Panopticon Ride

Panopticon adventure Bikepacking

As the blue sky warmed up over Halifax, the three of us set out on a bikepacking adventure to find four panopticons in the Yorkshire and Lancashire region. The three of us were excited to explore the rugged terrain of the area and see the stunning views from the panopticons.

Our first stop was the Singing Ringing Tree, located in the Pennine Hills near Burnley. The Singing Ringing Tree is a unique sculpture that produces a harmonic sound when the wind blows through its pipes. .

The second stop was the Halo Panopticon, located on the top of a hill in Haslingden. The Halo is a circular structure that glows at night, offering a stunning visual display against the dark sky.

The third stop was the Colourfields Panopticon, located in Blackburn. The Colourfields is a vibrant installation made up of 33 steel poles of varying heights, each painted a different shade of color.

After finding the third panopticon we headed for a village called Whalley where we would have dinner and ensure we had enough energy for the big climb up to Pendle Hill which would be our home for the night . Once we reached the summit we settled down for the night in our bivi bags, enjoying the peaceful surroundings and reflecting on our adventure so far as we still had the fourth one to find at Wycoller.
We had covered 62 miles and over 7,000 feet of climbing.
Morning broke and we are up early and headed for the village of Barley to use the amenities and freshen up.
Out next stop was breakfast and Colne offered that so we filled our bellies with egg butties and headed for Wycoller where our final panopticon would be.

Our final visit was the impressive steel atom which offered 360 degree views around the stunning countryside from here we would head back on the Pennine Bridleway to where we had started early Saturday morning .
Our total mileage of over 100 miles and 12,000 feet of climbing was very satisfying and felt like we had achieved what we set out to do.
The brilliant planning from my friend Saul Muldoon was awesome to ensure the ride was off road as much as possible.

Bikepacking is an incredible way to explore the great outdoors, and the Yorkshire and Lancashire region is the perfect place to do it. With its rugged terrain, stunning views, and unique panopticons, it’s no wonder that this area is a popular destination for mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. We had an unforgettable weekend and left with memories that would last a lifetime.

Bike: Zion, Salsa Cutthroat Forks
Sleeping bag: Vango
Bivi bag: Alpkit
Bike Bag: Apidura..built to last had it for years