This was to prove a busy weekend for Sarah and I. We were due to run the Southport Mad Dog on Sunday. Before that, however, there was the little matter of the Stockport Community Cycling Club Cuerden Valley 2018 Saturday ride beginning at Whittle-Le-Woods. Before that, we had started the morning by joining in with the Cuerden Valley Parkrun.

Having rushed over to Kem Mill Car Park we joined our fellow club members. Jim was leading today’s ride, and Sarah was the back-leader.

Entering Cuerden Valley Park we soon picked up NCN Route 55. We had run the first sections of this just an hour previously.

The park and the path through it follow the River Lostock.

We crossed over the M6.

Before entering Bamber Bridge.

Some of the underpasses are just for little people …

Next, the route took us into Preston Junction Local Nature Reserve.

We followed the paths through the nature reserve, before crossing over the River Ribble and in to Avenham Park.

We stopped at The Pavilion Cafe for our morning break.

After the break, we followed the River Ribble for awhile.

This section of the route also forms part of the Preston Guild Wheel.

Soon, we turned off and made our way through Walton-Le-Dale.

We then split into two groups. One, led by Jim, took the slightly easier route back. The other, I took over and led. We began by heading up Higher Walton Road. This was the start of a steady climb.

When we turned off on to Gregson Lane, the steady climb ramped up into a more significant one.

The top was eventually reached at the T-junction with Sandy Lane.

The latter stages had also seen us join NCN Route 91.

After dropping down and crossing over the M65 to the village of Brindle, there followed one final climb.

We then cycled along Denham Lane for a short stretch.

Finally, we dropped down into Whittle-Le-Woods again to finish the ride.

This had been a fine Lancashire cycle ride around. By the finish, we had covered nearly 15 miles.

You can view the Cuerden Valley 2018 route below: