Lancaster and South Lakes Cycle Touring Club Ride 1st July 2021

We gathered at the Boot and Shoe for what should have been our ride to Goosnargh via Garstang Arts cafe for their grand reopening; however, due to new Covid regulations the grand reopening has been postponed so our ride was adapted. I decided to keep the lunch stop the same but the coffee stop would now be The Apple Store in Scorton.

Instead of us going our usual way to Scorton I took the hillier way straight up Hala Hill passing Blea Tarn to drop down to the Conder to then climb up to the “Happy Valley” road to turn right to reach Five Lane Ends.

We then went our usual way passing Street and turning right at Harris End cross roads. Instead of dropping straight into Scorton a left turn took us over the water splash to enable us to drop down Snow Hill Lane to The Apple Store and the lovely welcome.

Suitably refreshed we then retraced our steps back up Snow Hill Lane to complete what we call “the Barnacre loop”. At the end of Keeper’s Lane we turned left to climb up past Barnacre Church(at this point riders left the group because they had alternative plans for the afternoon) and then onto the lanes going to Inglewhite. Turning right in Inglewhite onto Silk Mill Lane we weaved our way into Goosnargh. Our usual lunch stop at The Grapes was a no no because it was shut so off to the chip shop but there was a queue but we noticed the Stags was open so it was a no contest.

Leaving Goosnargh on Goosnargh Lane we then turned left onto Langley Lane then right onto Whittingham Lane crossing the old A6 in Broughton. We then went down Newsham Hall Lane and turned right onto Hollowford Lane then left on Eaves Lane then right on Benson’s Lane. This took us eventually to St. Michael’s Road.

We crossed the A6 to go up Bilsborrow Lane and turned left onto Lydiate Lane, now we were retracing our outward steps and eventually we came to the rutted descent past Barnacre Church which we negotiated very carefully so it was a slow careful descent and after a few more miles we dropped into Scorton. A unanimous decision was taken and a coffee stop was called for at Daisy Clough

The home run was gentle via Five Lane Ends, Galgate and the Uni.

All in all a pleasant 49 miles in great company and lovely warm weather(and the lunch time beer was excellent)

Anyone who is interested in joining us can find information about our regular club rides on Thursdays and Sundays on our website:  www.ctclancaster.org.uk.