Sunday’s ride through the Bowland Fells – 04/10/20

Last week I didn’t write up our ride since there was an official one at Lancaster.  For the record, we completed a spontaneous ride from Preston to Glasson Dock via Oakenclough, Abbeystead and Jubilee Tower, returning via Farmyard Ales (for a socially distanced pint, al fresco) and Cartford Bridge.  Very enjoyable (so was the ride).

Since group rides have been cancelled for the time being, the dream team of Ian Holland and myself are continuing our mission to boldly go on roads we haven’t ridden before (at least, for a while) especially those on the local high ground, meet people sometimes even stranger than we are and so on…(and generally enjoy ourselves).

This week’s ride, having been earlier threatened by the weather, turned out wonderfully sunny, albeit with a fresh easterly breeze.  We headed (Ian’s choice this week; mine last week) eastward past Salmesbury Church, crossed the A59 at Osbaldeston and climbed to Mellor. The views from the ridge were wonderful; Darwen Tower and Winter Hill to the south and Pendle to the east with Bowland to the north.

We descended into Whalley, crossing from Route 91 to Route 90 and passing Great Mitton and Waddington, where we know a suitable bench for coffee to reach Grindleton. At Grindleton, a narrow road climbs north past Grindleton Fell, reaching a spot height of 266 metres before descending to the Tosside road into Slaidburn.

A narrower road on the left just before the main road bypasses Slaidburn and heads for the Newton road via the hamlet of Easington. At its end, we descended into the Hodder valley at high warp speed, to discover a bench for lunch between the river and the pub and put the world to rights (again).  The road from here is always pretty, heading for Dunsop Bridge with, in general, a gentle downhill slope.

The last major ascent was the one from Burholme Bridge up to Lickhurst and past the Wild Boar Park on our way to Chipping.  This and the selection of “quiet lanes” past Beacon Fell then via Goosnargh to Broughton, where we parted company, brought the ride to an end.

It had been a moderate distance of 64 miles, with about 4500 feet of ascent.  A large proportion of the distance seemed to be graced with excellent views, the atmosphere cleared by the previous night’s rain.  All in all, an excellent ride.

Mike Bridges