Ride to Cartmel via Sizergh, Sunday 12th August 2018

Ride Report Beaumont to Cartmel (Grange) 12 August 2018

Given the weather forecast it was surprising that anybody turned up at Beaumont for Neil’s ride to Cartmel (including Neil).

The weather was, against the odds, fine at the start as the 5 of us left Beaumont and headed towards Kellet Lane and through the Kellet’s to join the Burton road at Priest Hutton. A good pace was set which was comfortable for all riders and we all stayed together and no ‘catch up’ stops were required. The weather remained dry and the scenery was admired as we rode along.

Through Burton and Holme, Ackenthwaite and Hincaster, we arrived at Sizergh just before 11o’clock to find it pretty quiet and no queue in the café. Not just cyclists who are put off by the weather forecast then! We enjoyed our time in the café where we were joined by Sandra. As we sat on the covered balcony the rain arrived so we dallied long enough for the rain to stop.

A combination of previous engagements and sore knees reduced our onward group to just 2, Neil and Brian, so we decided to head for Grange and miss out Cartmel. Through Levens, Witherslack and onto Lindale where we climbed the start of Lindale Hill and took the turn up School Hill, which is a quite tough but short climb. We were then rewarded with an exhilarating descent into Grange with the view of a high tide in the bay before us. Arriving in Grange we spotted Mulberry’s Café was open, so we called there for lunch. It remained fine so we took one of the outside tables and chatted with a tourist who was passing through.

Just as we were preparing to leave the promised heavy rain arrived and we ‘coated up’ for the return home. However, ‘coating up’ had the desired effect and the rain stopped almost immediately. By the time we got back to Levens we were confident enough to ‘de-coat’.

We split up at Crag Bank and headed to our respective homes with no further interference from the weather.

An excellent ride in dry weather for 99% of the ride, the rain only appearing as we took our sustenance breaks, in spite of the forecast.

3290 feet of ascent, 58 miles and back home for 3o’clock.

Neil Westwell