Wigginton Autumn Brevet

23/10/16

This ride started near York, which had the simultaneous benefits of being able to get to by train on Sunday morning and not being ridiculously hilly.  A nice if chilly morning, and the city smelled of chocolate.  An easy ride from York station along Haxby Road to Wigginton Recreation Hall.  Lots of riders; I hung around outside checking out the bikes until the building shower became more like rain.  It had stopped by the time we started, and for the rest of the day we had a few more showers but always short and never enough to justify waterproofs.  As a bonus rainbows were visible at several points.

North Yorkshire

The event was ‘organised for North Yorkshire CTC by VC167’ whose members were conspicuous in their blue and yellow jerseys, as well as their large (to me) groups riding together.  Not being a club member I am not comfortable with group riding but unfortunately those who are tend to assume that everyone else is, and will happily surround the individual rider expecting you to understand their calls, and occasionally they will empty their noses when in close proximity.  Also I find that while such groups ride faster than me they also stop frequently, resulting in a tortoise/hare situation.  One person, dawdling at once such pause while I came by, exclaimed “a tourer!” as if I had shown up to a 100 km road ride on a downhill mountain bike.  I did enjoy riding up the hill on the straight (presumably Roman) road near Castle Howard using my triple, while others walked.

Enough grumbling.  I got talking to a guy on a Surly with what I think were On-One Mungo bars; he said they were always mocked by his club.  He was doing an ECE from Durham; much respect.

The first control was at Malton Morrisons where I felt surprisingly good and bought a pear and some cashew nuts.  Then west, north and west again to the second control at Ampleforth College.  I hadn’t looked this up so had no idea that there was an Abbey and Catholic boarding school here.  It was very peaceful, the sort of place you would normally take time over visiting, so it seemed a bit incongruent to have a bunch of sweaty cyclists descending and eating everything in sight.  The cafe, where stickers for brevet cards were obtained, was not only busy but had that smell of institutional catering that gives me the pure dry boak.  So I settled for an ice cream from the shop.

Ampleforth Abbey Ampleforth Abbey

The next section was my favourite, heading just into the North York Moors National Park and through Wass, a section I recognised from an ODL youth hostel weekend.  Past Byland Abbey, and the route gives a view of the White Horse near Kilburn.  Too far away to be worth stopping for a photo, but I tried using the GoPro whilst rising to capture some fellow riders up ahead.

Riding in North Yorkshire

With about 10 km to go I had a bit of a bonk and ate my emergency naked bar, which did the trick.  I suspect I wouldn’t have needed it if I hadn’t had the ice cream sugar-injection at the last control.  The last stretch was a fast ride along a B road into Wigginton.  All day I had been passing and being passed by a guy on a Moulton (since revealed as ‘Dave’ on yacf) and a woman on something nice-but-unidentifiable which was orange with white sections and very audax-looking, and we arrived at pretty much the same time.  I was also happy to catch Surly-guy in the last km and finish together – although he quickly headed off (presumably a pootle back to Durham) whereas I sat around with tea and cake before slowly rolling back to York.

Wigginton route

102 km, 6:06 hrs

Mellow Fruitfulness

09/10/16

First audax for a long time, so a 55 km seemed like a good place to start.  Although this also had 1.25 AAA points… Starting from Mytholmroyd at 10 am meant I could get the train and not be in a rush.  There was another guy on the train doing the 100 km Season of Mists, and since the train got in at about 9 am when that ride was due to start I think I’d do that in future, a few minutes late starting would be fairly insignificant.

 

Start of Mellow Fruitfulness

The short ride to Hebden Bridge provides a brief warm-up before the hellish climb to Heptonstall.  I had managed to make it up there and over the first few metres of cobbles when a rider behind came off, so I stopped and gingerly started making my way back to check she was ok.  By the time I got there several others had arrived and she was fine, but I knew there was no way I could ride now, staring on cobbles with legs like jelly, and feeling a bit vomity.  So along with many others it was a walk over the cobbles until they finally became almost level.  At Slack we headed west towards Blackshaw Head and then followed The Long Causeway, a great route which runs along the south west side of Heptonstall and Worsthorne Moors.

The Long Causeway The Long Causeway

Then a drop down to a control at JJ’s Diner on the Burnley Road.  The place was described as “a little Lancastrian”, but at times like this a bit of gruff efficiency can be just the job.

Mereclough

The middle section was, with some undulation, all ascent, and when looking at the route I’d thought it would be the worst part.  However shortly before arriving at the second control at Coldwell a view of Widdop appeared, and with it the realisation that yes, the route did go that way.  I’m glad that I didn’t speak to the rider who said “Widdop puts the fear of God into folk” until afterwards.  The control was pleasant with excellent cake, most of us sat outside in the sun being amused by the puppies that one of the organisers had with them.

Towards Widdop

After a short steep downhill section the ascent up towards Widdop reservoir began.  I’d already had a gear mis-change at the bottom and had to get off and spin the pedals by hand to make starting the hill, featuring cattle grid, possible.  I got as far as I could but when a car came down in the opposite direction I felt too wobbly and gave up, getting off to walk.  Happily I wasn’t alone, and chatted to a young woman whose riding companion was clearly simultaneously wanting to wait for her but also trying to keep pedalling. She said she normally did shorter rides but that her Dad up ahead (not partner, glad I hadn’t said anything embarrassing!) was a regular audaxer.  There was a rusted car in the valley which had presumably come off the road some time ago; only the L plate seemed to be surviving the elements.

Boulsworth Hill

When I finally got back on I caught up with some club-types who had managed to ride up and were having a breather.  One of them commented that I was “carrying a lot of weight”, referring to the bike rather than me, although I suspect reducing the latter would be more productive; all in all he came across as a bit of a prat.  After this is was mainly downhill, past Hardcastle Crags where we had a work trip, and rejoining the route out at Slack.

Hebden Dale

Back through Heptonstall over the cobbles, it was a rough ride with arm and leg muscles absorbing all the bumps and simultaneously having to grip the brakes.  I had been concerned about my left arm but in a wrist tubigrip it wasn’t anymore uncomfortable than my right by this point.  Mr Prat followed behind me over the cobbles and we rode back to Mytholmroyd pretty much together, at which point I thought my weighty bike can’t have been too bad.

Arriving back at the hall I checked in with organiser Chris Crossland who said he thought he’d recognised me from a previous event (Spring into the Dales) which impressed me.  As did the food on offer.  The trains back to Leeds were hourly and I left hurriedly to make the next one, although I would have quite happily sat around for a bit longer.  I was pleased to see the woman and her Dad I had spoken to earlier finishing just as I left.

Mellow Fruitfulness route Mellow Fruitfulness hills

55 km/34 miles, 1.25 AAA

The Way of the Roses

Bridlington WotR start Morecambe WotR end
29/08/16 – Bridlington to Pocklington

It was the day that everyone went home from Leeds festival, so the train station was covered in mud and smelled stale.  Unfortunately a few folk were on my train to Hull and brought the aroma with them.  Second train to Bridlington was ok but full of beach-goers including a small child singing that song from ‘Frozen’.

Arrived in Bridlington 11.30 am and went to the North Sands where the route starts.  It was busy, the weather was excellent.  Had a quick paddle in the sea; I’d rather dip my feet than my corrodible wheels.

Bridlington WotR start Paddling in Bridlington

The route left town up a little bit of a hill which would have been ok apart from the cars which mostly couldn’t be bothered to wait until the next passing place.  Past a Norman manor house at Burton Agnes followed by the first of many level crossings (counted eight over the course of the day).  These were either with lights and a barrier, or just a gate when on roads marked as dead-ends.  One had a kissing-gate which was just too small for my loaded, yet conventional, bike.  Anything more exotic would have struggled.  Signing however was excellent, most unusual for NCN routes; a few of the usual daft ways of crossing main roads but great on the whole.

Through Nafferton (‘posh’ says my notebook) and to Driffield, where I stopped for (my own) food.  The route doesn’t go through the town centre so I don’t know what it is like.  Apart from the hills out of Bridlington it is fairly flat, with lots of arable farmland, wheat/barley and grass, and some tall reed-like things wth no clear edible part.  Leaving Driffield the route crosses the railway line three times in such quick succession that two of them are barely distinguishable on the map.  Past Skerne and on to Hutton Cranswick to cross an A road.  Just after this was a sign for a garden centre/cafe, and although my plan was to avoid too much cake I was flagging so stopped off to refuel.  They had a huge WotR map and I could see that the day’s ascent was about to start.

Towards Bridlington WotR route in coffee shop

Just before the hills was probably the route’s flattest section, with lots of drainage channels and a road taking 90° turns, reminiscent of the roads around Glastonbury.  Then the climbing started, towards Tibthorpe, but it wasn’t too steep at any point, mostly a long slow drag.   After Huggate I thought it was all downhill but there was a little more climbing, then a sudden turning which went downhill through an amazing valley (river long since gone), with little tributary valleys.  This was a stark contrast to the flat fields, a little wrinkle in the smooth land.

Flat Yorkshire fields Flat Yorkshire fields Yorkshire Wolds Yorkshire Wolds

The route was downhill until a double switch-back where it left the first valley and headed to Millington.  I had marked a couple of campsites here from the WotR website but saw no sign of them.  I kept going, the route climbing up the other side of the valley which had me off and walking at one point.  At the top I met an old chap with a bike sitting on a bench, so I asked if he knew of any campsites.  “Campsites…(long pause)…campsites eh?”  Proper Yorkshireman.  After some further thought he gave me very helpful directions to a caravan site in Pocklington; always wary of places that don’t take tents but I saw a sign with a tent symbol on so became more optimistic.  Reception was closed but I rang their bell and a very friendly woman came over, directing me to a nice pitch.  Excellent site, mostly caravans; South Lea Caravan Park.  Very clean toilet block, flat stone-free ground with short grass, £10.  It was next to a busy-ish road so a little noisy.

At South Lea Caravan site

Roadkill of the day: stoat.

45 miles, average 9.9 mph

 

30/08/16 – Pocklington to Ripon

Left the campsite about 10 am which is acceptable for early days of a tour!  There’d been a heavy dew overnight but it was a sunny morning.  All flat to Stamford Bridge, where the route goes off-road on an old railway line path; the station building is still there and seemed to be used as a community centre.  After crossing the River Derwent the route runs along the A 466 briefly then turns along a road marked dead end/private estate.  Reaching a farm it becomes a bridleway and crosses a few fields; a wide track but bumpy in places, I’m sure it would be muddy if wet.

Bike in Stamford Bridge Bike and bridleway over field

Road again at Dunnington then the route negotiates its way across a few A roads before passing through Oswaldwick.  The village has a stream running between the road and houses so lots of people have a little bridge in front of their houses.  Also lots of new building going on, huge houses by the looks of it.  More cycle path before crossing York’s inner ring road and arriving at the Minster.  Signs all good here, it was of course very busy and I found it difficult to find a bike parking space.  Eventually I found a space on a rack on a side street which involved having to climb over an adjacent stead to get out after locking up.  Got a tubigrip for my wrist in Boots; I thought I’d struggle with the reduced strength in my hand but rather it seemed to be vibrations in my wrist that were most uncomfortable and this was a great help.  An ice-blended coffee and a seat in the shade were much appreciated at this point.

York Minster

Now noticing the discomfort on returning to the saddle I headed out of the centre on a route that I recognised as I’d stayed on the same street for work last year; which was fortunate as there was no sign, but I remembered the way to the river.  A stupid example of a cycle route here included a step and much zig-zagging to get onto the cycle path.  Once there however this was traffic-free, quite a few other cyclists and pedestrians.  A wide area of grassland (Clifton Ings) reminded me of Oxford.  Then the route rejoins the road, under then over the railway to touch an A road near Shipton.  Then on to Newton-on-Ouse, another expensive-looking village.  I stopped on the green to eat and tried to work out the time by the sundial, which looked like 2.30 pm but the local church chose that moment to ring a single chime.

sundial

Through Linton where there is an RAF base, the planes looked old to my ignorant eye, not the fast jets I associate with military use.  The route then crosses Aldwark bridge which has a toll, although bicycles are free.  It did seem rather rickety.  Happily my crossing coincided with that of a vintage camper van which suited the scene, the driver chatted to the toll keeper and it sounded like an annual gathering was just dispersing.

Toll bridge

Shortly after I was passed by some cyclists I had seen having a break by the bridge; a tandem complete with small dog in a rear basket and a friend drafting them.  Approaching Boroughbridge I saw a farm selling eggs and apples (Discovery), bags of six apples were £1 but I had no need of so many so I took one and left 20 p.  An early first apple of the year.  On the way out of Boroughbridge are some impressive standing stones, two in a field and one by the road with some information.

Then the route goes under the M1 (I made a note that junction 48 is the nearest for next time I’m driving and bored) before entering Ripon. I stopped at the cathedral before looking closely at the map, and realised the campsite marked would involve a little back-tracking.  It was not very well signed and required an unpleasant crossing of a dual carriageway roundabout.  Lockside Caravan Park is a small site, near the race course the commentary from which was still going at 7.30 pm.  Fairly basic but decent condition, £6 plus 50p for a shower.

52 miles, average 9.9 mph

 

31/08/16 – Ripon to Grassington

Another 10 am start, there was a brief shower just before I packed up, and it was sunshine and showers all day.  I was lucky and avoided most of the rain, only needing the waterproof for one downhill section to keep warm.  I returned to Ripon Cathedral after passing it yesterday to get back on the route.  After going around the central streets I came to a junction with WotR signs pointing both left and right, with no indication which was the east and which the west route.  I followed the ones pointing in the direction I was headed based on the town names…which was wrong as I ended up back at the Cathedral.  Back to the sign and I took the other option.

Ripon Cathedral Ripon Cathedral Ripon Cathedral

On to Studley Roger and in through the grand entrance to the National Trust Water Gardens/Fountains Abbey estate.  Up following a ‘no cars’ lane, past a little church and out onto another road.  No real sight of the Abbey but I have visited before.  Then passed a car park which I recognised from that visit before continuing along lumpy roads – I was finding the hills here hard work, like Cornwall where they are steep up and down all the time.  Quite a headwind all day too.

I had a brief stop at Brimham Rocks for dried fruit, definitely in need of sugar by this point, then fortunately mostly downhill through Glasshouses and into Pateley Bridge.  I covered the laundry drying on my rear rack as the clouds looked dark, and visited a nice tea shop on the downhill section of the main street.  Crazy location for a town, such a steep valley.  On leaving I was confronted by a very steep B road out of town which I had to walk up.  It was marked as 16 % and it just seemed to go on and on.  There were road signs at the top and bottom warning of slow cyclists but it was still hairy going, lots of bends so hard to stay visible to traffic (which would have been much different if I had be riding).  Somewhere around Greenhow it levelled out a bit, clearly high up with great views of Nidderdale north and south.

Pateley Bridge Nidderdale

Of course the wind was stronger on top.  I stopped at Stumps Cross Caverns, just for an ice cream  but I’d like to come and visit the caves sometime.  I hadn’t covered many miles so far so back on the bike into a strong headwind and a bit of rain, though at least mainly down hill to Appletreewick.  Then through Craven Arms (‘Gateway to the Ales’ – very tempted to stop here especially as there was a nice looking campsite) and I recognised a pub from an audax which went in the opposite direction along this section.  On through Burnsall which looked like a nice place.

Burnsall

Shortly afterwards I decided to leave the route and continue on the B6160 to Grassington, thinking there was more hope of finding a campsite around the town.  I did starting looking at bus shelters on the way… A steep climb with a bit of walking up to the town centre and I spotted a hillwalking shop so went in and asked about campsites.  The guy in the shop said there was one near Threshfield which was the closest and gave helpful directions.  Still tired so I stopped for a can of coke and white bread sandwich from the local spar (sugar required, not my usual cuisine at all), plenty of nice cafes/pubs for the less messy/fragrant visitor.

I found the campsite (near Skirethorns), I do wish they were signposted from further away though.  It was a very small place at the back of a farm, basic but functional, £6. There were two other tents there when I arrived, one small with a couple plus little dog having a BBQ, and the other a large tent with a couple who were playing Rick Astley and taking loudly.  Later they watched Emmerdale and Corrie and had a row.  I pondered the consequences of cutting the cable to their satellite dish.

34 miles, average 7.5 mph

 

01/09/16 – Grassington to High Bentham

It felt like September this morning, I could see my breath and had to put my jumper on.  I got up a bit earlier and left around 9 am, hoping that my clattering woke the TV watchers.  A sunny/cloudy day, the wind was not too strong but again blowing in an unhelpful direction.  I left Threshfield and took the B road to Cracoe to rejoin the WotR route, which then goes to Aireton via Hetton and Winterburn, which was lumpy but no walking required.  The next section over Scosthrop Moor involved more up, although it was a long slow climb so also all ridable with good views from the top.

Scosthrop Moor Scosthrop Moor Scosthrop Moor

There was a steep decent into Settle, where I stopped at Ye Olde Naked Man cafe, chosen on the basis of the name but recommended for quality also.  Their benches outside seem to double as a bus stop which explained the sudden appearance of a number of folk of advanced years while I was inside ordering.

Cafe in Settle

Then I went into the tourist information centre to see if I could find a campsite that I could get to at 4 – 5 pm, probably near Gressingham.  It was staffed by classic National Trust-style old lady volunteers, who were lovely but despite their best efforts devoid of knowledge.  This took quite some time while one of them (who lived in Bentham) wracked her brains, and was also interrupted by another visitor looking for their wi-fi, at which point the other read out/showed him the instructions that she had which clearly could have been written in arabic for all they made any sense to her.  He managed anyway.  When eventually ready to leave I found I couldn’t get my bar bag to clip in to the holder, and after much faffing realised that the angle of the holder must have changed slightly so that the gear and brake cables were now in the way.  There was another chap with luggage (not quite as much) fixing a puncture, he seemed only to have one tyre lever so I lent him another.

Having stopped for way too long I wondered where to aim for for the night, and planned to see how things were going when I got near Bentham where I was reasonably confident of a campsite.  The route leaves Settle and heads up Ribblesdale, on presumably the more undulating side than the B road and railway line follow.

Ribblesdale

Then it heads west to Austwick before meeting the A65 where a short section of cycle path has been reclaimed from a field.  Then up to Clapham, yet another nice village.  It was tempting to stay on the B6480 straight to Bentham but felt like cheating to take the easier option. There was an underpass under the A road shared with a stream, and then the roads leads to Clapham Station.

Underpass

There was a steep section after this which required a bit of walking, up to a crossroads at Neasden which offered nice views towards Ingleborough then along the south side of the Bentham valley.

Keasden crossroads Keasden crossroads Keasden crossroads Ingleborough

By now I’d decided that aiming for Morecambe was over-optimistic and liable to end in my arriving late so thought High Bentham a good bet for finding a campsite.  Initially I couldn’t see any sign of the site which was marked on the map, but I stopped in the village which had a sort of tourist information place which was a tiny room at the front entrance to the town hall.  Although closed you could still get in and I found a list of local campsites; two annoyingly back towards Clapham but they at least confirmed that they accepted tents whereas several others appeared to be caravans only.  Happily the first, Curlew Camping, was open.  It’s a small holding, with chickens and a few sheep, run by a slightly odd but very nice chap wearing a grubby ‘caving rescue’ t-shirt (and a couple of caving dry suits hanging up by the stable).  One toilet and shower in a small room attached to the side of the house, covered in notices and posters, very characterful.  £6 or £7 with car.  Views south towards the Forest of Bowland; north Ingleborough and Whernside would be visible from slightly higher.

A hen came to see me as soon as I’d arrived, she’s obviously learned that campers = food and I gave her a bit of oatcake, although she would peck anything that had potential (clothes pegs, hands, etc) and was quite happy to stand on my bare foot to get closer.  One other camper, also a cyclist who was driving up north but having a few stop offs on the way.

hen

31 miles, average 8.3 mph

 

02/09/16 – High Bentham to Morecambe

It was quite a wild night with wind and rain, and I wished I had put the extra guy ropes on but there was no water ingress and happily the rain had stopped by morning.  I left about 8.30 am and followed the B road back through High Bentham and on to Low Bentham and Wennington to Wray where I rejoined the WotR route.  Wennington was the first place in Lancashire but sadly there was no welcoming sign to photograph.  The route signage was not quite as good once over the border and I was glad to have the map on a small stretch of A road through Hornby.  Then over the River Lune to Gressingham.  Lumpy (no walking required) roads over the north side of the Lune valley until eventually down hill (for good this time) through Halton Park, where there was no grand house visible but the grounds were ‘kept’ with short grass and mature trees.  I had a stop at Crook of Lune, a sharp bend in the river, where there was a little cafe (Woodies) where I had a coffee in a proper mug and tiffin from yesterday’s cafe in Settle – always stay one snack ahead!

Lune Valley Crook of Lune

From here the route followed the Lune to Lancaster and was traffic free all the way to Morecambe, so easy going.  It’s old railway line, a very good shared route (apart from when a group of MAMILs came the other way like they owned it).  I stopped to check out an aqueduct where the Lancaster Canal crosses the river.

Near Halton Under the M6 Lancaster Canal/River Lune aqueduct

You don’t see much of Lancaster although I’m sure it would be easy to stop off and explore the city.  Crossing the river in Lancaster the signs were confusing and I ended up on a three-lane A road rather than the intended shared-use bridge.  Back on track to Morecambe and the traffic free route continues with frequent signed turn-offs to bits of town – great if you live here I imagine.  More confusing signs on reaching the end of the path around the train station, so I just followed the road signs for the promenade and found the official end (start) of the WotR route.  I had a paddle in the sea then a cruise up and down the promenade which is nice and wide, shared pedestrian/cycle/horse and cart use.

Morecambe WotR end Paddling, Morecambe Paddling, Morecambe

Sea at Morecambe Morecambe WotR end

The town seemed a bit of a dump, a main feature being a large tower sponsored by Polo.  I couldn’t even find a Weatherspoons for a celebratory pint and wi-fi so went to the train station.  The direct trains to Leeds are few but there was one due half an hour later so I headed home.  Finishing had been a bit of an anticlimax, probably because this was such an easy final day, and I had taken a day longer than I’d hoped.  The trip was a bit of a last minute decision, if I’d had more time I’d have planned my campsites better and probably completed it in four days.  Of course it has been done within 24 hours…although with less luggage.

23 miles, average 9.4 mph

 

WotR map

Great Knoutberry and Blea Moor

16/08/16

Another walk from Dent to Ribblehead, this time on the eastern side of the train line.

Dentdale

Following the road up from Dent station I joined the Pennine Bridleway as it follows the contours of Great Knoutberry.  Leaving the track I followed a fence up towards the trig point, from which all three peaks can be seen – visibility was good if a little hazy.  Curlew were disturbed on the way up, although I don’t think it was only me as there was a large bird hovering above.  As well as the trig point at the top there is a also a nice wind shelter; a section of wall with stones protruding as benches on either side.

Great Knoutberry Hill trig point The Three Peaks from Great Knoutberry Hill

Navigation was so easy as to verge on boring but I still almost followed the wrong fence down from the summit.  The correct fence is also the Cumbria/Yorkshire border.  Eventually I met the track at Aysgarth Moss which was a cross roads of bridleways; the west-east track being an old drovers road between dales.  I took the north-south route around Wold Fell which is a restricted byway, although given the more stringent restrictions on the surrounding routes I’m not sure how you could make the most of it.  This is a fine track and I would like to revisit it on a mountain bike.  There were lots of wheatears which were curious but seemed to find rabbits’ burrows a useful shelter when I got too close.

Bridleway Bridleway

The track meets a road for a few hundred metres before continuing around Blea Moor.  I stopped for lunch at the first gate and was visited by a curious weasel – it looked at me as if I was sitting in its way.  After a couple of laps of what is presumably a well-trodden route, followed by discrete surveillance from a patch of reeds the weasel disappeared.  Very quick and difficult to photograph but a lovely moment.

Weasel

Although following bridleways was easy it had become a little dull so I decided to change my plan and head up to the summit of Blea Moor.  This involved more fence-following and lots of bog-dodging.  A vehicle had been driven over here recently – probably to repair the fence judging by the old rusted sections and new posts and wire – which made tracks to follow.  At the most difficult section I thought I was going to have to use the fence as a bridge but instead found a reasonably clear crossing.  I saw a couple of traps and wondered if they were for the weasel…perhaps it had been threatening the grouse population.  I only saw a couple of grouse, maybe after the 12th most of them have gone.

Trap found on hillside Trig point on Blea Moor

A fence junction was near the trig point of Blea Moor – there are air shafts near but out of sight, over the railway tunnel.  The best way down seemed to be to follow yet another fence – one now fully in Yorkshire.  A bit of bog-dodging was required, and eventually I met the path which follows the railway.  This was the first time I had seen other walkers since I left Dent station.

Trig point on Blea Moor Towards Pen-y-ghent from Blea Moor Ribblehead viaduct

I saw the 3.42 pm train come and go, so was happy that I had a couple of hours before the next one to spend in the Station Inn.  A better back garden is hard to imagine.

Ribblehead viaduct from the pub map of route

9.7 miles, 1,657 ft climbed
Great Knoutberry Hill, 672 m; Marilyn, Hump, Hewitt, Nuttall,
Bleh Moor, 535 m; Hump, Dewey