2025 Club Holiday to Thirsk Report

2025 CTC Lancaster and South Lakes Club Holiday

After two years holidaying in South West Scotland a new area was chosen for the 2025 holiday, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire.  The holiday lodge site formula seems to work well for our club and so the Woodland Lakes Lodges site proved to be a success.  We stayed in 6 wooden lodges, in a well-maintained site, with many scenic ponds and wooded areas.  Each lodge had a double en-suite room and two rather bijou twin rooms, with a shared bathroom.  The kitchen and lounge areas were very spacious and each lodge had a balcony area for outdoor relaxation.  Each lodge also had a hot tub for those who wished to indulge.  Some members took advantage of the site’s indoor pool which was free to access for site residents and there was a cafeteria and a bar/restaurant on the site.  

The area is close to Sutton Bank and the high moors beyond it to our east, and there was plenty of options for exploration by bike, by foot and by car.  There were many monastic ruins in the area and every small town appeared to have its own racecourse.

We had mixed weather, with the week beginning with strong winds and heavy showers, which fortunately did not prevent us riding.  The wet weather caused a couple of delayed starts to rides, but, after all, we were on holiday and did not have to rush out every day!

The booking was Monday to Monday 2-9 June so the activities began on Tuesday when Nick led a ride to picturesque Ampleforth College, on the slopes near Sutton Bank, with the outward route taking us past the ruins of Byland Abbey and the return with excellent views of the Kilburn White Horse and the pretty villages of Coxwold and Kilburn.

On Wednesday, a large group went by car to the top car park at Sutton Bank, from where Pete led a scenic walk along the steep scarp edge of the bank, with close-up views of the active glider club site; then there was a steep drop down and re-ascent around the Kilburn White Horse.  Returning to the car park and associated café for lunch.  Some of the group continued with a second circuit to the north of the car park, visiting Gormire Lake.  Others returned early to the lodges for a more relaxing afternoon.

Meanwhile Len led a bike ride up to Northallerton, calling at Kirby Wiske, Maunby (here to investigate a possible crossing point of the Swale) and other pretty villages en-route. The return via Crosby Court and Knayton was completed by a welcome ice cream in Thirk scenic town square.

That evening Liz and Dave ran their ever-popular quiz night, allowing us to exercise our brains as well as our bodies.  There were prizes galore and most participants did not go away empty-handed.

Thursday was again forecast to be wet and windy, so Dave Edge’s planned high level cycle tour on the moors was cancelled. An alternative ride was led by Patience, heading south and west to Masham and Bedale, both very pretty small towns with welcoming cafes.

Friday’s main event was a walk led by Mike Codd from Sutton Bank to Rievaulx, which ended up being further and higher than anticipated, but was very enjoyable.  Other members chose to attempt Jean’s ever-popular cycle orienteering quiz, testing both our map skills and observation.  Three of our members chose to have a day at the Thirsk races.  The day was rounded off with the traditional group outing for a meal at The Kings Arms at Sandhutton, which was excellent.

Saturday’s main event was the longest cycle ride of the week, to Leyburn, with morning coffee at Thorpe Perrow Arboretum.  A shorter ride returned from here via West Tanfield and Topcliffe.  The longer ride went high up on the moors above Leyburn, including a one mile stretch of off-road riding on the way to Catterick, where the Swale was crossed, before the return route along the banks of the smaller River Wiske.

In the evening Andy had organised another club tradition – a music and talent evening, giving our vocal chords a work-out and a chance to admire the skills of some of our members.

On Sunday Dave Yorke led a ride south, serendipitously finding a fishery with café en-route to Boroughbridge, with the cheapest prices of the holiday for coffee and cakes.  Lunch was in Ripon and Dave found a superb route on cycle paths into the centre.  Small lanes then took us up to West Tanfield, where we crossed and briefly followed the attractive River Ure before making our way across to Topcliffe and the return to base.

Once again we had a very enjoyable week and there are still plenty of attractions to explore in this area, so we may well return there.