Pendle Witch Trial

From your starting point in Barley you’ll loop round the foot of Pendle Hill & head for the beautiful village of Downham with the ducks on the village pond, and on to Chatburn & Clitheroe where you'll ride right through the town to admire Clitheroe Castle, built in 1186 and see the hole in the side caused by the Devil throwing a boulder from the top of Pendle Hill & hitting the castle, as local legends would have it.

From there it's on to Pendleton to the climb over Pendle Hill, known as The Nick of Pendle.  Why not stop on the top for a breather & a chance to admire the stunning views.  You will then drop down into Sabden, known as the home of The Sabden Treacle Mines, every child locally has heard of them, but none has actually seen them - yet!

You will then visit the home of The Pendle Witches.  In Newchurch there is a Pendle Witch shop to explore or why not have a look at the Churchyard opposite, which has a magic eye set in the entrance arch.
From Newchurch it is then down the hill to Clarion House, the last surviving Clarion House in the country.  These were set up as part of the labour movement in 1912. These were the founder of the Clarion Cycling Clubs that still exist today & they were trying to get people out on their bikes all those years ago, very much the same as British Cycling are doing today.

On then to Roughlee where Alice Nutter lived.  She was accused of witchcraft & forced to walk in chains to Lancaster where she was tried & hung in 1612 with 8 others.  This is where the Pendle Witch stories come from.  You will pass by the statue of her in the village before returning back to the starting point in Barley. This is a challenging route with the climbs with some steep kicks.

There's a lot to see on this ride so take the chance for a breather when you get it!