Welcome to the ninth edition of Le Terrier organised as ever by a small group of dedicated cyclists from Lancaster Cycling Club. As cyclists we know what you want and like to think that we are running an event we would like to ride ourselves. Le terrier is acquiring a minor cult status, a well run sportive by a friendly cycling club in probably the quietest area of England with superb scenery and views.

The event is almost completely in the Bowland Forest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and we have three routes for you to choose from. All three routes are together for the first 14miles taking in Jubilee Tower and the iconic Trough of Bowland before the first split at Dunsop Bridge.

The Short route will then go straight through to Slaidburn while the Long and Medium routes will turn up over Wild Boar Fell to Chipping followed by the climbs of Jeffery Hill and Waddington Fell before rejoining the riders on the short route at Newton only a few miles on their way to the feed station at Slaidburn.

Leaving Slaidburn the short and medium course riders continue over the Cross O’Greet and on to Wray but the long course riders have a long loop over Bowland Knotts, Tosside and Bolton-by-Bowland to complete before they return to Slaidburn and chase down the comrades on the roads to Wray.

 At the small village of Wray you are nearly within sight of home but there are two routes back to Lancaster. Those of you wanting more take the road up Roeburndale, Littledale and Stock-a-bank but an easier option is an escape route down the Lune Valley to Lancaster – the official short route home.

As usual we will be using the Youth Hostel in Slaidburn as our main feed station for all 3 routes with minor feedstations at timing checkpoints offering our famous flapjack, water and energy gels.

We believe the full Le Terrier to be one of the hardest sportive in the UK and it lives up to its name as just like a terrier it never gives up - there is always one more hill. We could have added extra miles for the sake of it, but we have kept with our ethos - NO JUNK MILES! 

All profits from the ride go to charity.