Outwood Bound

Join us on this leisurely bike ride from Manchester to Bolton and back. 

Everyone (including beginners) is welcome. No one will get left behind. We'll ride at a gentle pace of 8 to 10 miles per hour for about 3 hours, but the event timing is longer to allow for the natural stops and starts of any bike ride, plus a short lunch stop in Bolton.

There are frequent trains between Bolton and Manchester, so there's the option of leaving/joining the ride in Bolton if you fancy a shorter cycle of less than 2 hours. If joining us from Bolton, please book onto the event as usual, then message our ride leader Paul for details of where to meet and the approximate meeting time.

Route information

Starting from Central Manchester, we will ride along National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 55 to Bolton. This follows roads with cycle lanes as far as Eccles (or there's a slightly longer off-road option along canal paths and dedicated cycle paths). We'll then use the quiet roads in the leafy suburb of Ellesmere Park to get to Monton. There we join the former Monton Green to Bolton Railway line, known as the Roe Green loop line which keeps us mainly off road until we reach the centre of Bolton.

Our return leg continues mainly off road to NCN Route 6 and the Outwood Trail, another former railway line running between Radclliffe and Prestwich. After passing through Drinkwater Park to the outskirts of Salford, we will keep following NCN Route 6 (which has on and off road options) back to the centre of Manchester. 

Although most of the route is traffic free or on quieter roads, we may encounter the odd busy road. There will also be some fairly gentle climbs along the way. See the location section below for a link to the proposed route map and elevation chart.

The terrain is best suited to hybrid or mountain bikes, though it can be done on a road bike. Some parts of the trail are uneven and can be muddy if wet. Please check that your bike is roadworthy before the ride, as you will be responsible for dealing with your own mechanical issues, should they arise on the day.

Weather Conditions

Cold, wet and windy weather conditions aren't conducive to sociable cycling, and part of the route has been known to flood after very heavy rain. So, if the weather forecast for the day indicates extreme conditions, the event may be postponed with as much notice as possible provided to participants.

Keep in Touch

You can view a list of upcoming cycling events at Cycling Events | OutdoorLads. If you'd like to hear about our cycling events as soon as they are published, subscribe to our Social Media & Instant Messenger channels - Facebook, Telegram, Twitter. You can also chat with other members on Facebook and Telegram, and join our Strava club.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete the Cycling Participation Statement in addition to booking your event space before attending a cycling event.