CTC Lancaster and South Lakes Ride Report – Sunday 3rd February 2022

Sunday dawned bright but chilly, so windproofs were the order of the day for the Cyclists Touring  Club ride from Beaumont to Staveley. 

A small group of 4 solos and 2 tandems left Beaumont and cut through to Halton Road, then up past the television mast to Nether Kellet, where our numbers were swelled by the addition of the Club Secretary.  Familiar roads were taken through Over Kellet, Borwick and Priest Hutton and we enjoyed the spring bird song and blossoming trees.  Onwards though Burton in Kendal and Holme, we reached our morning coffee stop at Beetham Garden Centre, where we met with further club members.

Suitably refreshed by coffee and scones, a slightly reduced group continued via Hincaster and Sedgewick to Natland, where the more serious climbing began, up to and over The Helm, with splendid views to our left over Kendal and the southern Lake District fells.  Continuing along the balcony route, still with Kendal in its valley to our left, we had to negotiate roadworks on the bridge over the railway just above Meal Bank, where some of the top stones had been shifted by an HGV.  The road is closed to vehicular traffic here, but space has been left for pedestrians and cyclists.

The precipitous descent of Meal Bank was not as bad as feared as parts of it have been resurfaced.  Heading into a strong head-wind we continued past Burneside along quiet lanes near the river and into Staveley on the Kentmere road.  Here the group split, with those having packed lunches stopping at the memorial garden by the church, then joining the others in Wilf’s café to wash down their lunch.  The extremely slow service at the café lengthened our break considerably, but we were finally ready to continue our route, circling Kendal this time to the west.

Our onward route went via Crook, Underbarrow and Brigsteer to Levens, where we decided not to linger for another refreshment stop, but dropped down to the A6 near Levens Hall, then back over the moss to Storth and Silverdale.  Stiffening winds made for hard work back to Warton and Crag Bank, and thence home.  At over 70 miles for some of us, it was good to make use of the lengthening daylight hours and challenge our cycling muscles.

Details of our club and future rides can be found on the website:  www.ctclancaster.org.uk.  New riders are always welcome.