The 35km first day of the 3-day relocated Back in the Saddle cycle holiday with Ian and Steve.Route: leaving the house and heading down Oxenholme Road into Kendal, crossing Romney Bridge, turning right and ascending via Anchorite Fields and Gillinggate to Brigsteer Road to the edge of Scout Scar and thence to St John’s Church, Helsington, pausing to look inside. Descending to the Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer, for pre-prandial half pints. Then on via Underbarrow and Dobby Lane to the Crook Road to Staveley and the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall. Home via the back road from Barley Bridge turning right into Burneside and back via Kent Bank and later Valley Drive.
Conditions: initially persistent drizzle and low cloud but later a few brief glimpses of sun.
Pubs: the Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer, for Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde and Cumbria Way and Bowness Bay Fellwalker; the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall for Brodie’s Prime, WPA, Mosaic, and Hawkshead Bitter. Later the New Union, Kendal, (Beer Festival) for Lakes Brew Co West Coast IPA, Floreffe Dubbel, Arbor Blue Skye Drinking, Marble Pint, Fallen Local Motive, Top Out First Crack and Lakes Brew Co Pale Ale.
