Sunday 19th January 2014 - Orton Fell

3 of us made a plan to look around Orton and the Roman roads, but when we met up on Sunday morning we felt it may be less muddy on Orton scar than the old roman road, were we wrong....? read on ...Jamie, Neil and CT met up at those M6 services before de-camping to Orton for the start. We headed north east out of Orton and climbed to head over Gt Asby Scar, it was a little muddy in many places, over the top there is plenty of limestone pavement, but still loads of mud, good to test bike handling skills, you have to look on the positive side ;) Over the top along the lanes a little then right and back over MuddyGill Plain, I guess this gives you a hint on the mud-fest...we had a few navigation options here and we took them all! but eventually found our way to Sunbiggin...where it rained a bit whilst we ate our supplies, onward to keep ahead of a walking group, but no, missed the gate and went round a field before having to overtake said walkers in muddy fields and a large muddy puddle, up scarside and up and over past the thunder stone (we didn't see it) and back to the road, last road climb and drop back into Orton.

Some info here http://www.strava.com/activities/107709405
and here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/433000685
We were out over 5 hours, nearly 15 miles, but 2000 ft climbing, there does not appear to be a mud stat'!

After the ride Neil and Jamie went to the silveryard cafe in Orton and said it was v.good:)

Neil's NEW shoes!

Checking the map, again

A guide post!

Downhill, but still peddling

Last descent into Orton