CTC Lancaster and South Lakes Ride Report – Sunday 26th September 2021

There was an encouraging turnout of riders for Sunday’s CTC ride to Blackwell Arts and Craft house, near Bowness on Windermere, boasting a panoramic view over the lake and towards the cloud-enshrouded Coniston Old Man.

With the breeze at our backs we made good progress to the coffee stop at Sizergh Castle tea room, following our usual route via the Kellets, Burton, Holme and Ackenthwaite.  Fortunately we arrived just before the throng of car-borne visitors and enjoyed an extended social break. 

Our loins suitably girded by scones, we climbed over the steep Fell Road and down through the autumnal Brigsteer Park woodland.  Beyond Crosthwaite we joined the main Lyth Valley road, which was unusually quiet (perhaps the car owners were eking out their fuel supplies) The climbs beyond Winster sharpened our appetites for lunch at the Blackwell tea-room.

Returning to Winster one member had a painful facial encounter with a wasp.  Histamine tablets and cream were administered and she felt able to carry on.  We left the main road to seek out the woodlanded by-way down the Winster Valley to Bowland Bridge.  We then opted for the scenically superior lanes at the foot of Newton Fell to the base of Tow Top, where we turned left and on to Witherslack and Gilpin Bridge.  Dodging the speedy Sunday traffic on the A590, we crossed to Sampool and thence via our usual route to Storth and a late afternoon tea stop at RSPB Leighton Moss café.

It would be almost 6pm before most riders reached home, with 65 miles successfully negotiated.

We are approaching the season of shorter rides and extended café stops.  If you are interested in joining our social rides on Sundays and weekdays, our rides diary can be found on our website: www.ctclancaster.org.uk.

Len Howard