Brackenthwaite Hows limp

A tiny stroll on a gorgeous day because T had a cycle holiday tendon injury.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Green National Trust car park and walking along the road past Scale Hill to find the footpath on the right. After 200m, ignoring the footpath but keeping to a clear track inside the right-to-roam land to reach a gate and then along a path to the familiar ridge to the summit of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending the ridge to the south but detouring to bushwhack to a subsidiary summit in trees and then down onto the main path. Descending to the lake shore near the boat house and round to near the pumping station but avoiding spray from the breakers on the lake by heading along the canalised inflow, briefly spotting an otter crossing the path and entering the river. Thence to the Kirkstile Inn for a pint and back along the road to the car park.

Conditions: brilliant sun, warm (21C) but very windy.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Session IPA.

Southport to Preston

A 37km/23 mile addendum to the Monmouth to Mersey cycle trip, having lost both Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving the Leicester Guest House, Southport, and taking a wide pavement cycle path beside the coast road and then a C-road to Hesketh Bank. Heading south through Tarleton to join a very busy A59 to Walmer Bridge, stopping at Tootsies Ice Cream & Coffee House for coffee. Then on a quieter road to Longton and then on well-constructed cycle paths to enter Preston via quiet streets and a park and over an historic footbridge near the New Continental, stopping for a pint after cycling up to the station and back through the park to pick up train tickets home. Then heading home on the train.

Conditions: sunny but cool.

Pub: the New Continental, Preston, for Marble Brewery Pint.

Bickerton to Southport

A 95km/60 mile fourth day of the Monmouth to Mersey Cycle Trip.

Route: leaving Angie and Alistair’s house and heading north east over Harthill, descending to the Cheshire plain, joining a busy A41 and then passing through Bruera and Saighton to reach Chester for coffee in a Caffe Nero. Then taking obvious roads to Upton to find the Sustrans Route 56 along an overgrown concrete path through Chester Zoo, along the Shropshire Union Canal and then on a railway track-side cycle track, minor roads and one very muddy farm track via Capenhurst, Willaston, and Raby for a beer at the Seven Stars in Thornton Hough. Then via Brimstage, Lever Causeway and Tranmere descending in traffic to reach the Birkenhead Ferry terminal at Woodside for coffee while awaiting a ferry to Liverpool. On the other side saying goodbye to Ian. Following a pavement cycleway on the very busy A5036 past endless warehouses, factories and docks (some derelict, some active) to join a cycle path at Seaforth round Marine Lake but coming to a halt where blown sand had covered the track. Thus detouring via Little Crosby and Hightown to pick up a track-side cycle path to Formby and, after a bit of confusion, a stony track through trees in the company of a small-wheeled bike aficionado to reach the narrow pavement-based cycle track along the Coast Road to find the Leicester Guest House in Southport.

Conditions: initially low cloud and drizzle, giving way to sun, but very blowy by the sea.

Pubs: at lunchtime, the Seven Stars, Thornton Hough, for Brimstage Brewery Trapper’s Hat (1.5 pints each!). In the evening, the Tap and Bottles, Southport, for Fierce Split Shift American IPA and Thirsty Farmer Nottinghamshire Craft Cider.

Church Stretton to Bickerton

An 89km/55 mile third day of the Monmouth to Mersey Cycle Trip.

Route: leaving the Victoria House B&B and heading north on the B5477 through All Stretton, turning right to cross the railway line and A49 to join the start of a Roman road. Making swift progress to Pitchford and Atcham to have coffee at the National Trust property Attingham Park (£5 cyclist entry for non-members to use the café). Then picking up Sustrans Route 45 to Shawbury for a beer at the Fox and Hounds. Continuing along the 45 to just south of Marchamley but detouring east and west to turn a steep hill into a smoother gradient. Descending to Prees and leaving the 45 to pick up the B5476 and, in gathering gloom and drizzle, proceeding at speed to Alderford Lake for tea and crumpets. In rain, crossing the centre of Whitchurch to head north east to Marbury and then Buckley, picking up Sustrans Route 56 to Bickerton to stay with Angie and Alistair.

Conditions: initially sunny though cool but becoming murky and then wet around tea time.

Pubs: at lunchtime, the Fox and Hounds, Shawbury, for Rowton Blonde. In the evening with Angie and Alistair, the Cholmondeley Arms for Cholmondeley Best, Salopian Shropshire Gold and Weston’s Old Rosie.

Ledbury to Church Stretton

The 83km/52 mile second day of the Monmouth to Mersey cycle trip with Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving the Talbot Hotel and heading north through Ledbury to pick up the B4214 and continue along this, gently undulating but then climbing gradually but more substantially for a view over the plain and then descending at speed to cross the A4103. Immediately afterwards, tuning right to take minor roads along the valley of the River Frome to Bromyard for coffee and cake at Flowerdews (next door to the Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction - which replaced the Teddy Bear Museum in 2005 - complete with TARDIS and dalek). Then continuing along the B4214 with no significant hills to Tenbury Wells for beer at the Kings Heads in bright sun. Crossing the Teme and taking a sharply rising minor road to Greete and Caynham before descending to Ludlow to source underwear for Dr Lyne and pick our way through the very busy food festival, cycling round the castle to join the B4361 and then the pavement of the A49 for coffee outside the (monstrous) Ludlow Farm shop at Bromfield. Then taking a route further east than Sustrans Route 44 to Norton and then significantly uphill to Upper Dinchope, curving round the hill to Westhope, Halton and Ticklerton always expecting then to descend but, instead continuing to climb to Hope Bowdler before a final descent to Church Stretton and the Victoria House B&B.

Conditions: a second warm sunny day.

Pubs: (at lunch time) the Kings Head, Tenbury Wells for Ludlow Blonde. Afterwards, the Stretton Ale House, Church Stretton for Salopian Oracle and Thundering Molly Cider.

Newport to Ledbury

The 88km/53 mile first day of the Monmouth to Mersey cycle trip.

Route: leaving the Waterloo Hotel (with a near view of the Transporter Bridge) and heading north through morning traffic before turning east and then north east on quiet roads to Usk for coffee and cake at the Sprockwoggles Coffee House. Afterwards, heading north east on Sustrans Route 423 to Raglan (fine views of the castle) and then above the River Trophy undulating to Monmouth for a beer on the pavement outside the Punch House in bright hot sun. Then climbing past ‘A Haberdashers School for Girls – nurturing timeless values’, turning left onto a minor road and climbing further with views westwards before briefly joining the A466 and peeling off north descending and ascending to Peterstow and heading into Ross on Wye for (generous) creams teas at the Royal Hotel. Then again on hilly minor roads past Brampton Abbots, Crow Hill, Kempley, Dymock and then more quickly on the B4216 to Ledbury.

Conditions: cool initially but glorious sun all day.

Pubs: (at lunchtime) the Punch House, Monmouth, for Oakham Citra, Rev James Gold and Bootleg Fool’s Gold; (on arrival) the Lion micropub for Ludlow Brewing Company Best and Wye Valley Brewery HPA.

Cycle circuit of Windermere

A 60km cycle ride starting at Windermere station and ending at home.

Route: taking the first (quiet) train on a Sunday morning (10:30am) to Windermere (hence being unable to pay) and cycling north on the busy A591, taking cycling routes on pavements where offered. Briefly stopping at Brockhole to view the excellent exhibition of lino cuts about taking care of our watery environment Paper Boats: Fragile Waters by Caroline Stow before continuing to Waterhead (spurning the coffee shop) and continuing past Clappersgate to turn left on the minor road to Wray, under Latterbarrow, thus rejoining the B5285 missing out Hawkshead and stopping for a pint at the Cuckoo Brow. Then descending on the minor road to Cunsey, coping with a stiff 2 x single chevron ascent to Graythwaite Hall and thence via Lakeside to Newby Bridge. Turning left to head north on the A592 and then B5360 to Blackwell for tea and scones. Continuing along the A5074 to Winster and then steeply up a  minor road to reach the Wild Boar Hotel for halves of beer. Then home via the Crook Road and Windermere Road.

Conditions: initially, and despite the sun, surprisingly cool. Later, cloudy.

Pubs: the Cuckoo Brow, Far Sawrey, for Hawkshead Red and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold. The Wild Boar Hotel for  Mad Pig Ale and Seasonal IPA.

Stroll to Albas and above

A 17km stroll while visiting Andrea near Castelfranc.

Route: leaving the house and walking south to Castelfranc via minor roads, a path by a stream and a quiet road behind a minor industrial estate, crossing the town to reach the river and heading left, south east beside it and the main road on the route of an old railway line. After a while, descending onto a minor road to reach a suspension bridge over to Albas and rising into the village centre. After consulting a large wall-mounted route map, heading south uphill on Combe Oliere, curving east to meet a road and then north to a view over the Lot with a table d’orientation. Descending on a narrow path back to Albas and then by roads to the bridge back over into Castelfranc and home by the outward route.

Conditions: a cooler, cloudier day between hot days.

Wildlife: Goats, chickens, a squirrel a gecko and a graceful heron flying back and forth by the weir at Albas.

Pub? No but a bottle of La Belle Poole Blonde Houblonnee at the orientation table with our sandwiches.