Right here’s a choice of a few of our favorite Gravel Bike Trails on supply within the North West!

The Guild Wheel

The Guild Wheel is a Merlin Cycles native 21-mile round route of Preston, Lancashire ridden in both course. The route can be utilized as a stand-alone trip or included into an all-day epic.

With entrances to the path all through, you may be a part of on wherever you want and escape the visitors of Preston.

The Guild Wheel is each scenic and accessible for all expertise ranges, many utilizing it as their introduction to biking earlier than they tackle longer rides. The Guild Wheel is a perfect gravel coaching floor and ideal for any weekend trip with pals or household. Stops en route embody Avenham Park, the right place for a espresso cease subsequent to the River Ribble.

The Lancaster Canal

This Canal route offers you the liberty to trip Preston to Kendal while having fun with some gorgeous scenes. The Lancaster Canal passes alongside the coast which supplies you choices to veer off and go to Heysham and Morecambe.

Top-of-the-line elements about this canal is the views all through, that includes the Lune Aquaduct, historic previous of Lancaster and gorgeous woodlands. I’ve rode this canal all through the summer time months and completely loved it. Employees member Shaun took to the canal this month, however warned us beware the mud in some sections!

The Trans Pennine Path

This path options paths and terrain appropriate for all talent ranges and hyperlinks each the North and Irish seas. The whole thing of the route from Southport to Hornsea is round 216 miles and options many historic cities and cities. I usually frequent the route round Spike Island and Hale.

You’ll trip alongside rivers, canals and there may be many cafes and pubs alongside route to maintain you effectively fuelled. Employees Member Steve has accomplished the route over a number of days or you may select to do a choice of it at a time. The selection is yours! However don’t miss out on an epic trip which can be in your doorstep…

Delamere Forest

Head to Cheshire’s Delamere Forest and also you’ll discover loads of gravel tracks, trails and lakeside routes to discover. There are marked biking routes that are appropriate for all talent ranges in addition to loads with extra technical terrain.

The forest has it’s personal lodges, cafe and amenities permitting you to make a full day of your using or perhaps a weekend break! Whether or not you fancy a day of chilled using with pals or household or tearing up a number of the more difficult trails there’s something for everybody right here!

Sankey Valley Path

A shorter path, than the others talked about, however a hidden gem you shouldn’t miss in case you are over within the St Helens or Warrington space.

This path consists of many effectively paved and largely mud free gravel which you’ll cowl at a good common pace from Carr Mill Dam to The Ferry Inn close to Spike Island. In the event you go for a extra leisurely trip there may be loads of wildlife, ponds and seating areas to cease and calm down while you get pleasure from a mid trip snack. This path additionally contains a vast path all through, which is at all times appreciated.

The Leeds to Liverpool Canal

The Leeds to Liverpool Canal, is a improbable choice to plan into your rides. Many Merlin employees use it to get off the roads for a shortcut mid route and even to make use of as a whole route from one finish to the opposite!

With loads of locations to cease for a espresso, pint or ice cream, the route is usually near native facilities in comparison with the Lancaster Canal. The overall canal stretches round 125 miles in complete from one finish to the opposite, so would make a real problem in case you hit all of it in someday…

Rivington and Healy Nab

A neighborhood favorite for Merlin Employees and Clients alike. Many people grew up using our 26″ MTB on the paths and now extra riders are seen out on a gravel bike right here. With numerous loops and sections of various terrain to select from you may have a grand time out in Rivington and the encompassing areas in your gravel bike.

With stops just like the Rivington Brewery, Bowling Inexperienced, White Coppice Cricket Membership and Barn Cafe close by you don’t have any excuse for working out of gas mid trip… Plus there’s loads of landmarks and views similar to The Pike, Reservoirs The Pigeon Tower and Terraced Gardens to see right here!

Cuerden Valley Park

This effectively paved and maintained park is utilized by many cyclists from freshmen to gravel specialists alike and has been a part of my gravel bike commute for a few years now. With beneficiant maintained paths to make use of all through and woodland trails which diverge from the principle areas of the park, you’re assured a fantastic trip. The park features a cafe, lake (dwelling to Herons and different wildlife) flowing streams, bridge crossings and hyperlinks onto different cycle networks such because the Previous Tramway Cycle Route (Nationwide Cycle Community Route 55) heading south to Preston.

In the event you move by Chorley or Preston, right here’s a advised route on the map you would observe, roughly six miles, together with a lot of the park which may very well be tailored into an extended gravel trip. Ranging from the Whittle Le-Woods (the birthplace of Merlin Cycles) main you to the Guild Wheel route in Preston.

Wigan and Ince Gray Hills

Wigan’s Gravel Gems? In Wigan you’ll discover many aged railway strains and the Gray Hills of Ince which function many tracks to sort out in your gravel bike. You’ll find a number of shortcuts and escape the busy rounds or just have a break from the canal if that’s your regular route for Wigan gravelling.

Pincock Forehead

Pictured right here is the Weir on River Yarrow close to Pincock, not removed from Merlin HQ. The scenic trails are a pleasant place to cease and take within the surroundings mid trip and undoubtedly value a go to! Right here’s Mike’s Merlin G2X noticed at Pincock Forehead!

That rounds up a few of our favorite and native haunts on the gravel bike! Tell us that are favourites wherever you reside! Maybe you recognize a few of these just like the again of your hand?!