Sunday Ride from Beaumont to Grange - 2nd October 2022

One of the Cyclists Touring Club favourite destinations on our sunshine coast was the focus of our ride on the first Sunday in October. Grange-over-Sands beckoned through a kaleidoscope of bright autumnal colours, vividly enhanced by ever- increasing oblique rays of strong sunlight, and interspersed by the craggy outcrops of Whitbarrow and Newton Fell. A glorious day to be ‘awheel’; a sentiment shared by the twelve riders gathered at Beaumont College.

Two separate groups set off, sorted naturally on the ‘ fleet of foot’ principle, with the faster riders aiming to get to morning coffee at Beetham Garden Centre before the ‘plodders’ arrived.. The two groups then chose different routes from Over Kellet, the faster group meandering through Capernwray whilst the plodders steered through the Road Closed signs and negotiated the deserted road works on Kellet Bridge. Thus it was that both groups briefly coalesced at Borwick, the faster group having picked up serendipitously another recruit en-route.

Most of the denizens of north Lancashire seemed to have decided that the Garden Centre café would be a decent Sunday breakfast venue, so our sojourn was an extended one, this exacerbated by having to negotiate the airport-style routes through the shopping malls.

The two groups ,having agreed to rendezvous in Grange, took different routes onwards. One sought out the narrow lanes, whilst the leader and other plodders opted for the A6, which was remarkably quiet, and thence via Sampool marshes to Gilpin Bridge. Whitbarrow and the southern fells stood out in bold relief, the crags illuminated by the oblique rays of the back-end sun.. Then onto the delightfully traffic-free old A590 to the Derby Arms and across  Meathop Marsh to our picnic lunch in the park at Grange, missing still the spectacle of the  of the gaily-coloured exotic ducks, not yet replaced after being stolen years ago.

Scouring the cafes for signs of the faster group, but finding no trace, it was decided to head for the hills for the return, via Lindale, Tow Top foot and Witherslack. News then came from the faster group, beset by punctures on the thorn-strewn narrow lanes and deciding against continuing to Grange.

The plodders passed through a Tolkienesque landscape of small crags and scrub woodland towards an early afternoon tea stop at Levens Village Shop. This gem is a mecca for cyclists, with tasty cakes and hot pies and a drinks machine, and provided the perfect interlude for another convivial chat.

Sights were now set on the return, which followed the well-worn route across Heversham Marsh, Sandside, Carr Bank and onto Waterslack and Carnforth.

A perfect autumnal day for a leisurely bike ride, covering about 60 miles and home by 5pm. New riders are welcome to join our Club rides. Our Diary of Sunday and Thursday rides is available on our website      www.ctclancaster.org.uk