Ride to Sedbergh via Kirkby Lonsdale - Thursday 5th April 2018

The signs were good, a confident weather forecast of fine weather, and so it proved to be. Perhaps the best day of the year so far with cloudless skies until mid-afternoon, and virtually no wind.

The group of 12 riders assembled at 9.15 at the Crook o’ Lune and with fresh legs climbed up past Halton Park to the top road. Beautiful views all around, then a detour on the Aughton Road eventually joining the B6254 Kirkby road. But not for long, as we turned left at the pub in Arkholme for a quieter loop, re-joining the B road at Newton. Again, not for long as at Whittington we turned up the Hutton Roof road, turning right to go into Kirkby Lonsdale via Low Biggins.

At a café, we joined those who had decided to make their own way, making a total of some 18 riders. 14 of us then continued via Kearstwick and the Cumbria Cycle Way along the Lune valley to Sedbergh. Some had a cafe lunch, others enjoyed sandwiches in the warm sunshine overlooking Sedbergh School cricket pitch. The return route was via the back roads past Holme Farm, then onto the A683 for a short distance before turning off onto the minor road at Middleton and down to the Devil’s Bridge for a welcome brew. Riders then took their own way home, with 10 deciding to go over Hutton Roof and onward.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable day’s ride, in glorious weather, enjoying the best of the English countryside; what more could one ask for?

Tony Parsons, leader