Cycling the Lancaster Canal in 1 Day – Tougher Than the Leeds Liverpool? | Oxenholme to Preston MTB

In this video, I attempt to cycle the length of the Lancaster Canal in a single day, but how does it compare to the Leeds Liverpool Canal which I recorded in one of my earlier videos?

Stay tuned as I embark on a 60 mile journey from Oxenholme to Preston covering the Northern Reaches of the canal, down through the Tewitfield Terminus through Lancaster and ending up at the Preston Terminus.

I’m riding a Surly Wednesday Fat Bike with 26” x 4.2” tyres. #biketouring #surlybikes #canal #cycling #fatbike #lancastercanal

Stop. [Music] [Music] Morning. So, you join me here at Oxen Home in the Lake District. I’ve just got the train from Preston. Um, unfortunately, this is a bit of a sort of spare of the moment thing. The leaves of little canal ride took months of planning and this is going to be on a sort of wing. I’m trying to wing it a little bit. So yeah, not ideal conditions today either. So I’ve got a bit of a headwind. Forecast of thunderstorms. So yeah, it’s uh it’s going to be a bit interesting, but I’m uh heading down the Lancaster Canal today all the way back to Preston where I started. And uh it should be a good route. The distance today is about 58 miles. So, let’s uh get to the start of the canal and I’ll see you shortly. [Music] [Music] Morning. [Music] Thank you. I know. Yeah. You all right? I think he’s got a present for you. All right, mate. Don’t worry. I want to serve you. There you go. [Music] [Music] Go on the road from here. [Music] So yeah, you may have noticed from the early shots there, I’ve forgotten my gloves. So I am glovedless for this ride. Uh, also I had to use a bit of a strong detergent aka bleach to uh reach my hydration pack because unfortunately I’d left it to go a bit manky after the leaves of the pool ride. And uh I’m confident in that I’ve cleaned it up, but as a result of using bleach that’s impacted on the seals a little bit and unfortunately it’s now leaking. So yeah, we’ll get to it. [Music] [Music] Yeah, don’t do what I’ve done. I’ve come this way. This is not the best route to start with. I probably should have gone on the road to uh Staintington, but where’s the adventure in that? Okay, going through farmer’s field. I’ve got the tires for it. [Music] Yeah, I’m going to leave this. No issues. Let’s get through the case. [Music] Here [Music] we go. Back on the uh I would exactly call it straight and narrow. Maybe the narrow above the [Music] This must have been all where the canal was building. Look, there’s a bridge there. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Yeah, I’m an absolute nightmare style. Typical me really. So, the everything I’ve planned is obviously designed with walking and not mountain biking. gates are lift over overgrown parts. So yeah, I’m now going on the road towards a place called Natland and I’m going to do a right turn when I get to Natland and then head on towards Stainington I think it is. So yeah, not an ideal start but I can’t complain. You got views like that. So every cloud and all that. Speaking of clouds, it’s a bit gray, but it’s very humid. Obviously got me the not so waterproof jacket on uh just in case you do get a downpour, but that one. So got this rain turn coming up and then we’ll carry on on the road for a little bit. So I’ll pick up you when I get back to the um when I get to the water bit. So, I’ll see you soon. Mland [Music] Cricut. [Music] [Music] Don’t necessarily mind riding on these roads. Relatively quiet. Picturesque [Music] little [Music] bit. [Music] Take the uh 8590 and then we’re going this way. [Music] No worries. So, this looks like start or should say maybe the start the Lancaster Canal. Good job of running treeless because this guy’s cutting thorns. Anyway, [Music] no worries, mate. So, yeah, that must be that’s where obviously the canal was. [Music] canal bridge coming up. [Music] So yeah, if you excuse the noise in the background, that is where the water stops and beyond there is all overgrown. So we’re heading that direction. [Music] Thank you. Thank you. [Music] So yeah, I haven’t actually planned any breaks on this ride at all. Really Liverpool ride was nailed down, but I haven’t had much time to research on this cuz literally I planned it last night. Thought about it for the last four weeks. Planned it last night. So yeah, we’ll have to see how we get on. I think K for might be a good show. Or if I can get to Lancaster, that’s only 20 according to 24 miles, but I’ve already done eight of those. So that’s not too far. So I’ll be able to get uh nice coffee and a cake or something or something like that. Maybe even a spot of lunch. So yeah, I just um have to put my my camera in charge up cuz I’m start bit low on the battery, but uh yeah, I’ll catch up a little bit further on the cut. [Music] It’s like some sort of uh car meetat. [Music] if I can get a nice viewpoint of it. The car meters. So yeah, this is the uh West Morland wheels of Weekender. Sorry. Wheels up north weekender, I think it’s called. That’s on Google. That’s my dream. Anyway, let’s get ourselves back up onto the tow. [Music] [Music] This is Crockland’s looks like uh the first navigable part of the canal. Oh, [Music] Lancaster Canal Trust. [Music] Thank you. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] This is just incredible scenery. [Music] Shame about the noise of the M6 direction. [Music] [Applause] All [Music] right, Bridgeport 155 is an important point because it’s so overgrown that way. It’s just not possible and I think the M6 will get in your way. So, you need to go up those steps. But, I think if I go around that way, there’s a uh there’s another exit that way. [Music] Just make sure you’re aware you excuse the noise. Bridge number 155 is over that way. You go over this motorway bridge over the M6 and you come in through this way. Yeah. Sun sign to path down that way. So yeah, excuse the noise. The M6 is up to negotiate them steps. Ching field 4 and a half miles. The canal starts back there again. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] So yeah, lots of dogs to encounter as well. Lots of walkers, runners with dogs. You need to be mindful of that. And uh the camera battery, I don’t know what’s going on with it to be honest. It was absolutely flawless on the leaves Liverpool today. It just seems to be playing up. So I’m using mostly my phone to record if you can hear things because it’s quite windy. Uh, and yeah, my backpack’s leaking, so I might have to empty the water out of it, which are great. [Music] Lots of roots. [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] I get lish now. So, [Music] [Applause] [Music] I had to stop for a minute or so. It’s uh absolutely lashing now, but it’s Britain. It’s not far from Cumbria. what to expect. So, yeah, we head down this way and uh at some point hopefully we’ll be able to get a stop in, get some lunch, and uh hopefully I’ll be able to sort my backpack out, just empty it. I’ll drink what’s in my water bottle first cuz I got the tablet. So, Chewfield locks. Ernie locks. Eight locks at Chewfield raise the Lancaster Canal to 75 ft in half a mile. The only locks on the 57 miles of canal between Preston and Camper. [Applause] [Music] [Music] Back on a suitable surface now. Just gone through Chew It Field, if that’s how you pronounce it. The top path is a lot better. It’s a shame my little uh chest cam isn’t. I can’t record some decent ride footage, you know. [Music] That’s where [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] walk as well. Probably not. Yeah, it’s just passed through car for there. Um, wasn’t sure whether to stop at that pub or not. I don’t know whe to just keep pushing on towards Lancaster. I think there might be a few more dining options in Lancaster. That did say walk as welcome though. I don’t know how somewhere it would take a guy who’s been on a bike who’s covered in covered in muck. Anyway, uh so yeah, I think Lancaster I can’t even I don’t even know how far it is. You know, maybe 10 miles if that. Let’s see how we get on. Eat. [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Right. So, let’s stop by to uh sort this hydration pack issue out. So, I completely stripped it down and uh most of the water, as you can see there, look, it’s absolutely soaking. most of the water into there. I’m going to use one of these things. So, yeah, pop one of those in there. That should get me through another hopefully 15 20 miles, I imagine. down that direction. Tell you what, I don’t know. I’ve been stung loads today. Got stung by those apples. Anyway, there’s a sign back there said there was about two or three miles to Moran and about 3 or four miles to Lancaster. So, yeah, not too long now and get some lunch. So, I’ll catch up you in a bit. [Music] That’s possible. [Music] I don’t want this one. [Music] [Music] [Music] We have a moon aqueduct. Heat. Heat. [Music] That looks all right. Actually, the white cross. Yeah, just stop for lunch at the uh the White Cross. It’s pretty decent. got a burger and chips. Uh so hopefully that’s enough to fuel me to the rest of the ride. I might need to stop and get a couple of snacks in Gastang or something. So yeah, um let’s get cracking back on the tow path. I’ve got to literally go up that bridge and then back over and then onto the other side there. But yeah, catch up in a bit. So yes, back to iPhone filming, I’m afraid. It’s the poor battery quality on the uh the Insta3. But hey, crack on. It’s more about getting the ride done rather than filming it. But I’ll film what I can on the phone. There just won’t be much ride footage. So, uh see how we get on. It’s a nice cool line of narrow boats. smooth. This is bridge number 94. That’s uh nice impressive structure there. So, the toe paths uh not too bad, but uh up a little bit since massive bridge structure coming up. [Music] [Applause] I’m just taking off the [Music] back to uh non-existent to path just grass. [Music] some elements on the left. These are probably approaching a little town. Don’t know which one. [Music] I almost just cut off. Uh, two idiots with umbrellas refused to give me enough room. So, I tried to scare around and and a tire caught on the outskirts of the toe path, which is kind of like concave. Caught it. Front wheel went. managed to save it just about. Anyway, I’m suitably dirty because it’s been nothing but a mud bath. And uh I’m currently on the Glasson flight that kind of takes you towards Glasson Dock, which is that way. Uh now I’m going that way. Interestingly, uh that’s like a wild flower plantation, but yeah, we shall crack on. [Music] Another nice bridge structure. I’ve just passed the sign there which says Garang 8 miles. So, 8 miles to go to the nearest civilization and it’s absolutely lashes down. [Applause] Not bad. My second swan stand off on this trip. So, I’m probably going to have to go around and to the right cuz I don’t know what I go into. I think he’ll peck me with that long neck. So, if I go around to the right, I think we’ll be okay. as far right as we can. Yes, but we’re up against more of the same. Have to ride relatively slowly on it because you can’t see where the rocks are, especially riding one handed rare wet wet. Uh lights up the tires and so fast. It’s just energy sapping and Ah, the Le Liverpool was more enjoyable cuz it was more accessible I think for people. Um, I’ll tell you what, the trade-off for this, the scenery has been incredible, so I can’t argue. Yeah, got this uh tricky section now to navigate through. There you go. I mean, yeah, this is what it’s been like. [Music] probably the last five or six miles at least. Um, very very nutritional riding especially in the west. So, uh, hoping to see Gastang pretty soon. Get some sugary snacks. I wish I could say it was easier going if you’re a boater, but I mean, it really isn’t. You got to get through all of that weed. And uh I can imagine you’ll be down your weed hatch quite a bit. But these look like nice static homes just right at the edge of the canal. Got their own little morins so you can have your uh cruiser cruiser boat. Yeah, it’s very cool. Uh I don’t know where I am. Where’s this? Let’s see. It’s called Wind Marley. Yeah. So, there’s ones this time went on the toe path, so I escaped this time. Not a nice day for a cruise, though. Nice bridge. Bridge 63B. under the bridge. So, via Aqueduct. So, I just stopped off at Boos there. Got some uh sweets, a can of Coke, which I’ll have later on, and protein bar with the caramel. So, yeah, that was cool. So, I’m 42 miles in, nearly 43 miles. There’s about another 16 miles to go. And yeah, this is how this has been logged today. But like I say, give it a go. Um hopefully looking at this too’s going to be much better. New cow certainly doesn’t look happy that it’s raining. So yeah, we’re uh back to this again. [Applause] Unfortunately, terrible surface about 2 or 3 miles outside the Garang and uh yeah, not enjoyable. Thankfully, less than 14 miles to go. So, just over an hour, about an hour and 20 minutes, I’ll be back in the car. Absolutely lifesaver. So, yeah, just taking some shelters under this bridge. You can hear the noise of the M6 in the background. But yeah, and uh this has been quite a nutritional one. What am I 46 miles in? It’s It’s been tough. Shout out to all the Stevens watching. [Music] The London that structure is from the motorway. It’s garden center and marina. Nice. Tow path is uh a lot better now. on surface to ride on top. [Music] Another nightmare section again. It’s just relentless. It’s like I would probably say about 20% of it has been, you know, gravel or smooth. The rest of it has just been like this. When it’s wet, it’s proper energy. Getting into a place called Camp Force now. Um I think Satnav wants to direct me somewhere else cuz I’ve lost track of where the Sat completely deviated off onto the road I think towards Preston. Looking at this, I’m not bloody surprised either. [Music] [Applause] River Trust if you’re watching just make all of the to like this so much better. So much better. Yeah, I just passed the sign there which said uh 5 miles out from Preston and I could not be happier to see that sign. This has been a hell of a day, but I’ll feel a sensory uh conditions. So, yeah, get through the rest of this and uh get some rest and do a an outro. [Music] Let’s [Music] go under uh I think it’s the M55 road bridge. It’s just an absolute joy to ride on. Honestly, easiest surface to ride on today. Wouldn’t [Music] fancy being a motor. Not with that. We even see ducks struggling to get through it. That section takes you off towards the Ribble Link onto the Le Liverpool Canal there and you come out that way and do a left [Music] there. Just get out of the canal this summer. [Music] Can’t be far away now. Preston terminus. [Music] So close. Close [Music] now. [Music] [Applause] [Music] There it is. Preston Terminus, the end of the Lancaster Canal. [Music] So that’s that. I’ve um got half a mile to go till I get to the town center and the train station. As you can see there, Chewfield Cruising Terminus 41 miles and I covered 59 miles from Oxen home. So yeah, by the time we get back to the car, I’ll be about 60 mi today, which I’m pleased with. So let’s get back to the car and we’ll do a bit of a debrief. Yeah, I just got back in the car. Um, I’m filthy. I’m tired. I stink. Uh, my bike’s rotten. That was proper intense ride. Conditions didn’t help. It was lashing it down. I had a headwind for the vast majority of it. So, I’ll put on my wind sock uh at the end of the video so you can see what the um the headwinds were like. And yeah, it was um at least I can say I’ve done it so that you don’t have to. and on that uh bombshell. I will see you on the next video. Take care. [Music]