Get Set for the Tour De France
Looking forward to the Tour De France hitting our screens and roads next year? We can't wait, especially as 2027 will see the riders make their way through the incredible Lancashire landscape!
About Get Set for the Tour De France
Looking forward to the Tour De France hitting our screens and roads next year? We can't wait, especially as 2027 will see the riders make their way through the incredible Lancashire landscape as they embark on Stage 2, Kendal to Liverpool.
Take a look at some of the spots they will see on their way through and plan a trip of your own to experience it all for yourself either before, during or after the race!
Itinerary Schedule
Carnforth
The first town that the riders will visit in Lancashire with be the historic town of Carnforth, offering visitors a chance to step back in time.
The town has a strong railway heritage, with its railway station still a popular attraction to visit to this day. The station was famously used as the backdrop for the greatest romance movie of all time, A Brief Encounter, and still houses a bistro which is an exact replica of the one in the movie. The Carnforth Heritage Centre at the station provides a behind-the-scenes look into the world of the movie, and a history of what happened during the filming, which took place during WWII.
The town is also home to a fabulous bookshop, several small boutiques, pubs and restaurants, as well as the Lancaster Canal which once linked Kendal in the north to the quayside town of Lancaster and Glasson Dock ports to the south, offering incredible step free biking routes throughout.
Morecambe
While the race may just skirt the town of Morecambe, you should definitely stop by and enjoy all the seaside resort has to offer. Morecambe is home to a traditional English seaside promenade, the Winter Gardens event venue and breathtaking views across the Bay to the Lake District hills beyond. The promenade features incredible sculptural artworks and is also the starting point to the long-distance bike route "The Way of the Roses".
Geographically a point just off the coast of Morecambe is the centre of the United Kingdom and it really does make a great base for some incredible days out, to local areas such as Lancaster and Silverdale, but also into Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales.
Morecambe is a great day out, whether you are looking for long bike rides down the promenade, a spot of shopping, great ice cream or a drink to refresh after a long day. Theres even great spots for the kids too, such as Jump Rush and Soul Bowl.
Lancaster
The historic city of Lancaster sits just 4 miles from the coast, and offers the best of countryside, coast and city. The city centre bustles with countless bars, restaurants and live entertainment venues in the evening, and offers fantastic shopping experiences during the day. There are also five museums and the awe-inspiring Lancaster Castle to enjoy too.
Situated on a hill in the middle of the city, with cobbled lanes leading to the imposing John O'Gaunt Gatehouse, Lancaster Castle has a long history as a place of justice. It was the location of the infamous Pendle Witch Trials in 1612, and home to a working prison until 2011. Visit today to experience daily guided tours that offer a great insight into the castle's history, and the fantastic Lancashire Police Museum located in the old prison cells still housed inside.
Around Lancaster you will find a fantastic number of lodgings, from Lancaster House Hotel on the outskirts to The Borough Rooms, Domain Hotel and more. There are bike rental businesses, and several great cycling routes including the Millennium pathway route which links Glasson Dock to Halton and Caton on the edge of the Forest of Bowland. To give yourself enough time to truly enjoy the route the city makes for the ideal stopover point after day one of exploring.
Cote de Jubilee Tower
The Tour De France riders will head out of Lancaster past the dominating structure of Ashton Memorial which sits in Williamson Park on the edge of the city. Recognised fondly as the Taj Mahal of the North of England, the Ashton Memorial was built in the early 1900s as a memorial to a wife. It dominates the city's skyline and can be seen from miles around.
Once past the park, the riders will head into the Forest of Bowland, where they will encounter the first of the "King of the Mountains", known on the route as the Cote De Jubilee Tower. This climb is known locally as Quernmore Brow, the highest point of which is 286 metres above sea level, with an average gradient of 6% and a steepest gradient of 16%, at the top, you will find Jubilee Tower, hence the name of the Cote.
Jubilee Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, at 4 metres high, and with its prominent position on the Brow, it provides a superb viewing platform of Morecambe Bay, the Fylde coast and the Yorkshire Dales, there is a car park for visitors to use while you walk to the top of the tower via the external staircase.
Cote de Trough of Bowland
From Jubilee Tower the riders will wind their way through the Forest of Bowland, on what is known as the Trough of Bowland road, this is arguably one of the most beautiful roads in England, with moorland and farmland surrounding the winding road and the series of small villages that can be found there.
The Cote de Trough of Bowland will take riders up and back down the mountain pass, with single track road running through steep hills on either side as they race. Most of this part of the ride takes place within the Duchy of Lancaster's land, meaning the cyclists will be riding through land owned by His Majesty King Charles III.
Great places to visit on this part of the route is the beautiful village of Dunsop Bridge, which is the exact geographical centre of the British Isles and Whitewell, where you can find The Inn at Whitewell, a wonderful place to enjoy a pitstop and admire the picturesque stepping stones to cross the river.
Cote De Waddington Fell
As the riders make their way out of the Trough of Bowland, they will face their third mountain climb. Waddington Fell sits just outside the village of Waddington, at a height of 396m above sea level. The climb that the Tour De France riders will take is a popular one with cyclists with a gradient of up to 6.4% and featuring a number of hairpin bends.
The area is popular with walkers and cyclists, with local pubs such as The Higher Buck and Waddington Arms welcoming all for a pint or a meal, both venues have overnight accommodation options too, so you can stay for a while and enjoy the area.
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a picturesque market town on the edge of the Forest of Bowland with fantastic independent shopping options and places to stay, eat and enjoy the region. The skyline is dominated by Clitheroe Castle, a Norman Keep which you can explore and climb to enjoy impressive views across the Forest of Bowland, as well as a museum, to learn more about the surrounding area. It's a great spot for kids too with the beautiful gardens and parkland right next door!
Head into town, and enjoy freshly roasted coffee at Exchange Coffee Company, choose from over 70 varieties of sausages at Cowman's Famous Sausage Shop, or stop for a game of interactive darts, duck pin bowling and more at Bowland Social, before heading off to your next stop, or making a pit stop for the evening at The 1823 Spinning Block Hotel.
Blackburn
As the route leaves Chorley behind, it passes through Blackburn, a vibrant Lancashire town rich in heritage and surrounded by striking scenery.
Look out for landmarks including the magnificent Blackburn Cathedral, one of England's newest cathedrals, and the historic Darwen Tower. With views stretching towards the West Pennine Moors, the route showcases the area's blend of industrial heritage, green spaces and rolling countryside before riders begin the ascent towards the Côte de Belmont, one of the route's most challenging and spectacular climbs.
West Pennine Moors and Cote de Belmont
Once the riders have made their way through Clitheroe and nearby Blackburn they will make their way onto the West Pennine Moors, past Darwen Tower and through the moorland to their next Cote; Cote de Belmont. This will likely see the riders take on Winter Hill, (pictured, credit: Skyoptics), which sits at 456m above sea level and is the spot where the Chorley and Blackburn with Darwen districts meet with Bolton in Greater Manchester. The hill provides exceptional views across Lancashire and Manchester, with Cumbria, the Peak District, North Wales and even the Isle of Man visible on clear days.
Winter Hill and its neighbour Rivington Pike are very popular walking and cycling spots with plenty of routes to introduce the sports to those looking to start, or challenge keen walkers and cyclists. The gradient up the hill averages 7.7% however there are steeper spots which may see the riders climbing 17.5% gradients during the race!
Chorley
Descending from the dramatic slopes of the Côte de Belmont, the route returns to Chorley, a market town steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful Lancashire countryside.
Along the way, riders pass close to local landmarks including Astley Hall, a magnificent Grade I listed country house set within picturesque parkland, and Yarrow Valley Country Park, known for its woodland trails and peaceful waterways.
From Chorley's bustling town centre to the rolling landscapes that frame the borough, this stretch offers a wonderful contrast between heritage, nature and quintessential Lancashire charm before the route continues towards the characterful village of Parbold.
Cote De Parbold
From Belmont the route takes riders down past the market town of Chorley and into West Lancashire with its small villages and farmland known for producing salad, vegetables and meat from grazing animals.
This part offers a little bit of a flatter route, until the riders reach Parbold, the last part of the ride before heading out of Lancashire and over to Liverpool. Parbold Hill will make up the final King of the Mountains in Stage 2, with its elevation of around 101m, at an average gradient of 6.3%. The steepest section has a gradient of 11.5% and again the hill is a popular one for keen cyclists who live and visit the village.
The route will take the riders over the brow of the hill, and then down into Appley Bridge a popular destination for walkers and cyclists travelling the Leeds Liverpool Canal, before travelling into Upholland. There are some fabulous places to stay in this area including The Wrightington Hotel and spa, Stone Hall Farm glamping and Lancashire Manor Hotel.