Preston to Kendal

A 60 mile postscript to the Norwich to Chester cycle trip.

Route: having taken a train from Chester to Preston, first a standard cycle commute to UCLan and then due east to reach Sustrans Route 6 out of the city. Briefly lost near the motorway, a detour on the Guild route back to Grimsargh and then back on Route 6 through Goosnargh and points north. Spurning coffee at Scorton, on via country roads on either side of the M6 to reach lunch in the blowy garden of The Stork at Conder Green. Then on the Lune Estuary cycle path: a smooth cindered disused railway line to reach Lancaster. Some confusion before gaining a great canal tow path cycle route over an aqueduct and then along through Hest Bank and Bolton le Sands with views of Morecambe Bay and hills beyond to reach the Brief Encounter Refreshment Rooms at Carnforth Station for a cream tea. Thence, by standard routes, home.

Conditions: initial cloudy sun and a light shower giving way to cooler cloudy conditions.

Pubs: The Stork at Conder Green for Lancaster Blonde and Lancaster Amber. Later Burgundy’s, Kendal, for Kendal Brewing Co Tenter Hooks and Fallons Lancastrian Gold.

Buxton to Chester

A 56 mile day, initially over steep peak district hills and then across the Cheshire plain: the final day of the Norwich to Chester cycle trip.

Route: Leaving Buxton in a long climb up the Manchester Road (also called the Long Hill) before turning left onto c roads through Goyt Valley, down and steeply up past Errword Reservoir and Nym’s Chair in low cloud and drizzle before descending to Bollington for a coffee in a deli off a street just as rain began to fall (raisin cider cake just out of the oven). Then in torrential rain out and over Alderley Edge and past The Wizard of Edge to descend to the Cheshire plain and reach The Bells of Peover, Lower Peover for lunch in their manicured gardens in sun. Afterwards another heavy downpour before afternoon tea at Delamere Forest Park Café and then on minor roads (and first on new tarmac on a closed road) before circling round Chester to enter from the north east.

Conditions: initial low cloud and warm drizzle followed by torrential rain, then sun for lunch, and more heavy rain and finally a sunny evening.

Pubs: The Bells of Peover, Lower Peover for Robinsons, Dizzy Blonde and later Old Harker’s Arms, Chester, for West Coast Brewing Co Riptide, Westwood Cheshire Cat, Monty’s Sunshine, Brunning & Price Original.

Loughborough to Buxton

A 66 mile route making good use of Sustrans Route 6 along paved and unpaved disused railway lines. 

Route: Starting by finding Sustrans route 6 out of the town and then across country over the M1. Then a diversion from it on country roads to regain it, and make rapid progress, as it followed a paved disused railway line. Briefly lost in Melbourne, before finding quiet roads to reach Repton for coffee, just outside the town at the rather disorganised Repton Tea Rooms and to the backdrop of public school cricket. Again following Route 6 to Ashbourne, descending into the town and then mistakenly taking the tunnel underneath it before having a pint (and eating lunch) inside a bunting-strewn Smith’s Tavern. Afterwards, oever the hill (that the tunnel cuts off) to find the start of the Tissington Trail: a smooth cinder rising very gradually up hill for 13 miles, at first in trees then open in beautiful Peak District countryside, to reach a tea stop at Parsley Hay junction near the top of the Tissington Trail (ice cream, tea in disposable cups, tea cake or Twix). Finally after the last few miles of Tissington Trail, a beautiful ride in via Earl Sterndale in bright evening sunshine with steep ascents and descents to reach Buxton

Conditions: Cloudy sun giving way to a bright and sunny evening.

Pubs: Smith’s Tavern, Ashbourne, for Jennings Cocker Hoop, Marston EPA, Ringwood Forty Niner and later Nat’s Kitchen, Buxton, for Buxton Brewery Buxton Bitter and (later still) Thornbridge Jaipur IPA.

Wisbech to Loughborough

A 76 mile trip initially across flat fens and then rolling hills.

Route: Starting on empty straight fenland roads past drainage canals to reach Crowland (three-way ancient stone bridge, ruined abbey) for coffee at the Old Copper Kettle. Then in more rolling country, crossing under the East Coast main line to find two pubs at Castle Bytham closed and so on for a lunchtime pint in the garden of the very posh Olive Tree in Clipsham. On, as the day deteriorated, to reach Melton Mowbray to find, eventually, afternoon tea at Off the Beaten Track. Then cycling first up hill in rain and then along the ridge on a busy B road to descend to Loughborough.

Conditions: initially hot and sunny, then cloudy and then low cloud and rain.

Pub: The Olive Tree in Clipsham for Grainstore Brewery (Oakham) Olive Ale and, later, The Swan in the Rushes, Loughborough for Castlerock Elsie Mo, Castlerock Harvest Pale, Ossett Red, Kelham Island Pale Rider.

Norwich to Wisbech

A flat 66 miles across Norfolk: the first day of the Norwich to Chester cycle trip.

Route: Starting from Norwich along Sustrans Route 1 on a very muddy cycle path before leaving it for quicker small roads for coffee at Reepham (close to the conjoined churches of St Michael’s and St Mary’s joined together; coffee sitting on the pavement outside a full 'Slice of Heaven' coffee shop). Then on small roads to reach the The Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham for lunch. Across rolling countryside before afternoon (cream) tea at the visitor centre on Green Quay in King’s Lynn and then very flat dull cycling - although past the amazing Saxon bell tower in West Walton - to reach Wisbech.

Conditions: warm although mainly cloudy; some sun later.

Pub: The Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham for Beeston Brewery Worth the Wait, Humpty Dumpty Reedham Gold and Rutland Queensberry House and The Red Lion on North Brink in Wisbech for Elgood’s Cambridge Bitter and 100-mile Daschund (raspberry).

Loughrigg Fell summit and cavern

Loughrigg summit

A Sunday summit with Steve and Tom.

Route: From the White Moss car park, taking the first footbridge and thence to, and along, Loughrigg Terrace before turning up left to reach the summit. Then down on a little-used grassy track in valleys and across patches of marshy ground to arrive at the cave (and meet Kathryn, Lois and Alex).

Mike the Knight looks for Vikings 

Then back to the car along the obvious higher path.

Conditions: Cloudy but warm and with some sun.

Pub: The Wateredge Inn for Hawkshead Windermere Pale.

Helm Crag

Steve and Tom at the top!

A short, stiff climb with Steve and Tom Woodcock.

Route: Leaving the car in a nearly empty Broadgate Meadow car park to take the Easedale Road past Lancrigg vegetarian B&B and then the standard route up Helm Crag beside ongoing Fix the Fells repitching work.

Resting in Far Easedale

A detour to the top of the southern summit, bypassing the northern one, before a descent to the saddle and then taking the route west, for the first time, to drop down a steep but mainly grassy path, meeting Lois, Kathryn and Alex at Stythwaite Steps and then returning on the valley-bottom bridleway.

Conditions: Cloudy but dry, with a spell of sunshine on the summit.

 Pub: Tweedies Bar for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Invasion.

Alston to Kendal cycle ride

A 67-mile ride over two lengthy Pennine passes and through empty country between the fells.

Route: From Alston taking the B6277 rising very gradually to cross the Pennines (summit around 600m) and then descending Teesdale for 12 miles to reach Middleton-in-Teesdale for coffee. Then taking the B6276 first steeply and then gradually rising onto moorland with views over Selset Reservoir. A surprise descent and steep ascent at Grains o’ th’ Beck and further ascent to the top of the pass (just over the Cumbria border) before a short descent to Brough. Smaller roads via Great Musgrave to Kirkby Stephen for a pint at the King’s Arms. Then a sharp ascent on the A683 and a gradual rise through a busy gypsy encampment (the week before the Appleby horse fair) before a long descent to Sedbergh and tea. Finally a murderous ascent via Killington to reach Old Hutton and home.

Conditions: Warm sunshine and cool when cloudy.

Pubs: The King’s Arms Kirkby Stephen for Dent Aviator at lunchtime.

Kendal to Alston cycle ride

A surprisingly tough 50-mile ride against a headwind on a dark and cold June day.

Route: From the house taking the WtoW route along Paddy Lane and then by small roads to cross the motorway near Lambrigg, under the viaduct at Beck Foot and then along the empty road under the Howgills eventually to join the A685. Leaving the WtoW route to continue along this to Tebay and thence to Orton for coffee. North over Orton Scar, through Crosby Ravensworth, to the White Horse Inn at King’s Meaburn for a pint. Thence via Temple Sowerby and Skirwith to Melmerby for tea in the village bakery and over the 1900ft Hartside pass on the A686 to cross the Pennines north of Cross Fell (pictured) and a slow and chilly descent to Alston.

Conditions: Cold and threatening with a headwind but no rain.

Pubs: The White Horse Inn at King’s Meaburn for Allendale Curlew’s Return and The Cumberland Hotel at Alston for Barngates Tag Lag, Barngates Red Bull Terrier and Hesket Newmarket Helvellyn Gold (and supper).

Nettle Hill and Smardale

A short walk over moorland and back along a disused railway with Mike and Janet Hornby and Neil.

Route: Leaving the car at Crosby Garret and taking a bridleway heading south west rising across the moorland before detouring to the summit of Nettle Hill. Thence back to the path until it reached a return path over Begin Hill, the site of ancient settlements, and eventually down onto the disused railway over Smardale Gill Viaduct and through Demesne Wood. Then back along a narrow road to the starting point.

Conditions: Cool and cloudy with few views.

Pubs: The King’s Head at Ravenstonedale for Hawkshead Windermere Pale and Marstons Diamond (jubilee) as well as lunch.