Beaumont to Casterton Golf Club on Sunday 23 June

CTC Lancaster & South Lakes   Ride Report    Sunday 23rd June 2024

The first Sunday of our 2024 summer saw a small band of five riders from Lancaster Cyclists Touring Club converging on Beaumont College for a 45 mile excursion to the Killington Lake area. Cycling conditions were near-perfect, cool enough for the climbs, and with full sunshine on the return from lunch at Casterton Golf Club. No opportunity yet for the heat haze to build up and obscure distant views across the Bay from Kellet Lane, or later on of the Lakeland peaks and western fells of the Dales.

Good progress was made along quiet tree-shaded lanes to Priest Hutton and thence by way of the fabled ‘mucky farm’ route and Hilderstone Quaker Burial Ground to the coffee stop at Farleton View, where tasty cheese and bacon scones were in favour. The party was here swollen by one more electric-assist, tilting the balance firmly away from the completely human-powered participants.

Continuing into deeper countryside east of Peasy Beck, the almost traffic-free lanes through Gatebeck treated us to aromas of newly-mown hay and to views across the patchwork quilt of fields to the Helm and distant Lakeland. Crossing over the M6, we entered more open fellside, passing by majestic wind turbines revolving desultorily to our right.

‘Heights’ appropriately signalled the start of the long steep descent into the Lune Valley, but the need to concentrate on bike handling meant little time to appreciate the vista to the east dominated by Middleton Fell.

A right turn halfway to the valley bottom gained the more relaxing balcony route through Rigmaden Park, stopping for a photo opportunity of part of the team framing a picture of newly-shorn immaculately white sheep, contrasting with the bright green sward of the Park.

Safely through the hordes of Sunday visitors in the centre of Kirkby Lonsdale and the hundreds of bikers at Devil’s Bridge, we enjoyed our well-earned lunch at Casterton, before setting off for home via Newton, Keer Holme and Capernwray.

CTC welcomes new riders. Please take a look at our programme of Sunday and Thursday rides on our website     www.ctclancaster.org.uk

The good, the bad and the ugly! the good took the photograph, you decide on the rest!