1st May 2014 - Hodge Close area, over Iron Held and into Grizedale

6 met up just off the Coniston road, A593 south of Yew Tree farm on the Hodge Close road, George, Charlie, Joel, Jamie, Grant and CT, a couple of folk were late having set off up the Torver road, apparently it's quicker via Ambleside :). We set off in the uaual RADs fashion of climbing straight from the car park! Head up the lane to Hodge Close and take the first bridleway on the RHS, it's a little climb but not too bad, keep going and check out the view into the quarry keep going and pick up the high oxen fell track and take in the NT plantation descent, although the mud/water puddles do slow you down, right turn at the bottom, along the trak, Jamie rode over the bridge (narrow bars!) then right at the road and climb up pulling wheelies for some;), right at the next junction and along to take the bridleway on the right, so we did the Iron Keld from the bottom, yes that's right we climbed up, again not tooo bad once the first bit is out of the way and just keep going, don't stop......and breathe.....at least you get a rest at the first gate, then onward to the top gate and a flapjack stop, cheers Charlie excellent nibbles:) we discussed pope cake ingredients (recipe on web page link to RHS). Then we blasted down to the bottom gate, all with smiles on our faces and whoop whoops by some? Now we headed left down the track towards the road, not done this descent for a while so we were racing doing well when Jamie:0 v Puncture:1, all stop quick change, on again, speed up and ooops Jamie:0 v Puncture:2, all stop quick change (still spare inner tubes), onwards and we make it to the bottom, right along the road and out past Hawkshead hill and to high cross, here we sent straight over an into Grizedale. Here we tried a new section and out onto Monk Conistion Moor, along to Lawson Park and a great descent down to the road, along the road and over the bridleway to meet up with the cycle way along side the Coniston road and back to the cars before 10pm, all good. Next ride Borrowdale off A6 north of Kendal, park near Selside.

Look what the girls found!

First gate half way up, nice views.

Charlie with a smile:)

Joel working hard.