Ride to Casterton Golf Club via Hornby, Sunday 18th November 2018

There was a strong easterly wind ruffling the largely leafless treetops when 8 members met at Beaumont for an early winter ride up the Lune Valley to Kirkby Lonsdale.

At Halton we were joined by Patience, and continued along the top road up the hill to the Aughton junction. Some people tried to hone their freewheeling skills as we traced the route of the Club downhill competition and on towards  Gressingham, but missing out the village by taking the little frequented lane to Eskrigge.

At Hornby tearoom, we were met by Ray and Linda who had come direct from Carnforth. The staff had laid on some freshly-baked scones for the occasion, which were much appreciated.

A slightly reduced group set off up the valley to Melling, along the surprisingly quiet main road, before turning off over the slight hill to Wennington. By this time the sun was making an appearance and the wind had eased, as we navigated the winding road past prosperous-looking farms and a hillocky wooded landscape to Wrayton. Back on the main road, still eerily quiet, until another right turn at the Highwayman Inn and on to the hamlet of Overtown, where an off-road short cut brought us to the crossing of the A65, and on to High Casterton on the straight Roman Road. A quick downhill took us to an early lunch at Casterton Golf Club

Fortified by home cooked fare and stimulating discussion, we left at 1 o’clock to take advantage of the sunshine and a following wind. Through the throngs of bikers at Devil’s Bridge and more pedestrian tourists in the town centre, we took the Old Town road and turned onto the scenic lanes to Tosca and Lupton Church. A careful crossing of the A65 was followed by the climb to Hutton Roof Church and the neglected track via the Crags to Clawthorpe.

It was too early to go home, so a circuitous route was chosen across Holme Moss, across the A6, and onto Arnside, before the climb over to Silverdale  and dispersing to our separate destinations before nightfall.

Len Howard.