Ride to Dent via Casterton, Sunday 10th June 2018

A perfect late spring outing beckoned as 10 members of the CTC gathered at Beaumont College for a 55 mile ride to Dentdale.  With so many members absent at the annual Club holiday in Northumberland the leaders were anticipating a low turnout, but numbers were swelled by riders we hadn’t seen for a while on Sundays. The leaders had promised a steady pace, so we gained a little time by taking the A6 to Carnforth . Even at 9.30am the heat of the sun could be felt on our bare legs and arms.  A slightly unusual route to Kirkby Lonsdale took us via Borwick and the scenic Keer valley to Newton.  Coffee was enjoyed sitting in the sun outside the golf club house at Casterton. 

Then the time came to negotiate the balcony byways on the fellside above Barbon village, and to tackle the long gradual ascent to the top of Barbondale, where we re-grouped to drink in one of the Dales’ finest views up to Denthead.

A quick and precipitous descent found us in Gawthrop and an amble up the valley brought us to Dent village and lunch.

Re-tracing our wheel tracks we climbed back to Gawthrop and continued along lower Dentdale, resplendent in its luscious spring finery.   A brief climb on a gated lane took us onto Holme Fell , followed by a regrouping at the main road junction. The tortuous and narrow back road at the foot of Middleton Fell brought us to the Church Mouse café in Barbon for another sundrenched break, seeking shade under the parasols.

A splendid day awheel drew to to a close as we chose the main high level route down the west side of the Lune Valley and back home through the Kellets.