19th June 2021 ride to Gawthrop in Dentdale (Page three)

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Afternoon stop at the Churchmouse at Barbon.

A view of my eat up stop in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Shadows at my eat up stop in Kirkby Lonsdale.

A tree on the skyline near Whittington.

The view from the B6254 near Whittington looking across the field towards New Barn

A tree at side of B6254 near Gowan Hall

Ride report by Simeon Orme I did know what I was thinking about when I thought it was a good ideal to ride to Kirkby Lonsdale. The hold ideal of starting rides from different places, is to try and put a stop to doing that boring bit of the ride which you do on every club ride to get some where exciting and interesting to ride. I nothing against that ten mile plus ride up the Lune Valley to Kirkby Lonsdale from Halton but it can be boring when your main aim in cycling is using to wheels to go exploring and see what out there but I still don’t why I did not but the bike in back of the car drove up to Kirkby Lonsdale, its about 20 minute drive in the car but it maybe it was down to stick I would get work if my fellow greenkeepers had found out that use the car. For all my moaning about the ride up the Lune Valley, it was not bad ride which took about hour and fifteen minutes to do but thing tend to forget about is the coming back later on in the day. Has you get older and pass that age of 55 years old, you start to realize that you are not has fit has use to be and does take a lot longer to recover from rides and its lesson that learn the hard way, don’t be to proud to but the bike in the back of the car and use it to take you that extra ten miles away from home. The thing about cycling has slower learning has I am heading to 57th birthday at end of July, you have go out each week to do miles what ever the weather to stay fit and if you miss a weekend you paid for it has level fittest go down that why if lucky to be off work during the week that cafes and tearooms are full old cyclists meeting up with there mates. The other thing that I notice that retirement slowly heading my way don’t see that many overweight cyclists once they get pass retirement age is something to with fact you can go out on the bike at any time of the week and enjoy retirement. The first thing you learn when living at the bottom of the Lune Valley at that point where the water of the River Lune heads out into Morecambe Bay and then the Irish Sea. There a big a hill on the western side of valley and if lucky enough live in Halton and into cycling if you reading this ride report or just reliving your youth but if want to head north and follow the Lune Valley into the Yorkshire Dales National Park, you have to climb up it there are ways of trying avoid it, the best one I know about if you lucky to be married for number of years asking your partner is drive you out of village for about mile before off loading you and your bike so that enjoy the rest of the day out on the bike. Anyway way for me, I lucky to live at the top of the village, which important fact its a lot easier climb up Kirkby Lonsdale Road than someone living at the bottom village nearer the River Lune. I use this first part of the climb out of Halton to see how fit I am before getting off the bike and pushing up the hill and you should feel know shame in getting off your bike up any hill it give you time reflect on the ride or enjoy the view but getting back to climb in Halton if make up Lane End which mark on map, without stopping to get off the bike you getting fitter but this was case for me on this ride but this was not case for me on this ride and only made up half way up the hill before getting off and walking. To be honest for me sometime its a lot easier and faster get off walk and push the bike up the hill than ride it. Any way when get that point on the map at about 150 metres above sea level near Green Hill House Farm its plain sailing there main a few bumps but its mainly downhill to Kirkby Lonsdale it may sound daft if look on map its mark on the map at being only 62 metres above sea level. Anyway making to Kirkby Lonsdale, with short detour down to Devil’s Bridge to check that know one was waiting for me and then headed into Kirkby Lonsdale to find some where to have a brew at and The Royal Barn had some outdoor seating which was find for me even with two jabs in my arm, I am still not comfortable seating inside and going have get use to living with this virus and once more folk get the double jab there chance ending up in hospital with it! Like most places in Kirkby Lonsdale can be issue where to park the bike once that was sort out enjoy the coffee and the food at The Royal Barn which own by the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery and worth stop at! I headed out of Kirkby Lonsdale on the B6254 for first mile or so before turn off it at Kearstwick. In Kearstwick do stop by bridge over beck to admire the artwork in garden by the beck. I should also point out that we now in the Yorkshire Dales National Park for next few hours of the ride but sounds daft but that Kerstwick is know near Yorkshire, as the national park grown over pass few years taking in large part of south eastern Cumbria and bit of North Lancashire. Once get pass Underley Park, there some downhill riding to enjoy and the motor traffic get less to point where you more cyclist’s than cars but down hill riding stops near Fleshbeck Wood if you timing right in Spring for few weeks each year the Bluebells in this wood put on brilliant Show of colour. It pay back time again for enjoying that freewheeling, there was a bit of climbing do has head up to Rigmaden Park and did break my journey on the climb to do some photography and may lost track time while I was playing with camera but there a few good photos of wild flowers at both sides of lane for you to enjoy look at! I have taken many photos over the years of hall at Rigmaden Park from certain point on lane up to Rigmaden Park its one of landscape views cry out each time you pass its for photo taken of it. Once get got pass the main hall there more downhill cycling to enjoy has follow the lane through the former estate village down to Rigmaden Bridge, one of hazards of cycling in last 18 months on lanes is delivery van going at full speed towards to its next stop, the best course of action is pull over to side of lane and let them pass which I did on my down to Rigmaden Bridge which I use cross over the River Lune. I did a bit of jumping on and off the A683, has I head up the Lune Valley before turning on to Jordan Lane where several motor bikes with middle age men on them pass me going the opposite way, they look to be doing some sort off-road competition. Jordan Lane is one of the gateways in Dentdale for cyclists, you slowly do a bit climbing has you head away from the A 683 before enjoying downhill riding has down to Holme Open Farm which is spoil by the climb up Holme Fell, once you done the climbing up to summit of climb, I would recommend stopping by the bench for lunch and enjoying the view looking towards Sedbergh and the Howgill Fells. June may have not been the best month to do this ride up Dentdale due to Spring wild flowers finishing flowering but the views are always outstanding as follow the lane up the valley from Rash Bridge to Gawthrop where I face the steep climb out of Dentdale over into Barbondale, unless you super fit or have very low gears its case of pushing the bike up the climb for about half mile before you get your reward of the view looking down Barbondale. I was a bit late getting to the Churchmouse at Barbon, as they were only serving cold drinks and did enjoy the orange juice, also the chat with another cyclist. Then I followed the lanes and A 683 back to Kirkby Lonsdale where I stop for eat up before continue on my journey back down the Lune Valley to Halton. You can click here to download the 46.91 mile route or click here to see photos of 27th June ride to Claife Viewing Station and Wray Castle or you can checkout the What’s New Page to see what’s new on the site.