20th 0ctober 2019 ride to the Crook of Lune Bridge (Page four)

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Close up of Welsh Poppy in flower.

The view looking along Howgill Lane.

Another view looking along Howgill Lane.

The start of the bridleway at Ingmire Hall.

A view of bridleway as get near A683.

A view of the lane from Beckside to Low Oak.

Another view looking back up the lane.

The cake photo at the The Churchmouse in Barbon.

The view from Devil’s Bridge in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Ride report by Simeon Orme I was on my number 2 bike for today’s ride, this was due to my other bike needed good servicing and decide to take in to The Edge Cycleworks in Lancaster to get work done and pick it up fews days after this ride it felt like I had new bike. After taking eight month break from cycling and only starting riding the bike again in September, I decided to put the bike in the back of the car and drive the 12 miles up to Kirkby Lonsdale and start the ride from there! The thing about cycling more miles you do the fitter you get and the secret to not over doing it after taking break from cycling is slowly build mileage up, if you did 20 miles on the last ride try and do 21 miles on the next ride. If you going to use Kirkby Lonsdale as base for start of ride, park your car at the free car parks at both sides of Devil’s Bridge. After unloading the bike from the back of the car, I headed in to Kirkby Lonsdale and stopping in the Market Square, locking the bike up, then heading across to The Crossing Point Cafe for coffee and cake. The destination for today’s ride was the Crook of Lune Bridge which old pack horse bridge across the River Lune and in my opinion its best looking road bridge that crosses the River Lune. A lot of folk get bit confuse, when you start talking about the Crook of Lune Bridge and think you going for ride to one of three bridges at Crook n’Lune near Caton. Anyway after finishing my coffee and cake, I headed out Kirkby Lonsdale on B6254 and after about mile turning off it in Kearstwick to follow network of lanes up the Lune Valley to Killington New Bridge. On this section of ride, there fine views on both sides of the lane of the Yorkshire Dales National Park at its best, one of highlights if do this ride in Spring is the Bluebells in Fleshbeck Wood, the other is to look at the big house at Rigmaden Park which dominate view, has follow the lane from Fleshbeck up to Rigmaden Park. After several miles of quite lanes and only seeing cyclist’s on the road, I soon join the B6256 for short section before turn on to A684 (Please note this road can get busy as it main route to Sedbergh off the M6), then on to the B6257 and then headed towards Waterside where its worth stopping to admire the craftsmanship of the folk who built the Lune Viaduct which once carry the railway line from Clapham Station to Tebay and maybe now this part of the Lune Valley is the National Park may make a good cycle path. Once you leave Waterside, you start to climb, has head towards Firbank where stop at the church in Firbank for lunch, as there bench outside the church. After my lunch break continue along the lane towards Lowgill looking at fine views of the Howgill Fells across the Lune Valley. After mile and half of riding, I turn off the B6257 and headed under the Lowgill Viaduct to followed the lane down to the Crook of Lune Bridge. After looking at views up the Lune Valley from the bridge, I face the long climb up to Howgill Lane. I then follow Howgill Lane and then Slacks Lane down the valley to the A684 which followed around to Ingmire Hall, where I then turn on to delightful bridleway which followed to the A683. I then followed the A683 towards Beckside where followed lane around to Low Oaks, then short section on the B6256 before following the A683 for next few miles down Lune Valley to Middleton Hall Bridge, which is nice to see that it as be rebuilt after storm damage from Storm Desmond. At Middleton Hall Bridge, I turn off the A683 to follow the network of lane through to Barbon where I stop at The Churchmouse in Barbon for coffee and cake. After my cafe stop, continue to followed the lanes through to Casterton where rejoin the A683, which followed back to Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale where left the car in the morning. You can click here to see the photos of 27th October ride to Condor Green or you can click here to download the 26.7 mile 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.