Sunday ride: Beaumont to Bowland Bridge

CTC  Ride   Report     Sunday 7th July 2024

Six riders from Lancaster CTC defied the showery outlook in expectations of an invigorating ride to Bowland Bridge, a once -favoured destination not visited for a while. It is becoming the norm for electric-assists to be well represented these days, and this first Sunday in July didn’t buck the trend.

The six became seven, as the Club Secretary joined the bunch at Nether Kellet and continued through Capernwray, Priest Hutton, Cinderbarrow, and the squiggly route across Hale Moss to Holme and to coffee at the busy Beetham Garden Centre’s Wood Fired Oven. Here, we gained another two riders and lost just one who had jobs to do back home in the afternoon. It took a while to socialise and munch through the huge and delicious scones.

Switching sides (of the A6) led to Dallam Deer Park and across Heversham Moss. Here we spotted the usual swan family exploring the ditches. There was a brief stop at Levens Village Shop to stock up on sandwiches and cakes for later on.

There were interesting vistas of Lakeland to the west from the Brigsteerroad, but the Lakeland edge was ominously shrouded in slow-moving sharp showers. A brief stop was made at Brigsteer to ‘cape -up’ as donning waterproofs used to be termed. Rain fell on the lumpy lane to Crosthwaite, but didn’t dishearten the stalwart bunch. The back marker left to enjoy the flatter run to lunch via Tarnside whilst the fitter and motorised element tackled the long steep ascent to the Lyth Valley road.

There was a quick consumption of sandwiches whilst dodging the showers, and hot beverages in the pub before remounting for the return via Cowmire. The wooded twisting steep climbs catching some out in inappropriate gears. Waterproofs were stowed away as blue skies were spotted over the bay. We cut off the corner via Mill Side to the familiar old A590. The new road, quiet for a change, was crossed to the tranquility of Sampool.

There was a resumption of climbing mode through Heversham village to Ackenthwaite. The planned route was via Paradise lane, but this waswas closed, so we carried on to Whasset and Beetham. The group continued uphill again to Slack Head, but this was a hill too far for two riders, who opted for the gentler undulations of the A6. Fortuitously the two factions met again at Crag Bank for the final section back home.

Between 50 and 60 miles, this was an invigorating ride and not as wet as anticipated.

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