The 2025 Rideout
Monday 23rd June
A cool day with part sun greeted 6 riders at Auction Eats to start the ride up to Hesket Newmarket. The plan was to ride via Millom to visit Chris who was recovering from an operation. The cafe at Auction Eats is closed on a Monday so no drinks or breakfasts available so at 10:30 prompt we set off to meet Trevor at Slyne and carry on up the A6 to Levens. Trevor was at Slyne waiting for us and we made it in good time as the traffic in Lancaster was very light. At Levens Bridge we joined the A590 to Greenodd where we took the road to Duddon Bridge and Millom.
A friend of Chris had seen us arrive in Millom and had phoned him so he was on his doorstep to greet us as we arrived. We all chatted to Chris and his wife Diane for about 45 minutes while we ate the sandwiches and cakes she had made for us. We were all interested in seeing his workshop and garage and although needing a walking support he walked us over to his workshop where we admired his projects and well organised shelves. We walked back to the house and dressed to depart thanking Diane and Chris for their hospitality. Bob led us out of Millom and up past Ravenglass to Egremont and Cockermouth to arrive at Denton House for about 5pm.
Simon and Helen at The Old Crown had opened up the restaurant for us so we all had a good meal at 6:30 and a good chinwag. I ducked out after the meal as the Karaoke was making conversation difficult but some stayed and seemed to enjoy the evening. My optimistic Speedo clocked 167 for the day but from Auction Eats it was probably more like 140 miles.
Tuesday 24th June.
After the usual hearty breakfast served up by Susan and her helper we decided it was a waterproofs start as it was raining on and off but Chris and Trevor decided to wait for the rain to pass and did, in fact, do a trip into the lake district during the day. With Richard leading we set off to Mungrisdale. Along this road we normally ford a little stream, Carrock Beck, but after the heavy rain overnight we were faced with quite a river. Fortune favours the brave and knowing the bottom was smooth I ploughed through with no problem and all the others did as well with water up to the crankcase.
At the A66 we turned left and found it was one lane on both sides as there were cones all along and even the right turn for Troutbeck a mile up the road was a bit confusing as the filter was coned off.
But we all made it across and by the time we got to Dockray the rain had stopped and the sun was breaking through. Ullswater was a fine sight as we approached the turn to Pooley Bridge and the run along the lake was very nice. We passed through Pooley Bridge and headed towards Eamont bridge but forked off onto an unsigned road to Askham and on to Bampton Grange where I pulled into the church car park for a rest stop and to take off the waterproofs. After a short break we then headed to Shap and joined the A6 for a couple of hundred yards. The A6 was in fact closed to traffic for some reason and luckily the barrier was just beyond our left turn at the chippy so we carried on towards Crosby Ravensworth where there is a long, winding, steep downhill section before the village. I arrived in the village with only a couple of bikes behind me. I pulled over and waited then went back to find the others. Only a few hundred yards up the road they all came down and it seems that Phil’s bike had decided to become and artillery piece shooting flames and large lumps of carbon out of the exhaust. A quick stop and examination found nothing wrong so they carried on.
We then set off through some lovely picturesque villages, Maulds Meaburn and Hoff to arrive at Appleby for our lunch stop. We managed to get into a couple of car park spaces outside a pub and walked up the road to a bakery where we got coffees and pasties before sitting in the sunshine in the square to eat.
From Appleby we headed north out of the village under the A66 and on towards Brampton where I took a wrong turn and went on a scenic detour, missing out Dufton and arriving back on the planned route at Knock. Up the valley then to Blencarn through what appeared to be a farm entrance but was the road to Kirkland. We passed Blencarn Lake to arrive on the outskirts of Kirkand. A left turn here over a stone bridge took us to Skirwith and Ousby eventually arriving at Melmerby. The rain had now started again and we stopped on the car park of the Shepherds Inn to don Waterproofs. The stop here should have been a rest stop at the old bakery but with the weather getting worse we pressed on for the last lap back to Hesket via Glassonby, Kirkoswald and Armathwaite.
From here we headed for Wreay and Gaitesgill. Just out of Wreay I had planned to take a left turn but the road was closed by two vans from a company putting in fibre optic cables. The van driver relented and let us through so we could complete our homeward run to Denton House where we arrived at about 3:30pm Total run according to sat nav was 96 Miles.
Another nice evening in the Old Crown followed after a successful ride.
Wednesday 25th June.
Today started dry for Bob’s run into Scotland and this time we had 12 riders as Simon from The Old Crown Joined us on his new Lambretta scooter. We had only gone about 3 miles when we noticed we were down to 3 riders so Bob went back to see what had happened. Phil’s bike had overheated so much that the exhaust and the silencer had turned blue. The advance and retard lever had come apart and as it was slack wire retard the bike had run fully retarded causing the overheat. Phil said he would go back and fix it and for us to carry on with the ride. So down to eleven we set off to Wigton where the first stop was the petrol station to fill up. Out of Wigton we came to a cross road where we should have turned right but the road road was closed. The workers were preparing to resurface that section but after a bit of blagging Bob got them to let us through. This was OK as they hadn’t really started the job. On then to Rockcliffe and the road alongside the motorway to the the metal bridge over the River Esk and on to Gretna. The road surfaces got progressively worse as we drove through Gretna and on to Eastriggs where we stopped at the Devils Porridge Museum. We stopped here and went inside to discover the history of the first world war munitions factory. Link here https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/your-visit A very informative museum showing the huge effort made by the Scots to fuelling the war effort.
From here went to our lunch stop at Queensberry Bay Holiday park where there was a super cafe and a large caravan park on the shore of the Solway Bay where we could see across the bay to Bowness on Solway in Cumbria.
From here we retraced our route back through Annan to Gretna and back to the outskirts of Carlisle where some riders got held up and a wrong turn was made at a busy roundabout so about six riders took a different route back to Wigton than Bob’s group but in Wigton we pulled in to the petrol station and the others arrived about 1 minute later! From here Bob led us back to Denton House where we found Phil had repaired his bike and was about to take it out on a test run. Off he went and returned 10 minutes later declaring all was well. Another fine evening in the Old Crown completed the day. My REVER app said we had ridden 97 Miles.
Thursday 26th June
Today was a rainy start with 12 riders. Simon turned up again but this time on his new Vespa scooter. A very civilised commuter machine of 300cc. We set off East towards Plumpton but at the entrance to the village the road was closed. A local gave John a diversion route and we ended up back at the junction we had tried to get to after a 3 mile diversion. A fine start to the run. On then to Lazonby then Kirkoswald and a right turn at the top of the village took us over the moors towards Castle Carrock. As we crossed the moor the bikes came to a stop as Phil’s silencer decided to part company with the bike but this was soon fixed with a new bolt. We then rode through Castle Carrock and on to Brampton, Newtown and then Smithfield where we turned off down a lane to arrive at Mike Barry’s Motorcycle Museum. https://fabulousnorth.com/mike-barry-motorcycle-museum/ The museum was next to his workshop and was large building by garden sheds size. Here he had all manner of bikes, from his TT riding days to a large assortment of road bikes from Britain and Europe. Coventry Eagles, Triumph, BSA and Gileras to name just a few. After a good while looking round all the exhibits and chatting with Mike and stroking his lovely dogs we put our gear back on, thanked him for the hospitality and set off on the next stage. It was dry now and we set off through Hethersgill and Walton along Hadrians wall to the Lanercost Visitor Centre. We parked up here and ordered refreshments and were resting in the courtyard when Nick King and Cariline of the NE Essex Section spotted our bikes parked up so they came to have a chat with us. Amazing who you meet in far flung places!
After resting we set off again following the wall along a long straight road through Birdoswald and, just past Vindolandia, we we turned off to cross the River South Tyne at Haydon Bridge, then on down to Alston for a fuel stop. From Alston we drove up the long hill to the overlook at the top of Hartside Pass. A short stop here for a photo and then down the winding road and hairpins of the descent down to Melmerby into Penrith. Here we met heavy traffic and queues at the motorway junction. There were many roundabouts in Penrith and after a nice ride through the town centre we pulled into a car park to get our bearings. Mic got his Sat Nav working and he could see the way home. We all followed him until we got to a fork in the road where Mic went right on an unsigned road, Rick thought that was a wrong turn as the left turn had a sign to Greystoke which is near Hesket Newmarket. The riders behind followed Rick to Greystoke and back to Denton House where Mic had arrived a few minutes earlier. Apologies were given to Mic for not trusting his Sat Nav. We will have to trust him next time! We all attended the last night meal and had photos taken with Simon and Helen. After the meal Phil left in his van.
My App said we travelled 132 miles
Friday 27th
The usual hearty breakfast preceded the checking out routine and Tony gave Susan a £100 donation for her Pancreatic Cancer Charity and we thanked her for the lovely stay. At 10am we were seen off in the rain by Simon and Helen.
Lee and Chris departed in their Vans and the remaining 8 riders rode down to Pooley Bridge up to the A6 at Eamont Bridge and down to Shap. The A6 here was still closed so we took the left turn to Crosby Ravensworth and right here to Orton. It was still raining at Orton and we split up for refreshments, some at the cafe and some at the chocolate shop. After the stop the rain eased a little and we set off for Tebay, Beckfoot and Kirkby Lonsdale where we stopped at Devils Bridge for a short time. From here we rode to Caton where Trevor left us for Lancaster and the remainder rode down to Bay Horse to join the A6 to Preston. At Churchtown Rick and Alan turned off to Blackpool and the others headed home through Preston.
My App said 108 miles to home
Summary.
The week went well with no major problems. It was great to see Chris recovering well and although there were wet spells it didn’t detract from a lovely week of riding and good times in the Pub and on the road. It does seem like there is a feeling amongst the riders that we should do it again in 2026, so it seems to have been a success. Thanks to Bob and John (and Me) for planning and leading the rides and to all the riders who participated. I think we all covered around 600 miles during the week with only small problems. A testament to the maintenance we do on our 60-80 year old bikes.
Photos Here:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/emsL6fFyj6uv7nQf8