Rivington barn

[Sooty09]

Yesterday I went over to Chorley to look at a bike my friend was interested in. The shop was a breakers called Bertie's bikes, it's in a very large industrial unit and was stuffed full of old engines, forks etc for almost every Japanese bike from 70s on. www.bertiesbikebreakers.com
Having seen signs on the way to Bertie's for Rivington we decided to call in for a tea and bacon buttie. Having heard so much about the barn as a bikers meeting place I was a bit surprised when we got there. I was expecting a cross between KirbyLonsdale and Sherburn, instead it was a very well preserved barn converted to a restaurant/cafe. The car park was full of cars and bikes had to tuck in to any available spot. The food is good quality but its very expensive. ( I think there is another café open Sundays only)
The location is good and some nice roads and views round the surrounding lakes. The area generally though is a nightmare to ride through. Without using the motorways it about 60 mins ride through 90% urban areas to get on to the moors and back into Yorkshire.( I enjoyed Belmont moors)
My conclusion is , there are much better places to go, don't make it a special journey. If you are going spend time with a map to navigate round the towns or take the A59 past Clithero and finish on the M61.

 

[coyotedave]

Been my self a few times over then years. .
Good alternative to the other bike meets, not just sitting with mug of T in hand watching bikes come an go.
Good if you have a family, wifey an bin lids. Stalls for her to look at, bikes for you to look at, and lots of open space for the kids to run around in, under your supervision of cause.

Dave.

 

[mark-forrest]

Rivi Barn

Hi, you would of been at the lower barn if you were there on a Saturday.

Opposite the lower car park entrance there is another driveway which would take you to the upper barn. This is where all the bikes go on a Sunday, there's a big car park allocated for bikes only and it gets packed on a nice day. Usually there's a brew wagon outside the barn and a bar and better cafe inside that does proper Sunday lunches.

Worth a trip on a Sunday, know what you mean about the roads though you're surrounded by towns and end up on motorways just to avoid them.

 

[Jacal]

Hi, you would of been at the lower barn if you were there on a Saturday.

Opposite the lower car park entrance there is another driveway which would take you to the upper barn. This is where all the bikes go on a Sunday, there's a big car park allocated for bikes only and it gets packed on a nice day. Usually there's a brew wagon outside the barn and a bar and better cafe inside that does proper Sunday lunches.

Worth a trip on a Sunday, know what you mean about the roads though you're surrounded by towns and end up on motorways just to avoid them.

+1 : Better on a Sunday but must agree the route isn't worth the bother getting there.

 

[Sooty09]

Rivington barn, visit no 2

After yesterdays visit to the Barn I decided to find a better route across the Pennines, Im glad I did not give up on the idea because todays run over was one of the best rides I have had this year, all the more interesting because most of the roads were new to me. 150 miles and almost no towns. The only built up strip was at Rawtenstall and Rossendale.
I went to a different barn today, I think its Sundays only, and had a choice between a catering van and the large indoors café. There was a very good atmosphere with equal numbers of bikers and walkers. It was very busy despite the 6 deg c temp, so I can only guess what its like on a sunny summer day.
Just goes to show you should never make a rushed ill informed judgment, the Barn is now definitely one of my day trip destinations and on a Sunday can thoroughly recommend it. The variations to the route are endless by adding the Pendal/Bowland forest districts to the return journey.

The garmin route below is the one I used today.

 

[AdamA]

My conclusion is , there are much better places to go, don't make it a special journey.

Same conclusion I have reached with most bike meets tbh. I tend to avoid them throughout the warmer months and only visit when they actually value your custom. There's hundreds of better/cheaper/quieter Cafés and Tea Rooms about the county when the crowds are out....

 

[Stretchamus]

Been my self a few times over then years. .
Good alternative to the other bike meets, not just sitting with mug of T in hand watching bikes come an go.
Good if you have a family, wifey an bin lids. Stalls for her to look at, bikes for you to look at, and lots of open space for the kids to run around in, under your supervision of cause.

Dave.

As above, however the stalls have been kicked out a long time ago, so they have spoilt that part of it for wifey and pon lids