Sunday Ride: Damson Dene to Coniston

CTC Lancaster and South Lakes Ride Report – Sunday 13th October 2024

It was a textbook fine, chilly autumnal day for Lancaster CTC’s “autumn tints” Sunday ride around the most scenic lanes South Lakeland has to offer.  This was a car-assist ride, starting in the Winster valley next to the Damson Dene hotel.

Leaders Liz and Dave generously shared one of their favourite rides, crossing Windermere to Hawkshead, Langdale and Coniston, with pin-sharp peaks basking in the slanting rays of sunshine.  The two “traditionalists” quickly got used to seeing the 5 electric-assists congregated at the top of the climbs.  Setting off from Damson Dene the route along the A5074 consisted of steep undulations on our way to Winster, Bowness and the ferry over Lake Windermere.  The lake presented its tranquil face, almost akin to the fabled mill pond.

A more serious unforgiving climb awaited us up to Far Sawrey, followed by a swoop down though Near Sawrey and an amble by the side of Esthwaite Water to Hawkshead.  Here, posh Lake District scones were consumed in Ginny’s Teapot café.

Suitably fortified, some slightly less severe hills took us to Outgate where we turned left onto a quiet lane to the Drunken Duck pub at Barngates.  A snaking downhill to Skelwith Bridge rewarded us with views ahead to Loughrigg (when not having to concentrate on the many twisting turns).  Another quiet valley road to Elterwater, emerging onto the fell for the classic view up Great Langdale to the “stickles”.  But our way took us up Little Langdale.  We turned left after the Three Shires Inn onto our first “rough stuff” section along a bridleway to High Tilberthwaite, with views towards the Old Man.  Rejoining the tarmac at one of the quarries, we made haste to the lunch stop at the Bluebird Café on the shore of Lake Coniston.  We sipped our teas to the glorious view of the gondola steaming away from the jetty.

We survived a stretch of thorn-scattered lane at the head of the lake as we tackled the final serious ascent of the day over Hawkshead Hill via Atkinson Ground.  Hawkshead was duly revisited before seeking out lanes at the foot of Latterbarrow, and descending gently to the lakeside cycle route for our final taste of “rough stuff”.

All that remained was to wait 10 minutes for the return ferry and re-tracing our wheels to the cars near Damson Dene.  A ride traversing 35 miles of undulating quiet lanes and tracks, amounting to 3,000 of ascent, South Lakeland presenting its finest autumnal aspect.

Take a look at our website to see if you would like to join us for a ride or two.  www.ctclancaster.org.uk