Central Loop Map and GPX

Go to Stage 20 for full details.

Go to Stage 20 for full details.

Go to Stage 20 for full details.

Go to Stage 20 for full details.

The stage is 9 miles long with 1,110ft of ascent and takes in the River Ribble as we exit Preston and then stretches of the River Darwen. The highlight is the historic Hoghton Towers.

The stage is 9 miles long with 1,118ft of ascent and visits Houghton Bottoms where the River Darwen creates an impressive gorge, Pleasington and Witton Park. The highlight of the stage is probably Wainwrights viewpoint near Billinge Hill on the outskirts of Blackburn.

The stage is 8.25 miles long with 720ft of ascent and follows a prominent sandstone ridge, which marks the southern edge of the Ribble valley. Dean Clough Reservoir and the descent afterwards into the Whalley gap created by the River Calder is a fitting end to this stage.

The stage is  7.75 miles long with an ascent of 1,601 ft. We begin our climb up to Pendle Hill but shortly after the Nick of Pendle we divert to the villages of Newchirch and Barley to take in Pendle Witch country .

The stage is only 5.6 miles long but has an ascent of  1,186 ft as we finally climb over Pendle Hill. It is one of the best stages on the Central Loop and the views from the top of Pendle are just perfect.

The stage is just 3.25 miles long with only 297 ft of ascent. However, it is a pretty walk and the village of Sawley, with the remains of a Cistercian abbey, marks our first crossing of the River Ribble since Preston.

The stage is 9 miles long with 1,258 ft of ascent and crosses over the fells from the Ribble into the Hodder valley. The final two miles or so is a lovely river walk from Newton to Slaidburn.

The stage is 10.75 miles long with 1,313ft of ascent. We make our first venture into the Bowland Fells by climbing up the Hornby Road on Croasdale Fell and then descending to Dunsop Bridge via Whitendale.

The stage is 10.5 miles long with the highest ascent on the Central Loop – 1,882 ft of ascent. We follow the Langden valley, in the heart of the southern Bowland Fells, up to Fiensdale Head, with super views west to the coast. Then its up to Fair Snape Fell before descending down into Chipping via Parlick.

The stage is 11.5 miles long with 1,655ft of ascent. The Stage is full of interest with a climb up to Longridge Fell and its super views back across the Loud valley to the Bowland Fells. Then we descend back down to the River Hodder and Cromwell’s Bridge and then a walk through Stoneyhurst College with it’s magnificent buildings.

The stage is just 4 miles long with 187 ft of ascent and is dominated by the River Ribble, which we cross twice. Unfortunately one of these crossings used to use a delightful old suspension footbridge but it was badly damaged in floods and had to be replaced.

The stage is 11.5 miles long with just 748ft of ascent. The route uses the Ribble Way back into Preston. Apart from the River Ribble itself, the highlight of the stage is Brockholes Nature Reserve.