Ride from Beaumont to Sizergh Castle, via Barbon, Sunday 10th November, 2019

A veritable crowd of Lancaster and South Lakes Cycling Touring Club members assembled at the Beaumont start for Neil’s ride to Sizergh Castle. Given the number of participants, it was decided to split into 2 groups, and having been briefed with the proposed route, Brian kindly offered to lead the second group. Although fairly cold, there was a clear blue sky apart from a big yellow blob, the like of which we hadn’t seen recently. We took the Halton road from Beaumont and turned into Kellet Lane. We cycled through Nether and Over Kellet and passed the diving quarry onto Capernwray. All the time we were being rewarded with the most outstanding views of our wonderful countryside and Ingleborough became a feature of the scenery as we rode on, even though it was some distance away. Newton and Whittington were ‘conquered’ and we arrived in Kirkby Lonsdale unscathed, although Ken had fallen victim to the dreaded hedge trimming puncture. We took the path over Devil’s Bridge and thence the steep climb past the caravan site and onto the old Roman Road towards Barbondale. We arrived at the Church Mouse cafe in Barbon and promptly took all the remaining chairs in the establishment and partook of well presented and deserved refreshments. With the numbers of riders not diminishing, in fact, we gained a rider, we set off for our lunch stop at Sizergh Castle. We took the main Kirkby Lonsdale to Sedbergh road from Barbon, and then the left turn over the now weight reduced narrow bridge towards Rigmaden. We had eaten well at Barbon, but it was decided that we were still below the 4 ton weight limit, so we carried on undaunted. We were, however tested somewhat by the climb to Rigmaden and onto Old Hutton, but once again we were rewarded by the fantastic scenery as we progressed. We took the right turn in Gatebeck and then the quiet loop round to Halfpenny. A quick 150 yards along the A6070, we took the turn to Sedgwick, and ignoring the ‘Road Ahead Closed’ sign, we saw no reason for the sign, we passed through Sedgwick and arrived for our lunch stop at Sizergh Castle. Although Sizergh was busy, we were served reasonably quickly, and were soon ready for our onward journey. We set off towards Sedgwick, but then took the route through Hincaster and onto Woodhouse. It was then decided that as we had ridden through the Kellet’s in the morning we would go through Heversham, over the ‘mosses’, through the deer park, through Storth and onto Silverdale and Bolton-le-Sands, where the group began to break up as we neared home. 57 miles and 4400 ft of ascent on a wonderfully sunny Autumn day giving spectacular views over our special places, it doesn’t get much better than this. If you want to partake in one of these rewarding rides on Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday, visit www.ctclancaster.org.uk.

Neil Westwell