Did you know that 80% of the district of Burnley is countryside? You can now discover the urban and countryside surprises by bike, using the growing network of greenways - attractive, traffic-free routes connecting town centres and surrounding green spaces; great for getting outdoors for leisure and your everday activities.

Burnley and Padiham Greenways include:

Padiham Greenway

Opened in autumn 2009, the new cycle path on the old railway is the jewel in the crown of Burnley's cycle network. Linking with the canal it means that you are able to cycle all the way from Padiham to Burnley town centre on a traffic free route. There are links from the old railway to schools, employment areas and Gawthorpe Hall, a National Trust property.

European Greenway Awards 2011

The Greenway won an European Greenway Award in 2011 for the creative programme of community events managed by Mid Pennine Arts when the Greenway was first opened.

River Calder Greenway

Padiham - Ightenhill - Burnley

Cycle through the countryside. Take the cycle route along the Calder Valley from Padiham to Ightenhill. Pedal past ancient woodland and riverside meadows. Watch out for sculptures and the Trail of Words. Stop at Ightenhill Bridge over the River Calder and admire the idyllic view.

You can continue up the hill into Burnley to join a quiet road which will lead you into the town centre via the canal, or take the bridleway to Higham and Pendle Hill.

Brun Valley Greenway

Follow the Brun Valley Greenway from Burnley town centre through parks and wooded river valleys out into the countryside.

Starting from Burnley Central Station by the new college the route follows an old mineral railway through parkland. From Netherwood Bridge take the climb up to Briercliffe and Queen Street Mill, a historic steam powered mill or continue up the Brun Valley to Rowley Lake, Pike Hill and Brownside.

There are links from the Greenway to the canal, schools and employment areas.  Places to stop on the way include:

Thompson Park

An outstanding town centre park with boating lake and model railway.

Queen Street Mill

The last working steam driven cotton weaving mill in the world. There is a café at the mill.

Rowley Lake

Attractive lake surrounded by woodland. The lake is popular with wildfowl and fisherman. Stop for a picnic by the lake.
 

Sweetclough Greenway

Take the Greenway through open space along the Sweetclough Valley from to Gannow. From Gannow you can follow cycle paths and the canal towpath to the town centre.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal Towpath

You can cycle on the canal towpath all the way from Hapton west of Burnley to Barnoldswick. When the cycle path on the old railway is open in autumn 2009 you will be able to get to Padiham too. It is a great route to avoid all the traffic and fine for all the family too. Being flat there are no hills and you will be surprised how quickly the miles slip past.

There are places to stop on the way like Barden Mill Marina and Café. The Weavers Triangle gives reminders of Burnley's heritage as a centre of cotton weaving. The canal played a major part in the development of Burnley with once mighty cotton mills lining its banks. Pedal along the 'Straight Mile' on one of the Seven Wonders of the Canal Age, a mile long embankment with splendid views out over the town and surrounding countryside. North of Barden the canal becomes more rural with views out to Pendle Hill with its associations with witchcraft.

From Burnley town centre to Barnoldswick the canal is part of national cycle route 68, the Pennine Cycleway running from Derby to Berwick-on-Tweed.

There are links from the canal to the town centre, employment areas, schools and surrounding attractions, including Towneley Park.

Between April and October 2013 the towpath is closed between Knotts Lane bridge, west of the Padiham Greenway for bridge works.

A network of cycle paths is being developed in Towneley Park. You can get from the canal to Towneley Park via Finsley Gate, which though busy is traffic calmed. The Pennine Cycleway (National Cycle Route 68) goes through the park.

Centrepiece of the Park is Towneley Hall, one of Lancashire's finest historic houses. Dating from Tudor times, the Hall was the home of the Towneley family. One of the Towneleys, Colonel Francis Towneley, was executed. The Hall is now a museum and art gallery and is well worth visiting, or stop at the café for a snack.

Many of Burnley's high schools are well served by cycle routes Shuttleworth Community College, Sir John Thursby and Unity College are served by cycle paths. Both Thomas Whitham Sixth Form Centre and Blessed Trinity RC College are close to the Canal.

Use your bike to discover Burnley's Pennine Countryside. Both the Pennine Cycleway (Route 68) and Lancashire Cycle (Route 91) through Burnley's Pennine Countryside.

A demanding but spectacular cycle ride from Burnley crossing the South Pennines to Hebden Bridge and back (30 miles).

• From Burnley take Route 68 through Towneley Park up onto the Pennines past Cliviger Windfarm to Heptonstall.
• You can continue down to Hebden Bridge in the valley below, but it is a steep climb back up.
• Return from Heptonstall via Widdop and Thursden on a remote moorland pass to Colne.
• From Colne take the canal back to Burnley.

Routes 90/91

A 260 mile cycle tour of the county. It crosses the South Pennines to the east of Burnley.

Burnley's Pennine Countryside offers great mountain biking.

Hurstwood Mountain Bike Trail

There is short 1.6km blue (easy) mountain trail by Hurstwood Reservoir. The trial links with the Mary Towneley Loop.

Mary Towneley Loop

Part of the Pennine Bridleway the Mary Towneley loop offers a 47 mile long mountain bike challenge criss crossing the Pennines between Lancashire and Yorkshire on ancient packhorse routes. Unless you are very experienced and quick the whole route needs two days to enjoy it to the full.