Views from an old railway route part 3, Earby to Skipton.

Walking the old railway line between Colne and Skipton brings you some very nice views, but it can also bring you some surprises as I found out in this video.

[@angelsone-five7912]

Saw a film of this line being ripped up, very sad. Great video.

[@stevenhill-crane2272]

Cycle that regularly , love the mud

[@rebeccawitcombe8437]

Do you still ride it? Are those massive puddles and muddy sections still there? Am looking at riding this as a quicker more direct route than the canal to Skipton.

[@jimshephard4867]

Muddyboots4me this is excellent. Your guides to the Pendle Way have been invaluable but this video is even better.

[@Muddyboots4me]

Thank you for your comments, I am working on some new video's at the moment ( when the weather lets me).

[@clairebevington4679]

lived in earby for over 25 years and now ive left and both parents are gone I actually do miss it and the countryside and walks locally to earby. nelson is such a slum town.

[@rebeccawitcombe8437]

This is a lovely video - found when searching for a more direct cycle route from Burnley to Skipton. Can you access from Colne or do I need to get to Earby? And when you get to the private land outside Skipton is it easy to back onto the canal again?

[@Muddyboots4me]

Hi Rebecca. Thank you for your kind comment, There are some very nice parts of the old railway route to cycle along, but there are also some, I would say impossible parts of the route to cycle along. The views from the line are great all the way along, but you come upon stretches where the conditions would in my opinion become impossible to ride a bike, for instance just before Foulridge the track bed becomes a total bog and the route goes up onto the banking, and I would think it would have to be a walk from that point into Foulridge. After Foulridge there is a bridge missing and you have to get down from one side cross the farm track and then get back up the other side, plus before that there is a stretch of the track that is just along bog (I would think around 200 feet long) but after that the rest of the track into Earby is not that bad. From Earby onwards the route becomes more biker friendly, Having said that there is another bridge down along this part, and the banking to get back onto the track bed is quite steep, ( I would think it would take two people to safely get a bike up that banking) but the mile or so of track after that point is very nice indeed, ( you have to go through a steel gate to access that part of the track). That brings you into Elslack, it would be best to use the road at that point for a short distance heading for Skipton until you see the start of the concrete farm road, but as that ends you start the part where the 4x4 course uses the track bed and that is very bad indeed, for half a mile or so I would say the route becomes a foot to two feet mud pool, there are scramble paths up in the edge, but to get a bike through would be a real task, after that the final part of the route is very nice. At the end of the track you drop down onto the road into Carlton, from there Skipton is around a 2.5 mile ride away. You could use the canal towpath starting from Barrowford to Shipton, (heading for Foulridge once you reach the mile tunnel) that route is a bit longer at around 18 miles, but is useable all the way along, (and a lot safer) but please go with another person which ever route you take. ( I had to call the ambulance once for a cyclist that had slid on the grass a greenberfield locks Barnoldswick (he had broken his shoulder). Any way I hope this helps you decide your adventure to Skipton. Best regards Bill.

[@rebeccawitcombe8437]

@@Muddyboots4me Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed response - that;'s so kind!! My husband and I rode the canal route last weekend, but it goes a lot further round than this one. We thought the railway might be quicker, but it sounds like it might be more of an adventure ride!!! I think we'll try it, but maybe when we are not pressured for time! Your information will definitely come in handy. Happy adventuring!

[@andrewhaines8603]

So if it is private land as stated on the signage how can someone A) build a concrete road on it & B) put a 4x4 track over it? Something not right there. I know the properties in Earby/Kelbrook have extended gardens into the track route as well. Not sure how legal that is, but how the SELRAP group think this line is ever going to be reinstated is beyond me. Don't get me wrong it would mean I'd catch a train to Skipton rather than take the car!

[@Muddyboots4me]

Hi Andrew, From what I understand, the county councils of both Yorkshire and Lancashire already own the land that the route is on, also it would appear that the likes of Network rail, local MP's from both county's, and some big industries are very keen for this link to be reinstated, all this driven forward by SELRAP who have been working towards reopening this link for a long time. So it would seem that if it was to be reinstated the concrete road and 4x4 track, plus the gardens along the route, and other farmers use of the track bed would come to an end quite quickly. I have taken a look at the SELRAP web site, and they have got a whole lot "if not every detail" you would want to look at.

[@peterkabrna]

@@Muddyboots4me The thing is I’m always walking along the track bed from Colne to Foulridge and whenever anyone comes from government to give Selrap a little encouragement they then go away and they’re never to be seen again. I think they’re waiting for the few people who want to see it reopen die off