18th February 2018 ride to Scorton and along the Condor Valley (Page two)

The cake photo at the Tearoom at Daisy Clough Nurseries.

The cycle rack outside the tearoom.

The sign for Daisy Clough Nurseries.

Snowdrops in flower on the banks of River Wyre near Street Bridge

A view of part of mill at Galgate

A view of Silk Mill Café in Galgate

Brambles leaves at top of hedge at side of Kit Brow Lane

The view looking back along Long Lane

Leaf colour at side of Long Lane

A view looking across the bridge at Crook O'lune

Ride report by Simeon Orme A big improvement on the weather for this Sunday ride it stay dry all day which as been rare thing this Winter. Anyway it made for enjoyable ride down the Lune Valley from Halton, following the cycle path through Lancaster and then along St George Quay before heading along next part of cycle path which I followed down to Condor Green. Yes the usual section of the cycle path was flooded and I took detour along disused railway line. The snowdrops in Meldham Wood at side of the cycle path were in full bloom. It was interesting to see how well the extension as been done to Café d'Lune where stop for my morning coffee and cake. For those of you look at the route and wonder why he started and finished the route at Condor Green instead of Halton Station its because I firm believer of getting folk to think out of the box where you should start ride from and a lot of cycle rides start now from car park after the cyclist's as drove there in their car some distance to bypass the boring bits of landscape nearer home. We all guilty of this if you own car and we all want to know where the good starting points for rides are at and there not many places like the Lancashire County Council car park at Condor Green where you paid £1 and then you can leave it there all day and also pop into Café d'Lune for brew before going out on the ride. This site, is about inspiring you come explore one of best cycle touring areas in England and when I was leading rides on behalf of Rough-Stuff Fellowship South Lakes Group which I did for over 20 years one member use say he look at my photos of the ride on the website to see what he miss while he was putting the world to right. When you combine hobbies of cycling with photography it sometimes can become selfish hobby best done by your self as you always stopping to get that great photo but if you put up with this and bring a camera with you, anyone welcome join me on these rides. After my coffee and cake in Café d'Lune, I continue along the cycle path to Glasson, then followed the lanes across Thurnham Moss where a lot of Swans in the fields on the Moss. Has you can see from the photos above I stop to take a photo of snowdrop and first primrose that I seen in flower this year at side of Moss Lane in Upper Thurnham. In Upper Thurnham there was short section of about mile on the A 588 to Cockerham (This section of road can get busy at times with traffic going backwards and forwards to Lancaster, as its the main 'A' road for this section of Flyde Coast). Cockerham is village with two long roads which make up most of the village and take its name from the River Cocker which flow around it. The River Cocker is not one of those great rivers of North West England like the River Lune or River Ribble, if you blink as you cycle pass it, you have miss it as you see from photo took of it from Cocker House Bridge, its one those river's that is more like a beck or brook. From Cocker House Bridge continue along Cockerham Road until Cockerham Road Bridge where I followed the lanes into Forton. I headed out of Forton on Winder Lane and then followed lanes through hamlet of Middle Holly to the A6 and met the Sunday club run of Lancaster and South Lakes CTC Group coming the opposite way on ride to Wray via Scorton you read a ride report about there adventure at this link. From Middle Holly there was short section on the A6 before I was soon crossing over the River Wyre via Wyre Bridge, then heading along Station Lane towards Scorton but I soon stop visted the Tearoom at Daisy Clough Nurseries which set up for cycling market as you can see from above photos of signs for cyclist's to follow to cycle park outside the tearoom. After my brew stop, I followed Station Lane into Scorton. Then headed out of Scorton on Long Lane, after good mile or so, I re cross the River Wyre via Cleveley Bridge and then followed lanes through to Hollins Lane, then on to Bay Horse. I headed out of Bay Horse on Whams Lane which I followed up Five Lane Ends where followed the road down to Galgate. I then head through Galgate passing the Old Mill on my way to Ellel. In Ellel, I turn on to Langshaw Lane and then Kit Brow Lane before heading into Quermore on Long Lane. In Quermore there was a bit of climbing to do up Rigg Lane which followed passed the church in Quermore which is some distance from village of Quermore. Rigg Lane soon turn into Postern Gate Road which means there was a bit more climbing to do up Postern Gate Lodge. Then it was fairly easy ride following Quermore Road down into the Lune Valley. After crossing over the A683 in Caton, I followed the cycle path back in to Halton and getting back home just after 3pm. You can click here to see the photos of 25th February ride to Killington New Bridge or you can click here to download 31.3 mile cycle route or you can check out forthcoming events page. Also 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.