30th April 2009 - Lowick Common

9 turned up at the Red Lion, Lowick Bridge to what turned out to be a bright sunny evening, we set off with only 8 helmets GA just had his buff for protection! We headed west, south west past Lowick Hall turn right and keep going until a track called Long Lane to Kiln Bank, turn right at the farm and take the bridleway round Subberthwaite Bank to meet up on a tarmac lane heading for Tottlebank continue along the bridleway until the road usually it's straight over, but we saw one lone MTBer (white Tee shirt on a pink bike) and he carried on up the road, so we thought we would head up the hill with vague ideas about another bridleway route, Charlie mentioned looking at a map, but no need, just yet...onward and upward, we could not find the ideal bridleway and so to the dismay of Ian, who had just made it up the climb, we headed back down, we took a slightly different route down to the usual bridleway and continued on (looking at the map (after the event, Ed)there is another bridleway, but it was not easily seen on the ground, and it was shorter so stick to the usual). Then we went right and enjoyed the road downhill until Yeat House, where you turn right and take a deep breath for the climb, but at the top we go left heading for Green Moor and this is a really GREAT descent on singletrack, big smiles abounded! Now through Green Moor wood right at the lane and head on up for another climb, where we were looking for a right turn, but it is actually near to the top so more climbing then turn right back towards woodland fell and enjoy the singletrack and rocky testing routes, back via 2 fords to Subberthwaite and back on the lanes. It's a great route with a mix of singletrack, climbing and descending, a quick beer and chocolate crisps for some and home. Next ride is Hawkshead for Claiffe.