Loading news…

Lee Quarry and Cragg Quarry Mountain Biking

Lee Quarry and Cragg Quarry Mountain Biking
Avg 4.04
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (52)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: MTB Base
  • Grades: Red,Black,Orange
  • Riding: Cross Country,Downhill,Pump Track
  • Facilities: Toilets,Cafe,Car Park
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km
  • Country: England
  • County: Lancashire
  • Website: Lee Quarry
  • Facebook:
  • Instagram:
  • Twitter:

Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail network status from Trailforks and recent rider segments from Strava (see full mapped routes and details in the Tracks tab).

Trail Status

status via Trailforks.com

Tracks Nearby

Not loaded yetOpen full view to load
Powered by Strava

Description

Lee Quarry Mountain Bike trails are in Rossendale in Lancashire. This is an old quarry and so as you would expect it is rocky MTB terrain packed full of drops, berms, and other technical trail features. There is a 7km Red trail, a short 1km Black, a Skills area, two Pump Tracks, and a world-class extensive Trail facility. 

Like this?

Cragg Quarry is also nearby and there's a link trail between Lee and Cragg quarries. Cragg's more of a flowy XC loop. It's popular and reached by a newly constructed bridleway link over Brandwood Lower end moor. You can combine Lee and Cragg Quarry to provide a cross-country route of 17km.

You can also access the Mary Towneley Loop and a host of natural trail routes from nearby the quarry. The natural riding is great both in Lancashire and across the regional border in Calderdale, in West Yorkshire.

Lee Quarry Red

  • The Lee Quarry outer Red MTB trail is around 6km long trail, graded as difficult, with flowing big berms, rock gardens, drop-offs and jumps and is designed with many loops making it great for sessioning and practising those skills.

Lee Quarry Black 

  • The Lee Quarry Black is a short 1km track,  graded as severe, which has all the above but is much more technical and requires excellent bike handling and balance skills at slow speeds at times to navigate the terrain.

Lee Quarry Skills area

  • This incorporates a pump track and areas to practice drop-offs, logs, and berms as well as climbing and descending in rocky terrain. 

Trials Area

  • The Trials area is world-class and has multiple sections. They host nationals here but are set up progressively to encourage beginners into the sport.   

Cragg  Quarry

  • Cragg Quarry has around 6.5km of flowing single-track and can be got to from Lee Quarry by heading south following the newly constructed route across Brandwood Lower End Moor to Rooley Moor Road, turn right (west) and follow the Mary Towneley Loop for just over 1km. If you take the two trails together it is about 17km in total.

Natural Trails

  • It's not just Quarry riding there are lots of natural trails in the area.

Groups and Clubs

Other Stuff

  • If you are looking for a guide or coach in the region then check out Adam at Trail Explorer who works throughout the North West including Lee Quarry and Gisburn Forest
  • Do come prepared (food and clothing wise)
  • The quarry is run by Lancashire Council and is free to the public.
  • The trail was designed by Dafydd Davis and built by local contractor Terra Firma.

Share

  • If you have ridden the mountain bike trails at Lee Quarry or Cragg Quarry then please share your experiences with the community and post your reviews, pictures, videos and tracks to the listing.

📍 UK MTB Trail Index

The 2026 Trail Index is just getting started, add a rating
Nick:
Avg 4.51
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Lee quarry

Highly recommended.

What do you like?

Having had a 20 yr break from xc i was thrown into lee quarry after buying a new bike to get fit, the climb in was brutal and mistakes quickly punished but for fitness and re acquiring old skills the place has been awesome, i was scrared of the place the first few times but now find myself doubling back to the bigger features.

What could be improved?

No soft landings. Very weather dependant.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

01/04/2017 - almost 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
Adam:
Avg 4.45
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Lee quarry

Great place, loads of variety and easily linked with Cragg quarry. Would highly recommend for a great day out.

What do you like?

Amazing place! So much to do.

What could be improved?

No trail head.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

12/11/2016 - about 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
Patrick Teper :
Avg 4.57
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

A different kind of trail centre.

Best place in the north west for a quick fun ride but you can also spend a day here. Berms are some of the biggest I've ever encountered. You'll harder ever be alone in the quarry yet it will never be too busy to have a good ride.

What do you like?

Always seems to be quiet. Can spend a day here or just an hour or so due to the ability to ride just little bits. Great areas for skills development.

What could be improved?

No soft landings.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

16/10/2016 - about 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
David:
Avg 4.43
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Fun day out

Took the kids a few times they love sessioning the quarry

What do you like?

Really good place to session and develop skills particularly good for kids with loads of routs through the quarries. Trail back from Crag quarry really fast and flowwy

What could be improved?

Same trail used between Lee and Cragg would like a circular between the 2. Can be bleak in bad weather and signage isn't great

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

16/10/2016 - about 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
James:
Avg 3.88
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Nice alternative

Big stoney playground!

What do you like?

Always a different day out and leaves you wanting more. Reminds me of a giant version of the old mining slag heaps i used to play about on as a boy! The short downhills in the skills section are fun to session and combined with a tour of Cragg Quarry make it a worthy day out. I'm keen to check out some of the other local routes on my next visit. Lots of stone meaning the trail generally stands up to bad weather well.

What could be improved?

It can be grim when the weathers bad - at least compared to a forest or even my local moorland! Signage could be improved especially for first timers... Few people have mentioned lack of facilities. Not a big issue for me as i only live 30-40mins away. If you were travelling further, and its your thing, you might miss a cafe, bike shop, bike wash etc.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

11/10/2016 - about 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
Alistair :
Avg 4.18
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

One of the best

It's tough, the learning curve is steep, and it punishes the unfit. The costs of a mistake up there can be severe. When all said and done, riding up there makes you a better rider.

What do you like?

Make no mistake, this place is tough. A lungbusting climb just to get from the carpark to the trail. It does make you fit if you do it regularly though. The trail is a mix of super tough technical climbs and fast flowey downs. If you can keep your momentum up the rewards are awesome. Once you get the bug it becomes addictive like no other trail centre. If you're not sure of the route ask, it's how I learned the trail and i'll happily change up my ride to show a newbie round.

What could be improved?

The biggest problem this trail has is a lack of riders, get up there, there are challenges for everyone. Next thing the trail needs is regular maintenance, and for that it needs more riders. Lastly, there are no facilities to speak of, no car park charges either. A butty van is usually in the carpark and the local pubs and cafes are friendly to bikers, but you should be prepared to be self sufficient.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

09/10/2016 - over 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
^
Loading weather...

Recommended Articles

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play