The Salter Fell Road was the destination for last Sunday’s ride by the Lancaster and South Lakes Cyclists Touring Club.

Eight cyclists met at the Boot and Shoe with the inviting prospect of a fine day for the 7 miles long high level crossing of the Bowland Fells between Slaidburn and Wray.

Dunsop Bridge tearooms provided a welcome coffee stop, reached via Dolphinholme, Abbeystead, Marshaw Fell Road and the Trough.  After an extended stop at the busy café, just 5 cyclists continued on to the crossing of Salter Fell.  The off-road section was reached via Newton and the Quiet Lane at the foot of Burn Fell and Wood House Lane.  

A recent bonus for walkers and cyclists has been the padlocking of the gates giving access to the Salter Fell road, so that 4-wheel drive vehicles do not intrude on the peace and quiet and churn up the track surface.

A picnic lunch was enjoyed at a shooting hut on Croasdale Fell, after passing the monument to the Lancashire witches, which provided a reminder that the route has been in use for centuries.

The northern section of the Salt Road has been much improved recently by the shooting interests, enabling better progress to be made after crossing the watershed at 412 metres above sea level.  Panoramic views opened up across Morecambe Bay and to Yorkshire’s 3 Peaks as the cyclists traversed high above the Roeburn Valley and regained the tarmac roads before dropping down to Wray for a welcome tea stop before heading home.