22nd August 2021 ride up the Crake Valley (Page three)

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2021 Photo Galleries

22nd August 2021 ride up the Crake Valley (Page three)

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

The view looking back along bridleway a bit further along the track.

The view looking back across the ford.

A tree on the skyline

A close up view of gate post.

A cow in field at side of the bridleway

The view looking back at end of the bridleway near Bandrake Head

The view looking back on the climb out of Rusland Valley.

A view looking towards Crook Farm in the Rusland Valley.

Ride report by Simeon Orme Cycling touring is about going exploring, you never know what you going to see around the next corner but sometimes you have good ideal but other times you don’t and the landscape is always changing depending on the time of the day or the time of the year or the season you in may change boring ride into exciting one. It one reasons I enjoying going off-road and following some of the ancient rights of way in my corner of England and sometimes get see great views that most of the population of this large Island that I am lucky live on never see and don’t realize that live on beautiful island. It always get me, when I put the bike in the back of car and to drive that 20 miles or so to different area and spent several hours in that area exploring the lanes and tracks of that area where folk disappear to and yes I know there honeypots in any area where you travel to but its possible to be only a few miles away from these honeypots and see next to no one all day this was case for few hours on the afternoon part of my ride which was only about six mile from the Grizedale Forest Park which is one of the honeypots for mountain biking in the Lake District National Park. I use the car to travel up the A6 and then A590 before parking up at side of lane near Chapel House Wood car park which gets use a lot for folk parking up and walking their dogs in the morning which is shame for other outdoor users but there are few lay-bys on the lane down to Staveley-in-Cartmel from the A590 where you can leave the car for day. One got the bike out of the car and lock up the car, I followed the lane down to Staveley-in-Cartmel where you one of those surprises that I was talking about, has someone narrow gauge railway track in there large back garden. From Staveley-in-Cartmel it was the case of following lane towards Newby Bridge, after passing the pop up campsite, there short section on the A 592 before following the cycle path into Newby Bridge. Its worth stopping at the bus shelter to look at the public art on display. Newby Bridge is one of those places where the motorist is all ways in rush get through it, it may be the narrow bridge across the River Leven but I miss out on photo of Heron fishing in the river due to motorist wanting get across the bridge has fast as possible which is shame for folk who using two wheels or two feet to enjoy the countryside. Once I made it through Newby Bridge, the traffic noise started to die down, has followed the lane pass Water Side House, then soon turn on to Finshwaite Lane which follow down Leven Valley into Backbarrow where stop for coffee and cake at Cafe Ambio at the Lakeland Motor Museum. After my brew stop, it maybe a bit of mistake on my part but decide to continue follow the lane down the valley through rest of Backbarrow and then cross over the A 590 before heading through Haverthwaite, then short section on the B 5278 which took me back over the River Leven where I turn on to the cycle path from Low Wood to Greenodd. There some great views on both sides of cycle path which first follows access road to Mearness Farm which is tarmac surface and then after passing through Roudsea Wood, you follow a hardcore track towards Lady Syke and after about half mile you turn on to disuse railway track which follow towards Greenodd where I recross the River Leven using the foot / cycle bridge and the cycle path into Greenodd. From Greenodd, there was short section A 5092 which I followed up to Penny Bridge where cross over to eastern side of the Crake Valley and started my ride up the valley. It was a bit of up and down ride and in few places I was in my bottom gear of getting off the bike and push up the climb, after passing through Spark Bridge and then Bridgefield. I stop to chat with family group of cyclists who were spending the weekend at Caravan in Bouth, who were out for a bit of ride and wondering where Lowick Bridge was, after putting them right, we chatted for few minutes before heading off in our different directions. I soon got to Nibthwaite Grange, where I turn on to Bletherbarrow Lane, I manage to ride through the hamlet before getting off my bike again and using my low gear of my two feet to push the bike up the steep climb which took me about 20 minutes to do and yes I was pass mountain biker part way up the climb but he miss all the good views looking back across the Crake Valley. Once you at the top of the climb the tarmac runs out and lane turns into public byway, if you on a gravel bike or touring bike you can ride most of the track to High Ickenthwaite it took me about 40 minutes to do but I did stop to take several photos for the panorama photo of the view looking down to coast. The track its self is nothing to right home about but the views you see from the track are outstanding. Once I got to High Ickenthwaite there was few yards on tarnmac before turning on to next track, another public byway to Oxen Park. It was getting time to stop for late lunch, which I did where the bridleway branch off towards Bandrake Head, I got chatting to walker out walking his dog and he recommend that the bridleway was the more interesting route and yes he was right. It was single track path in few places I had to get off and walk but if you on mountain bike, you could ride about all of it. I was soon back on the tarmac and heading through Bandrake Head and then it was fairly easy ride to Colton where I had use my very low gear again and once climb up to Greenhead Farm, I decide to stay on tarmac, as it look far easier route to get me around to Bouth. In Bouth, the Old Hall Farm had close sign on the gate where I was hoping to get a brew at the cafe but its one of those places that going to reopen in 2022. the pub in the village had to many folk enjoying it delights, so I continue on and heading into Rusland Valley. After using the Causeway to ride across the valley, I face last big climb of day from Ealinghearth up to Hill Top and yes it was another climb where I had use my low gear. It was a bit of up and down route, plus stop to put on the cape, due to rain shower but I soon heading through Newby Bridge, then through Staveley-in-Cartmel back to car park at Chapel House Wood. You can click here to see photos of 29th August ride around the Settle Loop of the Pennine Bridleway or you can click here to download the 23.57 mile route or you can checkout the What’s New Page to see what’s new on the site.