The Empanada (Let's) Ride (Through Winter)

On leaving Cuerden Valley Park, we'll go past the Green Man sculpture before going through Buckshaw Village after which we drop into Astley Park for a quick coffee from Barrica Wines (& the delicious all-butter Chorley Cakes, with luck) at 11 miles into the route before exiting to carry on to Parbold to do some proper legs/lungs work.

After leaving Eccleston and reaching Andertons Mill, our first climb is up Hunters Hill (Bannister Lane) maxing out at 13% followed by the long descent that is Stoney Lane & then down an undulating Lancaster Lane before arriving at the second climb that is Parbold Hill with maxing out at 12% along with busy traffic alongside but we tackle the hills at our own pace and regroup at the top. (The hills don't always win!)

After getting our breaths back on top of Parbold Hill View Point, it's downhill (almost) all the way through Wrightington to Leyland's Worden Park where the pièce de résistance awaits: freshly baked in-house Argentine empanadas (obligatory) & imported wine (optional) at one of my fave eateries El Tano Wines, inside Worden Hall.

The last 3.5 miles of the route takes us back to our starting point at Cuerden VP Wigan Road Carpark or an earlier finish en route at Leyland train station if desired (1.5 miles remaining).