24th April 2022 ride up Barbondale and Kingsdale (Page three)

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2022 Photo Galleries

24th April 2022 ride up Barbondale and down Kingsdale (Page three)

- Page one - Page two - Ride report - Route -

Sycamore seed heads in Spittle Bank Wood

The mirror at the top of the climb out of the Greta Valley

The view looking across the fields towards Ingleborough

Yes it was that of year for Scarecrows in Wray.

The view heading along the cycle path towards the Crook 0’Lune.

The view looking back along Halton Station Bridge.

The ride report by Simeon Orme This was my second visit to the Saddles Cafe at the Red Well Country Inn, I have not gauge the right time on how long it was taking me to get there from Halton and putting it down that first part of climb out of Halton up Kirkby Lonsdale. You can gauge how fit you are on how far make it up the hill before getting off and walking and in my case not fit enough to make up the climb on two wheels yet but hopefully in few months I will be flying up that hill. Any way I thing the Saddles Cafe makes good meeting point for rides and the cake is up to standards of the Bridge House Farm Tearooms and the Farleton View Tearooms. Yes there was cycle road race and think they were taking about fifteen minutes to do each lap, has saw them three times, riding to cafe, at the cafe enjoying the coffee and cafe and then on the B6254 heading to Arkholme. On this ride ride there was head wind for first part ride to Dent, yes was shelter from it in the Lune Valley but I did feel it on the climb up Barbondale. Anyway I did break boring part of ride by having coffee and cake at the Saddle Cafe but once you left the cafe there a small hill to climb over then its mostly down hill ride to Kirkby Lonsdale, I have done this ride a few hundred times in my fifty years of cycling in other parts of England you would class the scenery and the landscape at both sides of the B6254 as outstanding but in this corner of England its boring, it some thing to do with fact we spoil that we have four national parks on the doorstep. So after heading through Arkholme, then Newton and then Whittington. I soon cross over the county border into Cumbria from Lancashire which just outside Kirkby Lonsdale, then after crossing over the A65 and following the lane down to Devil’s Bridge which is one of the gateways into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The ride got more interesting, has followed the lane up to Chapelhouse Lane, I was pass by couple on electric mountain bikes which met again few miles later on after giving up riding against that head wind and spend few minutes chatting to them and giving them directions to Churchmouse at Barbon for a brew. I followed the Chapelhouse Lane into Higher Casterton and you would need a few hundred thousand pounds to buy house in this village and don’t think any street lighting in the village but there nine hole golf course and posh school which junior part of Sedbergh School. From Higher Casterton, I headed up Well Lane before turn on to Wandales Lanes which follow for next good mile before turn into Bents Lane which was start of the climb into Barbondale. There was some nice views on both sides of the lane, has slowly climb out of the Lune Valley. you will know when near the start of climb up Barbondale, you start seeing views of Barbon Manor which dominates the landscapes of lower part of Barbondale. Even with head wind, I surprise how much I rode up Barbondale Road with out get off and using my two feet to push bike up the climb. At top of Barbondale, Barbondale Road changes its name to Stone Rigg Outrake and then its fast ride down to Gawthrop depending how much you use the brakes. After riding through Gawthrop, I stop in Dent on the village green for late lunch stop. Dent was quite quiet for Sunday, has followed the lane out of the village towards Howgill Bridge. After about good mile of climbing, you get to Howgill Bridge and once you cross over Bridge, you greet with sign at start of Deepdale warning not travel up this lane in bad weather conditions. There was a bit of climbing to do on the first part of the lane but once got pass Peacock the lane level out and you got some very dramatic views looking across to the other side of Deepdale. Once you cross over Gastack Beck via the bridge its worth stopping to look at the waterfall which took a photo of using ND filter on end of the camera. I did get a strange look from two motorists who stop to ask if I was okay. From this point in the right, if you not super fit or have not got very super low gears, has I found out you alot of pushing of your bike up a steep hill and also beware that there two gates to open and close on the climb out of Deepdale. I did discover that spoke had broken in the back wheel on the climb up and I had stop and use some tape from my first aid kit, to tape to another spoke to stop it rattling around, as it was on gear side of the wheel. When I took the wheel into the bike shop it was replace under warranty. After good half hour of pushing the bike up the climb, I made it to summit of the pass and also note that there another two gate to open and close on the ride down to Kingsdale Head. Due to strong tail wind, I did not do much peddling has followed Thornton Lane down Kingsdale. There a bit bump at end of Kingsdale which I had ride up before heading down Westgate Lane to Higher Westhouse where cross the A65 and headed out of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. From Higher Westhouse, I followed the lanes into Burton-in-Lonsdale where stop for eat up at The Orchard a picnic area on banks of River Greta. After my refueling stop there was some more climbing to do by following the lane through Spittle Bank Wood get out of Greta Valley, then it was case was following the lanes to Wennington, then the B6480 down Wenningdale. In Wray, I did stop to take a few photos of the royal scarecrows before following the B6480 into the Lune Valley where turn on to the A683, which followed for next few miles to Bull Beck Bridge where turn on to cycle path which followed back to Halton You can click here to see the photos of 1st May ride to Chipping or you can click here to download the 46.1 mile route or you can click here to see what’s new on the website

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