An Aborted Ride to Semerwater...Bloody Hell It Were Windy!

I was to knackered to write this ride up last night! A rough idea of my original plan, park in Clapham ride over Cam Fell to Semerwater and back via Buckden Littondale and Foxup. Nothing ridiculous, a bit testing I thought. I hadn't bargained on the combination of high humidity and an unbelievable headwind....this what I actually did (sorry lots of the pics have my bike in them?)

I headed off up Long Lane...its a long but gradual climb

Once out onto the open fell its all rideable over to Selside, this forms part of the Settle Loop of the Pennine Bridleway

Pen y Ghent seen across Thieves Moss. Just over the wall from the high point on the bridleway.

On the Pennine Bridleway having just crossed the "new" bridge over the Ribble.

A short stretch of tarmac to High Birkwith, just beyond here the Pennine Bridleway and Pennine Way coincide.

Sell Gill Hole...(I think?) quite a bit of water in the beck after the previous nights rain.

Over Ling Gill Bridge...

....and up onto the Cam Fell Road. The full force of the wind was hitting me by now and sapping my energy. Even on the flat sections it was almost impossible to make any headway!

As the Roman Road started to descend towards Fleet Moss I realised it was decision time progress had been painfully slow. Reluctantly I turned round and retraced my route to Old Ing. I couldn't believe the speed I was able to ride at with the wind behind me! :-)

I walked this section of Pennine Way from Old Ing to the bridleway which gives a long if rough ride down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Straight into the Pen-y-Ghent Cafe for a pint mug of tea and a piece of fruitcake, in an effort to put something back into the tank!

A short bit of tarmac and then the Pennine Bridleway again over to Fiezor, Austwick and Thwaite Lane and the tunnels back to the car at Clapham.

Bikepack to Dentdale...and a Ride With Lancs RSF

The chance of two consecutive dry days lured me into a plan to bikepack from home over to Dentdale via a bit of offroad and quiet lanes. I had an idea to bivi somewhere along the Coal Road, them on Thursday morning to make my way over to High Bentham to meet the Lancs Rough Stuff Fellowship for their ride along parts of the Pennine Bridleway....I would then ride home....no plan for this bit!

All loaded up and on the first bridleway over Farleton Knott

Saw this fella on the track basking in the sun.

A few minor lanes and tracks to Barbon...up the Hillclimb track to the next bridleway.

This cuts through the woodland below Barbon Manor, and brings you into Barbondale proper.

Up Barbondale and then East onto the bridleway I've always known as the "Coal Road."

The light was fading by the time I got the tarp up and gear sorted/food prepped. I found quite a good spot in the end, just big enough for me and the Siltarp1!

There were a number of shooting stars as forecast...and quite a good sunrise:-)

I was packed up and on my way by 7, down into Dent by Flintergill, I can't decide if its better done up or down!

Then it was up the Craven Way over the shoulder of Whernside, there's not a lot of riding to be done up here....there's a fair bit of pushing mind!
The views behind down Dentdale to the Howgills and the Lakes beyond made up for all the effort.

This old hut/cottage is close to the highpoint of the track. It was looked at a few years ago as a possible bothy project by the MBA...lots of work required!

The descent to Ribblehead is almost all rideable, Ingleborough dominates the scene

Time was getting on and I knew I had to be in High Bentham for 10.30. so after the bridleway through Winterscales' Ivescar and Ellerbeck I hit the road and made good time. I needed to refuel before the RSF ride. The Coop provided Sausage Rolls, Coke and some Pork Pies for later! 

There was a good turnout for the Lancs group ride 17 I think! Mewith lane a cyclists favourite hereabouts led us over towards Austwick, and ultimately Eileen's tearoom at Fiezor.

Refueled, in my case by Cheesy Chips and a pot of tea we headed North on the Pennine Bridleway.

Through Horton-in-Ribblesdale, across the new bridleway bridge and up to Thieves Moss

The geological curiosity that is Thieves Moss, Pen-Y-gent beyond

Here Geoff, Rob, Ian and I left the Lancs group to head down the singletrack bridleway to Wharfe, then Austwick. We had a drink at The Traddock...more Coke-cola! I could see the sky darkening, I said my good-byes and headed for home. Lanes and quiet roads  for me.

Still dry at Devils Bridge, tea and cake to fortify me for the last 10miles or so. More lanes round Hutton Roof and farleton and I was back home 83miles, I'd been at work just over 24 hours before!
Licking the lid of life!!

Fatbike on the Canal and Coast

It was to good an evening to miss...I had promised myself a rest!! It had been a long day at work and the forecast for tomorrow is grim. So a mainly "offroad" ride as everywhere is relatively dry for this evening......

Only 100m away from home and I'm beside the Lancaster canal...how lucky am I!

South along the canal tonight, heading towards Carnforth and Lancaster

Fat Bike beside one of the milestones, Farleton Knott in the background

Rather overgrown here near Cinderbarrow

These lock gates have been preserved as you descend  towards Tewitfeild

Lots of narrowboats at Carnforth, I was running out of time so headed for the coast and the return leg

The River Keer as it enters Morecambe Bay

I took a shortcut beside Haweswater on the permitted bridleways, the light was fading fast as the front arrived from the West.
From here it was back on quiet lanes, not a bad ride considering I was going to have a rest!! 

An Afternoon Walk to High Raise

This had been planned to be an all day walk...but a really wet morning meant that Ian and I didn't start walking from the New Dungeon Gill until almost 1pm. We were on a bit of a mission to visit High Raise, so off we went up Mill Gill in the company of many visitors.....

A late start did mean that most of the folk were in front of us....across the valley Lingmoor Fell fills the view

Pavey Ark across Stickle Tarn

Round Stickle Tarn then we followed Bright Beck which gave us an easy climb towards Sergeant Man

Here on a rocky knoll between Sergeant Man and High Raise there were superb views towards Windermere

And East to the Helvellyn range

Ian on the summit of High Raise....mission accomplished!

Back towards Langdale over Thurnacar Knott, then down beside Dungeon Gill

Lingmoor Fell, Langdale and beyond looking great in the evening light

A final look back at Mill Gill, Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle before the final descent to the car at New Dungeon Gill.
A grand afternoon trot round the Pikes.

Cockersands Abbey

A wet morning, but with a promise of a better afternoon. We had an odd job or two to do in Lancaster so drove a little further and parked beside the sea at Cockersands. It was a hive of activity...Jet Ski's, Sky Divers, Speedboats, Helicopter, Microlight....and a Freighter making its way into Glasson dock. We left most of it behind as we started our ramble.....

along the Lancashire Coastal Way.

The path follows the shore, Red Sandstone outcrops here.

The sandstone was used to build Cockersands Abbey, this is pretty much all that remains now. It was demolished in the mid 16c...

A little bit more of the abbey remains and the freighter "Fri Tide" waiting for the pilot boat.

We've seen the best of the wild flowers for this year, most of them are going over now

Although its been a good year for the wild roses...almost sounds like a song title!

I was surprised to see these Haaf Nets as we approached Crook Farm. I've only seen them on the Solway before. This would be as far as we would go...we turned round to see the sky almost black. It poured down all the way back to the car...so much for the forecast!