It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything about trail riding, a mix of work and life commitments that seem to have taken me in other directions for a bit, that and riding local stuff that has already been written about multiple times!
So I found myself with a block of spare time, Lucy had gone away, all my usual jobs, people etc all seem to be busy, so I thought it time to get another multi day trip set up and get out.
The plan, go to places I've not been before, explore those esoteric lanes near to those places and catch up with some mates along the way if the timings fitted. Thus I set off on a cloudy but bright fresh morning with a route in the GPX totalling 500 miles, skirting the edges of the Lakes National Park, The Forest of Bowland, Nidderland Area of Outstanding Beauty and the Dales before returning back home. There was a lot of surfaced road in sections of this route, but as the plan was to explore rather than just be a dedicated trail riding trip, that didn't bother me, I just had to check my tyres a bit more often!
Day 1.
First lanes were all local, with a stop off to see a mate who was building a camper van for some summer fun, then lots of tarmac to get down along the south west coast of Cumbria, Seascale, Ravenglass, Barrow etc.
I came across several tidal fords, which at high tide were not passable.
On the map, Seascale had a possible route along the coast to Ravenglass, but it turned out to be a footpath and a causeway, so I had to find a bypass. I'd never been to Ravenglass, which is the home of the Laal Ratty steam train. This goes up into the Eskdale valley and is an enjoyable trip with a good pub and cafe at the end. The village itself is a popular tourist spot and as such has a few cafes and amenities.
Hugging the coastline for the morning saw a variety of views, including the big nuclear plant at Sellafield, which has had significant impact on this area both in positive and negative ways. The West Coast railway runs nearby and I had to cross it several times, sometimes with a person working on the crossing and other times ringing a telephone to make sure the tracks were clear before I did my 3 journeys across opening and closing gates. Some really helpful and friendly folk these people were.
I turned inland briefly to climb on of the fell roads, where I stopped in the stiff breeze to enjoy the atmospheric day and views. Once fed I moved on to a new lane for me with an imperious ruin dominating the skyline. That would be a fab place to buy and restore!
As I dropped back to valley bottom I came across a lane with a tree down, I had a great little hand chain saw blade for such an occasion and managed to cut off the lower branch which tilted the main trunk back to just the right angle so I could pop over it. This chewed up some time, but was fun to do!
Tea and bacon butty was found at a great little burger van on the A595. Once refreshed I set off again just meandering down the coast stopping off in random places where the views were good. All of the roads in this part of the County are small and winding so very good for a little trail bike ride! At one point I found a beach with a beautiful wooden house perched on the bank, lovely views and an interesting sense of art in the garden!
I wanted to look at the byway that crosses Morcambe Bay, so I went down to Canal Foot near Ulverston. It is one of the few tidal fords left and you really need someone who knows the area to guide you across. It also needs to be low tide and you need to completely wash your bike down after... For me it wasn't going to happen today, but hey the historic info about the canal and industry there was fascinating for me.
By now, I was losing the daylight, so had to make a decision about where to stay. I opted for a mates in Lancaster and so off I went to get to his place so we could drink beer/wine and gossip for the night
Day 2.
The next dawned wet and windy, plenty of rain forecast for Lancashire, so as my mate had to be off for 8am and I didn't need to repack my pannier I was away nice and early. Riding through Lancaster is always a game of dodgems, but on a wet February morning in the rain it was even more scary than normal. I was glad to get out of a built up area and back into the countryside.
The first lane had a deepish ford which I'd never done before, there was a memorial on a tree nearby. After this I wound my way on the B roads heading eventually for a lovely long fell lane which was having some work done on it recently. There are very few lanes in Lancashire, something which dates back to a previous Lord who removed them all I'm told, not sure if this is just gossip or fact but the result is the same.
As I got to the end of the lane, I realised I'd not filled up in Lancaster and so used my GPS to try to find the nearest fuel, the info wasn't accurate and I wasted a few miles following directions to a none existent garage, where I then bit bullet and headed direct to Settle where I knew there was fuel. I got there with a thimble full in the tank. A hot pasty and some hot chocolate warmed me up as I was now pretty wet. The sun was starting to come out though in patches but where I was going was swathed in cloud.
The Dales is one of those National Parks that hasn't, (as yet), lost it quiet charm. Unlike the Lakes and the Peak which are desperately struggling under the pressure of millions of visitors each year and an infrastructure that wasn't built for the level of current use. As such you can find yourself in many places and not see a soul. Such was the case for the majority of the lanes I used, except for the one where I stalled in a ford, swearing as my feet got wet and cold. Only to find 3 cheery people pop up behind a hedge to check I was OK. Profuse apologies followed for my language and ten minutes of ribbing as I drained my now soaked boots!
I wound my way north to Reeth, when I got a phone call from a place I help out at now and then, asking if I could help them tomorrow as someone had a possible broken arm, so that was the end of my trip and the start of a very cold, dark and wet ride home. I passed through Kirby Stephen and Shap riding the odd few lanes in the dark cursing the KTM candle I had for a headlight. However when I got home, had a shower and warmed up I felt really relaxed and recharged from two days of trail riding.
Another brilliant little trip out, some magical places explored and passed through and some friends I've now caught up with again.
Mmm lets see when I can do the last bit now...
So I found myself with a block of spare time, Lucy had gone away, all my usual jobs, people etc all seem to be busy, so I thought it time to get another multi day trip set up and get out.
The plan, go to places I've not been before, explore those esoteric lanes near to those places and catch up with some mates along the way if the timings fitted. Thus I set off on a cloudy but bright fresh morning with a route in the GPX totalling 500 miles, skirting the edges of the Lakes National Park, The Forest of Bowland, Nidderland Area of Outstanding Beauty and the Dales before returning back home. There was a lot of surfaced road in sections of this route, but as the plan was to explore rather than just be a dedicated trail riding trip, that didn't bother me, I just had to check my tyres a bit more often!
Day 1.
First lanes were all local, with a stop off to see a mate who was building a camper van for some summer fun, then lots of tarmac to get down along the south west coast of Cumbria, Seascale, Ravenglass, Barrow etc.
I came across several tidal fords, which at high tide were not passable.
On the map, Seascale had a possible route along the coast to Ravenglass, but it turned out to be a footpath and a causeway, so I had to find a bypass. I'd never been to Ravenglass, which is the home of the Laal Ratty steam train. This goes up into the Eskdale valley and is an enjoyable trip with a good pub and cafe at the end. The village itself is a popular tourist spot and as such has a few cafes and amenities.
Hugging the coastline for the morning saw a variety of views, including the big nuclear plant at Sellafield, which has had significant impact on this area both in positive and negative ways. The West Coast railway runs nearby and I had to cross it several times, sometimes with a person working on the crossing and other times ringing a telephone to make sure the tracks were clear before I did my 3 journeys across opening and closing gates. Some really helpful and friendly folk these people were.
I turned inland briefly to climb on of the fell roads, where I stopped in the stiff breeze to enjoy the atmospheric day and views. Once fed I moved on to a new lane for me with an imperious ruin dominating the skyline. That would be a fab place to buy and restore!
As I dropped back to valley bottom I came across a lane with a tree down, I had a great little hand chain saw blade for such an occasion and managed to cut off the lower branch which tilted the main trunk back to just the right angle so I could pop over it. This chewed up some time, but was fun to do!
Tea and bacon butty was found at a great little burger van on the A595. Once refreshed I set off again just meandering down the coast stopping off in random places where the views were good. All of the roads in this part of the County are small and winding so very good for a little trail bike ride! At one point I found a beach with a beautiful wooden house perched on the bank, lovely views and an interesting sense of art in the garden!
I wanted to look at the byway that crosses Morcambe Bay, so I went down to Canal Foot near Ulverston. It is one of the few tidal fords left and you really need someone who knows the area to guide you across. It also needs to be low tide and you need to completely wash your bike down after... For me it wasn't going to happen today, but hey the historic info about the canal and industry there was fascinating for me.
By now, I was losing the daylight, so had to make a decision about where to stay. I opted for a mates in Lancaster and so off I went to get to his place so we could drink beer/wine and gossip for the night
Day 2.
The next dawned wet and windy, plenty of rain forecast for Lancashire, so as my mate had to be off for 8am and I didn't need to repack my pannier I was away nice and early. Riding through Lancaster is always a game of dodgems, but on a wet February morning in the rain it was even more scary than normal. I was glad to get out of a built up area and back into the countryside.
The first lane had a deepish ford which I'd never done before, there was a memorial on a tree nearby. After this I wound my way on the B roads heading eventually for a lovely long fell lane which was having some work done on it recently. There are very few lanes in Lancashire, something which dates back to a previous Lord who removed them all I'm told, not sure if this is just gossip or fact but the result is the same.
As I got to the end of the lane, I realised I'd not filled up in Lancaster and so used my GPS to try to find the nearest fuel, the info wasn't accurate and I wasted a few miles following directions to a none existent garage, where I then bit bullet and headed direct to Settle where I knew there was fuel. I got there with a thimble full in the tank. A hot pasty and some hot chocolate warmed me up as I was now pretty wet. The sun was starting to come out though in patches but where I was going was swathed in cloud.
The Dales is one of those National Parks that hasn't, (as yet), lost it quiet charm. Unlike the Lakes and the Peak which are desperately struggling under the pressure of millions of visitors each year and an infrastructure that wasn't built for the level of current use. As such you can find yourself in many places and not see a soul. Such was the case for the majority of the lanes I used, except for the one where I stalled in a ford, swearing as my feet got wet and cold. Only to find 3 cheery people pop up behind a hedge to check I was OK. Profuse apologies followed for my language and ten minutes of ribbing as I drained my now soaked boots!
I wound my way north to Reeth, when I got a phone call from a place I help out at now and then, asking if I could help them tomorrow as someone had a possible broken arm, so that was the end of my trip and the start of a very cold, dark and wet ride home. I passed through Kirby Stephen and Shap riding the odd few lanes in the dark cursing the KTM candle I had for a headlight. However when I got home, had a shower and warmed up I felt really relaxed and recharged from two days of trail riding.
Another brilliant little trip out, some magical places explored and passed through and some friends I've now caught up with again.
Mmm lets see when I can do the last bit now...
