Ride report by Simeon Orme Lets be honest likelihood of anyone wanting come out on today was about zero and there would have pigs flying over Carnforth Railway Station, the weather forecast for the day was not brilliant but the main of the ride was to take a panorama photo of the view looking across the Lyth Valley towards Whitbarrow from St. John in the parish of Helsington. If one of those views on good day, you can see for miles across South Lakeland and not many folk know about it and its one those classic views that you should go and see if you in the Lake District National Park. Anyway there were no pigs flying over Carnforth Railway Station, so I when to check if the Refreshment Room had reopen after this last lock down the notice in the window sum up ‘Close until further notice’ I think this is case of waiting and seeing what going to happen in the future months and where cafes and tearooms have no outdoor sitting area there quite a bit of reluctance to take the risk and reopen which is shame in some cases. Anyway Carnforth Railway Station is usually a good meeting point to start a ride from, if the Refreshment Room is open, has you can wait in comfort having coffee and cake while everyone turns up for start of the ride. I have use it many times over the years to start my rides, you do need raid the piggy bank to pay the parking charges on the car park outside the Railway Station, so it you planing to travel by car to Carnforth, I would advise you to park else where and ride your bike to the Railway Station. After crossing over the foot /cycle bridge over the River Keer near Hagg Wood, I followed the Public byway into Warton before following the New Road through Cragg Foot and across Leighton Moss. New Road is one of these highways where motorists who drive these four be fours have not figure out how to pass cyclists safety and getting to stage of thinking that folk that buy these vehicles do need lessons on how to use them and to be honest I can think of a lot better ways of spending my money than wasting it on one of these vehicles. So I maybe setting bad example when one of these idiots try to pass me, I tend pull over and let them pass, has I think its far safer than trying to ride with a convoy of vehicles behind me. A lot of folk do need to think about their motor vehicle use at weekends if they going to use it to go exploring the countryside at weekend they do need to park it up by 10am and go exploring on two wheels or two feet then come back for it around 4pm. In happy times, the RSPB did offer 10 percent discount off food in the Leighton Moss Cafe to encourage cycle use, has when way of getting to the RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve but I was glad the cafe was open and do think I had looking escape talking about day job, has one of ladies behind the counter in the cafe said I know from some where, yes it was first time sat inside cafe in eighteen months but I think it was worth it, as the cake did taste nice and do get into trouble if there no cake photos in the photo report. Anyway once the cake was eaten, I was back on two wheels again and making my way through the first national park of day, following the tarmac through Waterslack and then pass the Gait barrow Nature Reserve before turning on to Cold Well Lane which followed over the county border into Cumbria, I soon heading along Storth Road this is scenic route to get me to the B5282 at Sandside, I did stop a few time to take photos but once turn on to B5282 which is one main access routes to Arnside and this road can get busy with motor traffic head back and forwards between Arnside and Milnthorpe. So it was case of following for a bit, then escaping off it after cross over the River Bela via Milnthorpe Bridge. My escape route was along Marsh Road which followed across Milnthorpe Marsh, you tend see more cycle traffic than motor traffic and did stop chat with two cyclist’s that did know, one of them was moaning that he could only do about 30 miles on ride at the grand age of 89 years old. Anyway after chatting for a bit we headed off in different directions, after the quite ride across Milnthorpe Marsh, there was small section on the A6 to get me around Leven Hall, then across the River Kent and then under the A590 before heading up Levens Lane into Levens. Once you made it through Levens, the traffic noise from the A590 had die down to nothing and has I was following Brigsteer Road out of Levens, I did notice a fellow cyclist having sleep on bench it was that quite! I kept on the tarmac for about half mile before turning on to the bridleway that was going to follow up to St. John Church. The first part of the bridleway was nothing to right home about, it was case of pushing my bike through a field of cows and slowly gaining height, has I headed up the bridleway. Once I was further up the bridleway, you started to get the views of the surrounding countryside. I did notice the different in plant life at both sides of the bridleway once I left the fields where the cows were eating the grass. It was like walking from dull room into bright room where wild flowers had been given change to bloom and the views had improve as well, I soon left the bridleway to follow the hardcore public byway to St. Church where I stop for some lunch and sat on bench and look at the view while I eating my pack lunch. After my lunch break, I followed the bridleway from St. John Church to Briggs House Farm, again this bridleway is nothing special it mainly crosses agriculture land. From Briggs House Farm, it was case of following Whetstone Lane down to A591 and waiting about good 5 minutes for gap in the traffic to cross A591, you do wonder where everyone is going at great speed and about hundred motor vehicles pass me before could get across the road. I was soon heading down Hawes Lane and cross back over the River Kent via Hawes Bridge and then followed the lane into Natland. From Natland, I followed Natland Road into Sedgwick and then followed the Back Road out of the village and was soon heading towards Hincaster where turn on to Hincaster Trailway which follows part of disuse railway track which use run all way to Arnside. I stop for few minutes on bench at the side for a bit of eat up before continue along the track bring you out near Greenside Farm on the map which now small luxury housing estate. I was soon heading through Woodhouse and then on through Ackenthwaite where I followed the B6384 towards Holme but turn off it near Elmsfield House to follow the Back Road into the village. From Holme it was case following the lanes through Holme Mills and Hilderstone, then on Cinderbarrow. From Cinderbarrow, I headed out of this small hamlet on Cinderbarrow Lane then turn on the towpath of the Lancaster Canal where I finish last bits of my pack lunch off before continue down the towpath to Tewitfield where turn on to Kellet Lane and followed my normal route back to Halton. I think I did about 40 miles on the ride but the route from Carnforth Railway Station to St. Church and then back to Carnforth Railway Station is 32.82 miles long. You can click here to see the photos of 15th August ride to Twisleton Scar End or you can click here to download the 32.82 mile route or you can checkout the What’s New Page to see what’s new on the site.