Pauper's Beach

At 95% canal, this is a nice steady route along the Rochdale canal where the only ‘ups’ are the locks – there’s a fair few of them, but you have the flats between them to make up for them being there! There’s a huge range of views on this route from grim industry to pretty fields via the historic canalside Clegg Hall, and the lake itself makes up for the last short section of ‘up’ as we skirt the base of Cleggswood Hill (don’t worry we are NOT going up it!!). A loop of the lake can be made either before or after munchies have been had. The return leg will the revers of the way we came out. Remember those locks we went up? We’re going down them now, yay!!

Bike Type: Hybrid, MTB – mostly canalside so gravel, compacted sand and cobbles

Café stop: The café at the visitor centre, Hollingworth Lake

Please ensure you wear a helmet as I won’t allow anyone to participate without one. Bring cash for the Café, bike lock and puncture repair kit, and weather appropriate clothing – it is Manchester after all, so we could be turning into ducks, snowmen or cooking on the ride. It is unknown exactly how long we’ll be out for as it depends on who’s with us and how long we spend munching, so any end time on here is a pure guess!