CTC club ride to Cartmel – Sunday 22nd August

The Sunday CTC ride was our second attempt to visit Cartmel, after an aborted trip 2 weeks previously due to the forecasts of persistent rain.

Support for the rides is gradually getting back to normal after Covid, and eight riders were at the start at “Kellet Crossroads” (AKA Four Lane Ends).  It was a drizzly start, but not sufficient to require full waterproofs.  As the morning wore on we were treated to warm sunshine, and thanked our lucky stars that we weren’t travelling further into the Lake District under heavy clouds and rain.

We cycled through Nether and Over Kellet, picking up two more members at the latter.  “Elevenses” was at Levens Hall, reached via Burton in Kendal, Holme, Ackenthwaite and Heversham.  We spread out into smaller groups at the café, meeting up with other members who had made their way there independently.  Some of us shared our huge slices of delicious cake and washed it down with welcome teas and coffees.

Ten riders continued on the ride, via Levens Village (noting the new covered outdoor café area at the excellent village shop), then along the cycle route through Gilpin Bridge and Witherslack.  We avoided the incredibly steep climb up via Tow Top, instead taking the scenic lane along the foot of Newton Fell to Lindale, where granny gears were engaged for the not quite as steep (but still challenging) climb up Lindale Hill, and the ever-steepening lane up Hampsfell.  Some riders regrettably ran out of gears and had to resort to “Shanks Pony”.  The reward was a long downhill section to Cartmel, where an assortment of sandwiches was consumed in the tranquil precincts of the impressive Priory.

The consensus was to move on for a tea break at Grange Over Sands Golf Club, which involved another engagement of low gears to get over Hampsfield Fell End.  The Golf Club House was reached just as a few drops of rain started to fall.  This soon passed over whilst we gathered inside for some wide-ranging discussions.  Eventually we stirred ourselves for the return trip via Meathop and Gilpin Bridge, dodging the traffic on the crossing of the A590, to gain the gated tarmac roads via Sampool and back to Levens Hall.  Thankful that we just missed the downpours further north, we headed towards blue skies over Heversham Moss, Storth and Leighton Moss, before dispersing on our various routes homewards. 

A sixty miles day for most, with some challenging climbs, but nobody could complain about the weather.

Please visit our website:  www.ctclancaster.org.uk for further information.  New riders are always welcome.