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Pennine Mountain Bike Action
Keep up to date with what's happening in the Pennines for mountain bikers.
 
Rossendale Mountain Bike Centre, Bacup

Over the past three years an exciting new breed of mountain bike trail centre has been developing in East Lancashire. Two disused quarries in the hills above Bacup, Rossendale have been turned in to a paradise for mountain bikers. In a review of Lee Quarry in 2009 Mountain Bike Rider Magazine said "We've seen the future and it's in Lancashire."

 

Since then we have continued to develop the trails and there are now a network of red and black graded cross country trails in both Lee and Cragg quarries. Lee Quarry boasts around 8km of tough technical mountain bike trails comprising rock gardens, drop offs, tabletop jumps, challenging climbs and some of the biggest berms you will find in the UK. It also has a very popular pump track and  four purpose built cycle trials areas. It doesn't matter what type of mountain bike you turn up on you will find something to challenge you.  

 

Cragg Quarry has a bit more of a gentle feel to it with just over 4.5km of  flowing Singletrack. It is not an easy ride and to get the best out of it you have to attack it full on. 4.5km does not sound long but once you have been tempted to do a couple of laps at full speed your legs will be screaming for a rest. Lee and Cragg Quarry are now linked by a multi-user route across the moors. This  route is over 2km running between the quarries is and is intended for use by walkers and horse riders as well as cyclists and it has been designed with all users in mind. It is great fun to ride on a bike though and site lines are very good so as long as you give way to other users you can ride it as fast as you dare.

 

The over all theme for Lee and Cragg Quarries though is skills development. These trails have been built by top designers including Rowan Sorrell and Dafydd Davis in such a way as to encourage you to develop your bike handling skills and confidence. Rock gardens, berms, drop offs and climbs have all been built so that they are easy to session and after a few hours in either quarry you will come away a better rider.

 

The trails have been funded by Natural England through DEFRA's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, Lancashire County Developments Limited and the Lancashire Environmental Fund. The project would not have been possible without support from Rossendale Leisure Trust; Aggregate Industries; Lancashire County Council's Environment Projects Team and PEER Support.

 

Use of the trails is free and they are always open.  All that we ask is that you ride responsibly give way to other users and ride within your limits. A suitable mountain bike and a helmet are recommended. 

 

Here's an accurate map.
 

Videos

Lee Quarry is part of the Valley of Stone project (find out more here). As part of that project Mid Pennine Arts commissioned three arts installations at Lee Quarry. This one, the Ferroterrasaurus was designed to be interactive, just like this!

 

These two videos will give you a feel for the riding conditions and challenges in each quarry site.

 

Lee Quarry

Cragg Quarry

 

Top Quality Riders at Lee Quarry

 

 

Riders are from right to left Richard Cunnyham top level downhill and 4x rider, Chris Akrigg six times national trials champion, Steve Peat World Downhill Champion possibly one of the biggest names in mountain biking in the UK  if not the world, Rowan Sorrell world cup downhill racer and trail builder.

 

Slideshow

Lee Quarry

 

 

Go to Brownbacks to find out more about racing events at Lee Quarry.

3D Tour

(thanks Lee Pilkington of www.imagewhiz.co.uk)

 

Photographs

 

 Cycle Junkies

 

Want to run an Adrenaline Live event at Lee Quarry? Contact us.