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Northwich – Lymm

50 km road cycling loop189 m climbing2–2½ hoursGPX

Comberbach, England, United Kingdom · Road

A flat 50 km road cycling loop from Comberbach, England through Anderton, Northwich and Lymm, with 189 m of climbing.

Route contributed by Richard Chapman · Created from a ride on Sunday 26th June 2022

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At a glance

Best for
Flat, steady riding
Distance
49.6 km
Loop
Elevation gain
189 m
4 m per km
Riding time
2–2½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
88% paved · 8% unpaved · 3% no data
Traffic
Mostly minor roads
8.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 18 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 6.2 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
60 cafés and restaurants · 18 shops · 1 water point · 7 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Comberbach

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
189 m
Distance
50 km
020406080100m0 km1020304050 km78 m · highest, at 18.9 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Comberbach
  2. Andertonkm 2
  3. Northwichkm 4
  4. Winchamkm 6
  5. High Leghkm 19
  6. Lymmkm 26
  7. Latchfordkm 32
  8. Appleton Thornkm 37
  9. Budworth Heathkm 46
  10. Comberbachkm 50

This 49.6 km loop starts and ends in Comberbach, passing through Northwich at 3.6 km and Lymm at 25.6 km. The route climbs 189 m with the highest point at 78 m near High Legh at 18.5 km, and the lowest at 7 m by Thelwall at 31.3 km. Most climbing is in the first half, comprising 42% of the total elevation gain.

The surface is mainly paved (88%) with 8% gravel or unpaved and 3% unmapped. The road mix includes 23.3 km on minor roads, 8.5 km on main roads (8.6 km of which have no cycle lane), 6.9 km on quiet streets, 6.2 km on cycle paths, 3.4 km on paths and 0.5 km on tracks. Fast roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more cover 18 km. The longest named road ridden is Arley Road for 3.8 km.

Refuelling options include cafés at 2.5 km, 9.7 km, 21 km, 25.5 km, 34.7 km, and 42.2 km, and pubs near 29.5 km and close to the start/finish at Comberbach. Convenience stores and a supermarket are located from 6.3 km to 32.3 km. There's one water point at 1.9 km near Anderton, toilets at various points, and a bike shop at 37.7 km. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 11 km between 9.7 km and 20.7 km. Bailouts are possible at Northwich station (5.9 km) and near a ferry at 29.7 km.

Why ride this route?

  • The flattest of the 5 rides from Comberbach.

Highlights

  • High Legh at 18.5 km, 78 m elevation
  • Lymm Dam viewpoint at 26.1 km
  • Arley Hall and Gardens near 42 km
  • Anderton Boat Lift near 2.5 km

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Anderton 2.3 km
  2. Winnington 3.2 km
  3. Northwich 3.6 km
  4. Marston 6.3 km
  5. Wincham 6.3 km
  6. Pickmere 9.6 km
  7. High Legh 18.9 km
  8. Broomedge 20.7 km
  9. Lymm 25.6 km
  10. Thelwall 29.7 km
  11. Latchford 32.3 km
  12. Grappenhall 33.5 km
  13. Appleton Thorn 37.2 km
  14. Arley 41.8 km
  15. Budworth Heath 46.3 km
  16. Great Budworth 47.3 km

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 8.6 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.

Roads
48% minor road · 17% main road · 14% quiet street · 13% cycle path · 8% other roads and tracks
Main roads
8.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
18 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
6.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Arley Road (4 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 88% is mapped as paved, 8% as unpaved or gravel and 3% has no surface data.
Gradient
8% climbing · 11% descending · 81% flat

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 60 cafés and restaurants, 18 shops, 1 water point, 7 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 1.9 kmAnderton Water Point · water point · 230 m off route
  2. 1.9 kmToilets · 250 m off route
  3. 2.5 kmCafé · on the route
  4. 6.3 kmVillage Store and Cafe · convenience store · 40 m off route
  5. 9.7 kmThe Farm Club · café · 40 m off route
  6. 18.2 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  7. 20.7 kmBudgens · convenience store · on the route
  8. 21 kmWillowpool Nurseries and Reclamation Centre · café · 50 m off route
  9. 25.4 kmThe Cross Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
  10. 25.9 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  11. 26.6 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · on the route
  12. 29.5 kmLittle Manor · pub · 340 m off route
  13. 32.3 kmEasy Shop · convenience store · 100 m off route
  14. 34.7 kmPrimrose Cafe at the Walled Gardens · café · 40 m off route
  15. 34.7 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  16. 37.7 kmCheshire Cycles · bike shop · on the route
  17. 42.2 kmThe Gardener's Kitchen Café · café · 50 m off route
  18. 42.2 kmToilets · 40 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 5.9 km — Northwich (station), 960 m off route
  • 29.7 km — Ferry, 690 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 2.5 km — Anderton Boat Lift (attraction)
  • 18.2 km — High Legh Miniature Railway (attraction)
  • 26.1 km — Lymm Dam (viewpoint)
  • 42.2 km — Arley Hall and Gardens (attraction)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Comberbach. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Spinner & Bergamot (130 m)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 11 km from 9.7 to 20.7 km
  • 8.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 18 km on roads with speed limit 80 km/h or more
  • 8% gravel or unpaved sections

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

7 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Richard Chapman
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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