CTC Ride Report Sunday 31st Dec. 2023. Halton Station to Ingleton.

It was the final roll of the wheels of 2023 for the Lancaster CTC, as they ventured into the Dales on New Year’s Eve. A sudden improvement in the forecast came too late for many; only four riders turned up at Halton Station for a 40 mile jaunt in mostly glorious sunshine to Ingleton.

Appreciative glances were cast at the newly refurbished Lune Valley Cycleway between Crook-o-Lune and Bull Beck. Possibly a New Year harbinger of progress being made in 2024 to extend the off-road route to Hornby and beyond ?

Turning off the main road towards Wray, the sun made a welcome appearance, bathing the landscape in its oblique rays. Reflections of soggy sheep in the still waters of ephemeral lakes in many fields. Floods  were appearing in unexpected places on the road to Bentham, and the angry waters of the Wenning tumbled at speed through the valley.

A left turn at Low Bentham took us up the gruelling climb to Bentham Moor, where we called at Kathy’s pottery for the freewheel competition prize. We were relaxing in Inglesport with pints of tea and bacon and egg butties by 11.15.

Following a long sojourn, we emerged to still sunny conditions, and returned via the Marton Arms and Burton in Kendal. The climb back onto Bentham Moor was tackled in stages along the quiet back lane past Clifford Hall. The valley road was rejoined via the exhilarating swooping descent of Raven’s Close, and we retraced our wheels  through Wray. At Hornby the group divided, with the Bolton le Sands contingent settling in for yet more grinding ascents via Gressingham, and catching the first drops of rain before it set in for the afternoon.

Details of our Club rides can be found on our website    www.ctclancaster.org.uk. New riders are always welcome.