttC, we also go through some remote countryside so please check your bike over carefully, especially the tyres.

For the more adventurous amongst you, I may ride on to Blackpool to get the train home from there and you’ll be welcome to join me. I say “may” because, if it’s been wet all night or I’m knackered, I’ll be getting the train home from Lancaster. If you’re travelling from “a far” and you might want to join me, it’s probably best to book trains to home from Preston to make sure that you’ve got a bike space.