29th August 2021 ride around the Settle Loop of Pennine Bridleway (Page three)

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2021 Photo Galleries

29th August 2021 ride around the Settle Loop of Pennine Bridleway (Page three)

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

The view looking back along the bridleway towards Jubilee Cave.

The view looking back up the bridleway near the Clay Pit Plantation.

The view looking across the fields towards Lower Winskill.

Pennine bridleway signpost for Stainforth.

A view of Catrigg Force (Click the photo to see a larger image of the photo).

A view of the Pennine Bridleway at side of Stainforth Beck near Stainforth.

Ride report by Simeon Orme Well its been a few years seen try to cycle around the Settle Loop of the Pennine Bridleway and you tend to forget how much climbing you have do to get highest point of Settle Loop but its just over 500 metres above sea level and where low point of ride was on the bridge crossing over the River Ribble in Settle at 147 metres. The starting point for the ride was at 220 metres above sea level in Helwith Bridge, so there a lot of climbing on this ride and in my case quite a bit walking to do! Yes being local, you tend to forget about Bank Holiday traffic and how folk can drive when turn off the M6 and head to one of our four national park local area, they tend go at slower speed unfortunately I got behind two of these drivers on the way to start of the ride in Helwith Bridge so about ten minutes late getting to start ride. We do need change our attitudes in how we use our motor vehicles at weekends or at other times of the week and if we all think before unlocking that car, park outside our home more often can I make this journey on two feet or on two wheel or even on public transport and there be a lot less motor traffic on the roads, we would mean a lot more folk would feel safer using bike has their main form of transport for local journeys. Like our shopping habits change over last 18 months where it now okay to order online for stuff and its deliver to your door next day, we have do the same how we use of private motor vehicles. I think for cyclist using a private motor car get you that 20 miles away from home to explore a different area is okay. Anyway getting back to ride, once I had unload the bike from back of the car, I headed out of Helwith Bridge towards Swarth Moor, after short climb it was fairly easy ride down to Little Stainforth where I was planing to stop for a morning brew but the cafe had not open yet. So I continue to follow Stainforth Lane down Ribbledale, I was surprise to see the Stackhouse Snack Bar open in farm yard which just open up four weeks ago and is only open at weekends. After my cafe break in Stackhouse, I continue down Stainforth Lane and was soon crossing over River Ribble and heading into Settle, which had Flowerpot festival on and I took a few photos of some flowerpot artwork, has I made my way through Settle and also notice that the cycle shop in Settle now as cafe. I headed out of Settle up Mitchell Lane and I was in my bottom gear on this one, yes my two feet and stop a few times to look at the view and after about twenty minutes, I was at the top of the climb out of Settle, there is far easier route to get start of Lambert Lane via the bridleway via Lodge Farm which I would recommend if you thinking of give this ride ago. The Settle Loop of the Pennine Bridleway starts at the beginning of Lambert Lane which I rode most of the lane on my bike before heading up Stockdale Lane and in few places I was in my bottom gear pushing my bike up the lane. One advantage of this I did enjoy the views and did stop to chat a few times with other users of the bridleway. About half mile or less from Stockdale Farm the bridleway leaves the farm access road and becomes a proper track which if you on mountain bike you can ride but for me it was quicker for me to push the bike along the track, there a few places where you ride but it was not worth the effort, the bridleway surface improve has got nearer the top of the climb out of Stockdale. Yes it was worth the effort, the views looking back down Stockdale were amazing, as were the views looking towards Malham Tarn, has rode along the bridleway towards Langscar. Once I got on to section of the track of the Settle Loop from Langscar around to Gorbeck where I stop to have a late lunch break, I must say it was great surface to ride along and did not do much peddling, as it was more freewheeling. After my lunch break I continue along the bridleway, there were two bumps to peddle up but it mostly freewheeling down to the start of tarmac near Clay Pits Plantation where turn off the Settle Loop, to follow the Pennine Bridleway back up Ribbledale. After following the access road down to Upper Winskill, I was on proper tracking again, there were quite a few family groups walking back up the bridleway from Catrigg Force, said that few folk were swimming in the beck. So I lock bike up and walk down the footpath to Catrigg Force to try take a photo of Catrigg Force. Yes there had be folk swimming in the pool front of the main water fall but had change back from swimsuits back in to normal outdoor cloths. I took my photo, I think best time to get good photo of the Force in action is heavy downpour of rain and before heading back up the footpath back to my bike, I did chat to other visitors to this waterfall you tend useful information like best times to visit, this early morning or in the evening. Anyway I was back on the bike again, I got good way down the track before deciding it might be good ideal walk last section of track into Stainforth. In Stainforth, follow the Pennine Bridleway sign posts which take you into the National Park’s car park, through a underpass under the B6479, then across a bridge over the Settle to Carlisle Railway and then a track between a field and railway line before following the tarmac lane into Little Stainforth. Then it was fairly easy ride back to Helwith Bridge. Yes I did take my time on this ride, did chat to some interesting folk and took quite a few photos but I did have good day out in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You can click here to see the photos of 5th September ride to Loughrigg Terrace or you can click here to download the 18.25 mile route or you can checkout the What’s New Page to see what’s new on the site.