13th April 2014 ride to Ribblehead (Page two)

- Page one - Ride report - Route -

Looking back along the bridleway from Ivescar.

A tree at side of bridleway.

Nick and Eileen heading along the bridleway towards Winterscales

Heading towards Ribblehead Viaduct from Gunnerfleet Farm.

Preparing head back down the bridleway from Ribblead Viaduct.

A lunch time view.

Primroses at side of the road on the way to Far Westhouse.

A new cafe.

The cake photo at the Ireby Green Farm cafe and shop.

Trees in a field at side of the road on way to Burton-in-Lonsdale.

Spring blooms in Wray.

Ride report by Simeon Orme One the main problems on this week’s ride was the wind especially for Nick when we turn against helpful tail wind into ranging head wind at Ribblehead Viaduct, has he disappear out of sight a few times and we had to wait for him catch up on the return journey back to Ingleton. Yes the wind was helpful on ride up to Ingleton from Halton, I made it to start of the ride  on time and was soon join by Eileen and Nick for brew at Inglesport Cafe or in the case of Nick his second breakfast. I know a lot of RSF members who don’t live locally and never be on South Lakes Group ride  but live within a hour drive of most starting points for South Lakes Groups are put off by coming on ride because mileage or the destination is flexible depending on the weather conditions on the day, who turn up at the start of ride and time of the year. So once we got out of the cafe,  I got the map out of my saddlebag and spend a few minutes discussing where we should go and bash out plan for next few hours of the ride. Nick comment that someone had not paid  the heating bill as we heading out of Ingleton, as it was a lot colder than it had been over past few days put we soon warm up, as climb up Meal Bank as we followed Oddies Lane out of Ingleton. There was some delightful views of the primroses in Lenny Wood  which was stopping a minute to look at from the roadside, we soon turn off Oddies Lane to follow the road up to Twisleton Hall again it worth stopping a minute to look back at the view across Lonsdale to the Bowland Fell. Once we pass through Scar End, we left the tarmac behind next few hours as we followed the bridleway up Twisleton End Scar into different world of limestone pavement, interesting rock formations and sink holes to look at! In places the bridleway was wet underfoot as we followed the track across this world full of limestone and total alien to valleys below but after a  good hour we soon saw first views of Ribblehead Viaduct in the distance as we drop down to hardcore track which runs up to Ellerbeck, which we followed from Ellerbeck to Bruntscar, then the bridleway through the fields to Ivescar where we back on tarmac /hardcore surface where we followed the bridleway around to Gunnerfleet Farm and then on to Ribblehead Viaduct where we hoping to get some shelter from the wind for lunch but when we got there I discover that I had puncture in my front wheel. Once the puncture was fix, I was quite glad to get my hands back in my gloves as it was cold, we decide at this point to revise plans for ride and headed back down the bridleway to Gunnerfleet Farm, then followed the public byway up to B 6255 where we had to stop wait for Nick catch up! We did short distance on the B 6255 before following Oddies Lane through Chapel-le-dale before stopping in shelter of stone wall to have late lunch. After lunch we continue to follow Oddies Lane back to Ingleton where we when in search of new tearoom which Peter Kenner had told me about which I found across the county border in Lancashire near village of Ireby well worth the search for but Nick and Eileen miss out on as they headed back to Ingleton at Westhouses for a brew. After my brewstop at Ireby Green Farm cafe and Shop, I rode back home to Halton. You can click here to see photos of 20th April ride to Brigsteer Woods or you can click here to download the 13.9 mile route or you can checkout the What’s New Page to see what’s new on the site and you can also sign up for site’s free weekly newsletter.