CTC Lancaster and South Lakes ride from Millennium Bridge to Grange over Sands on 29 February 2024.

CTC members were out in force for Neil’s ride to Grange over Sands with a morning stop at Levens Hall on the way. Starting at Millennium Bridge we followed the River Lune out of Lancaster towards Halton, taking the left turn to start the long slog up Kellet Lane to Nether Kellet. Always a warming start to get those lungs and legs working hard! Through Nether Kellet and Over Kellet, we carried straight on to pass the diving centre at Capernwray and on through Borwick and Priest Hutton. We briefly paused to reassemble before turning right to follow the main road to Burton. We took the left turn down Neddy Lane, over the motorway bridge to Holme. Eagle eyed readers may have noticed by now that no mention of the weather has been made so far! Well, there was no noticeable weather to report, it wasn’t raining, thank goodness, it wasn’t sunny, shame! It was just average for the last day of February, although there were still plenty of puddles along the way. What does seem to be more noticeable on our rides is the growing amount of ‘new lakes’ springing up in the fields alongside our routes. Not much help to the farmers!

We continued through Whasset and Ackenthwaite, then turning left in Woodhouse, we rode down the gradual descent into Heversham, turning right at the junction and followed the road until it joined the A6, which we followed to our coffee stop, Levens Hall. Nice coffee, enormous cakes to enjoy, we took our time in the busy cafe, drinking, eating and ‘chin wagging’.

Time to leave our pleasant, comfortable surroundings, our role call showed that we had lost 3 personnel, leaving to fulfil other engagements, but gained 3 who had made their own way to Levens Hall. From here we briefly followed the A6, taking the left turn towards the A590, but took the left turn towards Sampool. A combination of road and bridleway, all hard surfaced, took us to the point where we could cross the A590, carefully, to Gilpin Bridge, where we turned to follow the road or cycle path, turning right at the pub towards Town End, then left towards Witherslack. We carried on until we came to the junction with the almost impossibly steep ascent of Tow Tops in front of us and the turn to Lindale to the left. In spite of the many protests, it was decided to follow the road to Lindale! Reaching Lindale, participants had the choice of straight on to Grange, or right up Lindale Hill briefly, turning up School Hill to join the main road and following the swooping descent into Grange. 3 chose the hilly route, the rest the reasonably flat way. We all arrived at the Coffee Pot, our lunch destination of choice, together so we were able to lock our bikes behind the gate and take our seats at the tables, where we seemed to monopolise that area of the cafe. We were served quickly and efficiently by what appeared to be only 2 members of staff! Well done Coffee Pot!

Departing through the car park we joined the promenade, following it to the narrow bridge over the railway line at the end and onto the main road. We did take the right turn past the golf club, but this road was so badly flooded we decided to retrace our wheels and rejoin the main road back to Lindale, where we took the right turn. We followed this road almost back to the A590 before taking the right turn to Meathop. We were now back on track after our diversion near the Golf Club. Back across the plain we found our way back to Gilpin Bridge, then on through Levens village, across the Mosses, through Sandside, Hazelslack, Waterslack, Silverdale and Crag Bank where the ride was declared over so people could go there separate ways home.

62 miles, 2500 ft of ascent and one shower all day! It’s great to be a cyclist with all these most suitable roads and destinations to explore, not to mention cafes! CTC Lancaster and South Lakes have organised rides every Sunday and Thursday! Please join us, look at our website for more information! www.ctclancaster.org.uk

Neil Westwell