Mid-Week Ride around Skiddaw (19/08/20)

I was on holiday in Keswick for a few days this week – a Monday to Friday stay at Portinscale near Keswick allowed me time for 2 relaxing walks and a more energetic ride.  The nature of the NCN cycleways in the area gave me plenty of choice for the ride, and I opted for a loop of Skiddaw and Blencathra, taking in parts of the C2C and the Lakes and Dales Loop amongst others.

9:00 on Wed 19th found me setting off from Portinscale and crossing the A66 at the roundabout near Keswick Hospital in glorious sunshine and light winds.  The first climb took me up under the slopes of Skiddaw to pass through the hamlet of Millhouse, with magnificent views across to Grasmoor, the Newlands Round and so on – these would be the first of many beautiful views.

I descended to the A591 for a short while before riding to Bassenthwaite village via Scarness.  The most serious climbing was the section from Bassenthwaite to Longlands.  There are at least 2 15% climbs here as you rise to nearly 300 metres but the views are stunning.  They include the local hills, Solway Firth and the Pennines.

This represents the highest section of road; I was able to coast for much of several miles of gentle descent, including unfenced sections of minor road and the B5299 leading to the pretty village of Caldbeck.  John Peel, of hunting fame, is buried in the Church here.  I took a minor road to Hesket Newmarket, (home of the real ale brewery of that name).  The Old Crown was closed when I got there, unfortunately!

A few more undulations took me across common land under the slopes of Carrock Fell to Mosedale (Quaker settlement) and on to Mungrisdale.  This whole vale is beautiful, with views of the Central Lake District ahead, beckoning.  A narrow gated road leads past Souther Fell to Scales (6 gates, grass in the middle and no sign of Wainwright’s ghostly army!)

Scales is on the A 66.  A pavement cycleway (Route 71) gave me off-road access to Threlkeld, where, having traversed the village, I was able to cross the trunk road to reach side roads to its south.  My last point of interest on the way into Keswick and Portinscale was passing Castlerigg Stone Circle before the last descent into town.  Here, the streets appeared to be as crowded as any normal year.

While one could argue that the mile or so through Keswick was not so beautiful, there is no doubt that this ride, comprising about 38 beautiful miles, was a very satisfying way of spending a day.

Mike Bridges