RSF ride to Kitridding

Crossing Lupton Beck

Today's ride started once more for "The Refreshment Rooms" at Carnforth railway station. I had ridden to the start from home (Holme),  so some of my outward route was retraced,  we then rode the bridleways west of the A6 before crossing from Hale to Pye Bridge Lane, which then led onto Elmsfield Lane. Our route then skirted Farleton Knott, crossing Lupton Beck was achieved by most of the group using the bridge, although it was a bit icy. One of our number decided that crossing the ford would be a good idea, it wasn't! Sadly this wasn't captured on "film". Once across the A65 we climbed Crabtree Lane this gave us access to the bridleway over Scout Hill. Lunch was eaten below the summit, the view from here I'm sure is superb, sadly today it barely extended for 200m. There followed a kilometre or so of mainly pushing, due to snow,ice and  basically really rough going. Cake was needed at this point so after a bit of careful riding due to untreated roads, we arrived at "Kitridding" farmshop and cafe,which was very busy. Space was made for 8 cyclists, cake and other goodieswere consumed. Suitably fed and watered we headed towards Kirkby Lonsdale, making a detour by Mansergh Church and its adjacent byway. As we were running out of daylight, it was tarmac all the way from here, via Biggins (really) and Hutton Roof, before dropping down to Burton-in-Kendal. I said my goodbyes at this point and rode home on the lanes. My feet were like blocks of ice, but as usual on the Rough Stuff rides it had been a great day. Should anyone like to read more or indeed find links to other accounts and articles on/about the RSF follow this link:- http://www.southlakesgroup.org.uk/index.html

Bridleway on Scout Hill.