Not Quite Flat Ride Around the Fylde - 5 July

Sunday’s ride (5th) was a bad weather alternative in the light of forecast strong winds.  Ian and I headed from Penwortham on to the Guild Wheel westward then onwards to Freckleton.  We continued as far as the outskirts of Lytham in the face of what turned out to be the hardest head wind of the day before turning north via Saltcoats to reach Wrea Green.

Here we joined Route 90, heading for Weeton and Staining, where the wind became much more helpful, with bright weather to help the day along.  We stopped for a break and a chat on a bench in the woods opposite Singleton Church, then continued along Route 90 to Elswick.

Here, we left Route 90, following a narrow lane and a short section of Garstang Road cycle path to reach Great Eccleston.  Our objective, as always, was to follow quiet back roads if we could use them, so we followed Brock Road and Moss Lane via Inskip Moss Side to reach Bilsborrow.

The weather was kind, and forecast rain had not arrived.  This resulted in a decision to head up Route 6 from Bilsborrow to reach Bell Lane and Strickens Lane, which we climbed to Oakenclough then our high point at Stang Yule on Delph Lane.  The views were excellent.

A descent to Higher Brock Mill, followed by undulating lanes on the eastern circumference of Beacon Fell marked our route to Cumeragh Village, where we re-joined Route 6 back into Preston and to our respective homes.  A short shower refreshed us at Cumeragh, but that turned out to be the only rain.

It had definitely not been entirely flat!  The height gain was apparently just less than 3000 feet, over a distance of 70 miles for me and a little more for Ian.  A goodly ride.

Mike Bridges