Welcome to Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn and Darwen are great places to cycle, and now there are even more opportunities to get out and about on your bike in the area.
This year Blackburn and Darwen are hosting a series of friendly neighbourhood Sky Ride Local rides, Breeze bike rides for women, and more. They’re all free to join, and it’s easy to register.
Sky Ride Local rides are fun, free community bike rides that offer a great way of getting out and exploring your local area and meeting like-minded people.
Clubs
British Cycling can help you to find a club that’s right for you. Use the club finder to find a club near you. There are some great clubs in and around Blackburn and Darwen which will be happy for you to come and ride with them, including:
Support
There are a range of initiatives in Blackburn and Darwen designed to support as many people as possible to get out and about on their bikes.
Wheels around Witton is a programme of instructor-led cycling sessions aimed at everyone from those learning to ride and wanting to build confidence to more experienced cyclists wanting to improve their fitness exploring hills, quiet roads and the canal towpath. Sessions are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Witton Country Park, which covers 480 acres of beautiful mixed woodland, parkland and farmland a mile west of Blackburn. Bikes and helmets can be provided for a nominal fee
And if you’re stuck for something to do on a Thursday, why not join a friendly bike ride from the Four Seasons Garden Centre in Darwen – bikes and helmets can also be provided.
For further information on these cycling sessions at Witton Country Park and Darwen please contact Nick Burton on 01254 694503.
Specialist cycling opportunities are also available to anyone with a disability at Witton Country Park via the Motivate project, delivered by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Motivate helps give people with learning disabilities access to lots of leisure opportunities including bike rides. For further information contact Paul Roberts on 07793 794751.
Where to ride
With parks, hills and moors on the doorstep, Blackburn and Darwen are great places to cycle. From the beauty of the rugged West Pennine Moors to traffic-free paths through country parks, specialist mountain biking trails, canal towpaths and quiet roads, there‘s something for everyone.
If you enjoy riding off-road, have you tackled the ‘Tricky Sixty’ or ‘Trail of two Trees’ yet? Located in Billinge Woods near to Witton Country Park these trails are well worth a visit. Find out more.
There's also some great on- and off-road riding in the North West from the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire to rugged off-road trails in Rossendale, Ribble Valley and the Lake District. Add to this a well developed network of leisure routes on the flatter coastal area and it’s clear that the North West offers a great escape for everyone.
Check out British Cycling’s guide to where to ride in the North West.
