This ride is only open to members of the Wirral Cycling Group.  If you are an experienced rider who has ridden with other cycling groups and would like to join us on a ride, then please get in touch with us via the <Contact Form> so we can make arrangements.  If you have not ridden with a cycling group before, and would like to find out what riding with our group is like, then please book onto one of our monthly rides for newcomers.

You must not join a ride if you or anyone in your household is experiencing any of the Covid-19 symptoms
or if you have been advised to self-isolate

(C) Southport to Ormskirk via Preston and Leyland

10:00 Sunday June 19 2022

Current Participants: 8 space(s) available

    A Grade C ride of 46 miles starting at 10:00 from Chapel Street at the main entrance to Southport railway station to Ormskirk railway station via Preston and Leyland.  John Hampson, the ride leader, will be at the start from 09:45.  Merseyrail trains from Liverpool arrive at Southport at 09:10 and 09:40.

    The route goes out along the promenade by the Marine Lake and then along the coast road and NCR62 to Banks, Mere Brow and Sollom.  We will take our morning break after ten miles at Lock Lane Bridge by the Rufford branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, then go on through Brotherton, Longton and Lower Penwortham before getting lunch at the Pavilion Cafe after 23 miles in Avenham Park by the River Ribble in Preston.  Then across the Ribble, past Bamber Bridge, through the Cuerden Valley park to Buckshaw Village, and on to our afternoon break for coffee and cake after 32 miles at the Folly Coffee House in Worden Park.  On Sundays there is a model railway society with a kilometre of tracks in the park.  The return trip will be via Eccleston, Mawdsley and Lathom to Ormskirk Railway station where trains back to Liverpool are at 7 mins and 37 minutes past the hour.  Here is the route on Komoot where you can download a GPX file if you want one: Southport to Ormskirk via Preston and Leyland

    The route is comparatively flat along mostly quiet country lanes, with good surfaces even through the country parks, although there a quite a few short sharp rises in Preston and on the way back to Ormskirk.  There is a stretch of about 500m on a dirt track (part of NCR 62 around Crossens) which we will skirt around if conditions are too muddy.


    Bookings no longer allowed on this date.