Sunday 20th January 2013 - Farleton - Lupton

View from Farleton

So a few of us set out on a bit of an explore, initially Neil, Jamie and CT set off from Milnthorpe with a view to check out some bridleways north west of Lupton and any others on the way. Grant was to join us later after rugby training. So we went via Farleton bridleway and enjoyed the route over to the Plough Inn, whilst waiting to meet Grant we headed north past Crabtree wood and then east through some snow and back to Lupton. Now with Grant we went back north and picked up the bridleway on the west side of Scout Hill and on past Cragmire plantation, here the route is straight and over snowy ground, tricky but entertaining as long as you keep eating food for fuel, it was cold and windy. At the end we continued along the lanes to get to the B6254 LK road and head up to Barkin House and onto the next bridleway, these are less used and not all easily signposted, also you need the OL7 and OL2 OS maps as the route goes over two maps. Anyway we headed further north east until mid-late afternoon when light was fading then we headed back via Lowther plantation (it's a bit muddy along the wood edge and we were even warned by a sign but still managed to follow the bridleway), go past Barden Energy at Fleet farm (it's on the bridleway) and back to the A65 where we dropped Grant back for his car and then we headed back over to Farleton via the bridleway up past Hollin Hall and onto Seaford Lane and then up a small hill to Farleton where we paused to eat the last of our food and then could enjoy our descent back down and homeward, we also pasted a gritter on the lanes and now know what it is like to be sandblasted! 

GPS data as follows:
Distance: 28.66 mi (Neils bike trip computer said 30+)
Time: 4:19:05 (riding time, we were out nearly 6 hours)
Avg Speed: 6.6 mph (interesting as the GPS stops if you are not riding fast enough and up hill in snow it cuts out!)
Elevation Gain: 3,842 ft
Calories: 1,756 C (not as much as last week! felt a lot more!!)
Avg Temperature: 31.5 °F (i.e. cold and very cold in the wind)

East of Farleton Fell

Checking just before descent

Above Old Town looking east