7th May 2023 ride to Longsleddale and Kentmere (Page four)

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2023 Photo Galleries

7th May 2023 ride to Longsleddale and Kentmere (Page four)

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

A view of the weir across the River Kent near Barley Bridge

Cuckoo Flower flowering at side of lane down the Kent Valley

Wood Sorrel flowering at side lane down the Kent Valley

Late afternoon sunlight shining on tree near Hincaster.

Red Campion flowering at side of Hincaster Trailway

Hawthorn flowering at side Hilderstone Lane.

Crab Apple flowering at side of the lane in Cinderbarrow.

The view looking back along towpath of Lancaster Canal at the locks at Tewitfield

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Ride report by Simeon Orme It took about 20 minutes longer than I thought to do the boring bit of ride from Halton up to Farleton View Tearooms, I think got little side track with politics on morning TV with the Conservative Party losing a lot seats in the England Council elections on the Thursday their was a bit gloating going on from the other political parties but end of the day it about electing someone who going to represent your area, your views and work hard for the area on the local council. Anyway that was my excuse, normally for this ride I would put bike in the car and drove up to Ashes Lane and started the ride from there but with cost of fuel being high, I sooner try to use pedal power do the boring bits of ride in this case bashing up the A6070 through Burton-in-Kendal. Farleton View Tearooms, its one those tearooms or cafes which as own special feel which keeps drawing you back each time, due to retirement of the main women last year, they running reduce menu this year and don’t take any notice of what fools say on social media say about the place it good family run tearoom to visit. So after my refueling stop, there some nice quite county lanes to follow which got to the village of Natland where folk enjoying this special bank holiday weekend to celebrate a rare event in the UK where we change the head of state, it may happen again in my lifetime due to age of the new King. I headed out Natland along Natland Road and then follow the cycle path through Kendal, there seem to be a bit of cash spend on cycling due to cycle paths on each side of A6, has I pedal along it on my way of Kendal. After crossing over the Mint Bridge, I was soon heading along Gilthwaiterigg Lane and then crossing over the Sprint Bridge, I soon heading up the Garnett Bridge Road. You could tell that was Spring was in full swing with the number of the Spring wild flowering at side of the lane, I soon heading through Garnett Bridge which is the gateway into Longsleddale. You don’t get much motor traffic in the dale due to the tarmac runs out at Sadgill but if on two feet or on two wheels there plenty ways out of this beautiful valley but before I got Sadgill there was ride up the valley to enjoy and part of my pack lunch to eat! Has I was stopping for lunch at bench near High Barn, I pass by group of cyclists on gravel bikes from Manchester doing same route as me over to Kentmere and I had chat with two members of that group who staying in Kendal for the weekend. While I was enjoying my lunch and looking at the views up the dale you can tell you in one remote parts of the Lake District National Park which the writer of Postman Pat base his story on. Once finished my lunch continue to the end of the tarmac, where number of cars were park up for the day at end of lane, left by their owners to go exploring on two feet the more remote parts of the Dale. Sadgill is last place in Longsleddale where folk live and the next place anyone live at if you head North over Gatescarth Pass is the Haweswater Hotel several miles away but I taking far easy route on today ride following public byway from Sadgill over to Stile End. There not much pedaling on first part of the track and quite a bit of pushing of the bike, you need allow your self about hour to doing the crossing if you on Gravel bike, it maybe quicker on mountain bike but you probably doing the route in opposite direction to enjoy hairpin descent down into Longsleddale which two mountain bikers were planing to do who I got chatting to near summit of pass into the Kentmere Valley but for us folk on Gravel bikes its best doing some pushing up the climb, you know when finish doing when you see the Hawthorn tree at side of the track. I have taken number of photos of this tree over years and after pass this Hawthorn it fairly easy ride down to Stile End which collection of farm buildings. From Stile End, there a bit more track work to get you to High Lane which follow down around into Green Quarter. From Green Quarter, you start to think about letting go of the brakes has you follow Lowfield Lane down into the Kentmere Valley, there was very little pedaling do has followed the lane down the valley towards Staveley where stop at Wilf’s Cafe for afternoon brew which I have been told as new owners and higher prices on the cakes. After the refueling stop in Staveley, I crossed back over the River Kent at Barley Bridge and followed the lane back down the Eastern side of the valley and then retracing my morning route through Kendal. There were more road work following the lanes through Natland, then Sedgwick and then on Hincaster where I turn on to Hincaster Trailway where I stop for afternoon eat up. I turn back on to the tarmac near Greenside Farm on the map, then headed through Woodhouse and on to Ackenthwaite where cross over the B6385 and followed the B6384 into Holme where followed the lanes through Hilderstone and then Cinderbarrow before heading along the towpath of the Lancaster Canal down to Tewitfield where turn on to Kellet Lane which followed back into Over Kellet, then the lanes back to Halton.

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