5 riders travelled over to Keswick and one even cycled there!! (no prizes for guessing, but he rides an XXXL size bike!). We started off by the car park by the pool, at the back of the Keswick Hotel, we headed east along the old railway line, which is a very pleasant way to warm up, cycling along by the River Greta, in and out of the woods heading to Threlkeld. At the main road tee off through the village on up the lane past the Blencathra centre, just past the centre you arrive at the main bridleway at the base of Blease Fell and start heading north up the valley. It was a warm night, albeit the sun does not shine into the lower reaches of this valley during evening time. At the head of the valley you cross some streams and head up to the guide stones, another of those 'testing rocky' routes we keep referring to! then turn left and head south back down the valley on the opposite side below Lonscale Fell. Here you can see right down the valley back towards St, John's in the Vale and you can see Castle Rock (at least that's what we call it, 'cause it looks like a castle and it's made of rock!). We worked our way south along past Lonscale Craggs, these are various rocky outcrops which push you to the edge of the path and in some places there is a long drop down, it's worse than wet boardwalk and scary! At the end of the valley you come out to open ground for a quick whiz down to Whit Beck and back towards the car park. Here we took a little detour around/over Latrigg, worth the push up to the top for the panoramic views all around. Now for the downhill down the Cumbria Way, lots of dust flying and watch out for those gullies, no punctures tonight! A great finish to a sunny warm evening, now down to town for chips, after manoeuvring around (out of the way of...) Grants car!
Next week it's Walna Scar Road from Broughton Forrest Entrance off Hummer Lane.
No comments:
Post a Comment