Monday
A wet start saw 7 riders arrive at the Spring Wood Picnic Site to start our 5 day adventure into
Yorkshire. With the forecast not good the waterproofs were retained as we set off up the A59 to
turn off towards Sawley. Long Preston for a stop at Settle. Up A65 to Ingleton and then over the
hills past the caves and Ribblehead to Hawes where Frank and Dave split off to their B&B and and
the other 5 of us drove to to the Green Dragon at Hardraw. So far there had been no rain and it was
a fine evening.
On inspection of the pub and bunkhouse 4 of us were put into a 6 berth room which was spacious
and very clean and John had his own en suite. Peter arrived and set up his camp at the waterfall site
and Dave arrived and set up on the opposite side of the river.
Shortly after we all gathered in the pub for a drink and decided to walk the section of the Penine
way that runs across the fields into Hawes and there we met up with Frank and Dave. Here we had a
good look round and some walked up, via the church gardens to Gayle Mill but decided the
entrance fee was a bit steep so we didn’t go in. The walk back into Hawes took us past the
Wensleydale Cheese factory and down into the town for a coffee and cake. The decision was made
to eat at the Green Dragon so we walked back for more drinks and finally evening meal and lots of
biker chat.
Miles 80
Tuesday
A good breakfast and a fine morning saw Frank and Dave arrive for the gang of 9 to set off at 10:45
for Kirkby Stephen. This took us along the route of the old railway line to Garsdale Head where we
followed the track of the Settle Carlisle railway and the River Eden to Kirkby Stephen. Here we
stopped to fill up with petrol and then carried on towards Brough but turned right to Kaber and up
to Tan Hill for a stop for refreshment. Here it was lovely weather, the first time I had seen the place
without cloud or rain! After the rest we set off back down through Langthwaite following Arkle
Beck to Reeth for lunch. At Reeth it was again fine and sunny so we sat out enjoying the views for a
while. Then on through Grinton following the River Swale to Richmond. We had plenty of time to
have a good look round the town and have an ice cream and then we set off back through Reeth,
turning left to Gunnerside, Muker, over Buttertubs Pass into Hardraw.
When we arrived at the Green Dragon. Peter asked if anyone had lost anything. Sure enough
Richard had lost his wallet. Luckily, Peter who was riding “Tail End Charlie” had seen the wallet
drop off a bike as we left Richmond and had stopped to pick it up. A very grateful Richard accepted
his wallet back realising he had put it on the carrier while he was putting his gloves on and forgot it!
Thanks Pete, I owe you.
We all stayed at the Green Dragon again for the evening meal and were delighted with our rain free
ride through some lovely countryside.
Miles 83
Wednesday
Again a good breakfast and a fine morning saw Frank and Dave arrive for us all to set off at 10:45
through Redmire to Wensley and then following the River Ure to Middleham and on to Masham for
a coffee stop. As usual there was a market on and some purchases of fruit, sweets and biscuits were
made.
Then on through Grewelthorpe where the most picturesque village with a village green lined with
old trees and a large pond. Then to Kirkby Malzeard with its grass and tree lined Main Street to
Grantley and then on to Pately Bridge. Here we stopped for a lunch, sitting out under slightly
overcast skies but warm and dry. After lunch we filled up with petrol at the garage the set off for
Lofthouse by travelling alongside Gouthwaite Reservoir. Along this road we encountered a large
tractor with an ugly looking plough attached to the back and it took several miles for all of us to get
past it. Then on to Leighton and over the bridge on Leighton Reservoir to turn left at Healey to
Jeveaux Abbey and East Witton. From here the road followed the River Cover to Coverdale
and then on down into Kettlewell. This road (Cam Gill Road) has to be one of the most scenic
moorland roads in the country with a very severe hairpin on the way down into Kettlewell. A stop
was made here at The Cottage Tea Room for a drink and then up to Buckden where we turned left to
follow the river Wharfe along, yet again, one of the best moorland roads in the country. So then on
through Gayle and into Hawes. Back at the Green Dragon we found that Phil had joined us and had
set up camp next to Peter.
In the Evening we all walked in to Hawes again and had dinner in the Crown round a large table for
10.
Again a warm and dry ride out, this is almost unbelievable with the weather forecasts for the North
of England!
Miles 104
Thursday
The morning dawned grey and looked quite threatening so waterproofs were put on again.
Dave led us over Buttertubs Pass to Thwaite, Keld and Nateby to Kirkby Stephen. After a Fuel stop
we travelled on to Brough and Middleton in Teesdale past some very dried up looking reservoirs. In
Middleton we stopped for a break in the main street and then started off to travel over the hills to
Stanhope. Here we ended up in the clouds and the group stopped at one point to discuss whether it
was safe to travel on as visibility was down to a few yards. Frank thought we were probably at the
highest point and that we would be descending very soon so we carried on and sure enough we
came out of the clouds into a very scenic moorland area and a nice road that led into Stanhope.
Stanhope was a very quiet sort of place with a Victorian castle opposite the church which had a 300
million year old petrified tree in its grounds that had been dug out of a local quarry. It was
noticeably not very warm here so we soon set off again to Brough via St Johns Chapel, Langdon
Beck and back to Middleton where we turned off for great Musgrave and Kirkby Stephen. Here in
Kirkby Stephen the sun was out, the temperature was warm and we sat in the square resting and
talking to a local pensioner about the town and weather. A totally different climate to that in
Stanhope.
Then we were off on the last leg to Nateby, Garsdale Head and back to Hardraw. It was still quite
early so we rested in the green Dragon for a while and then arranged for the local volunteer bus
service to pick us up at 6pm to take us to Hawes where we planned to eat dinner in the Crown
again. It all went to plan, the bus turned up and for £2 each we got chauffeured into Hawes. Another
pleasant evening followed and then the walk back to Hardraw along the Pennine way path.
Miles 110
Friday
The day looked reasonable and after breakfast Peter, Dave and Phil packed up and left for home.
While we were packing Tony saw a mother duck calling to its chicks but they had fallen down a
grid in the car park. The Duck rescue team sprang into action with Bob and Richard opening the
grid covers where they managed to scoop most of the ducklings out of the smelly water. The ducks
kept jumping back in so we had to post a guard to stop them and put them over the wall into the
church yard. The mother didn’t seem to be too interested in the poor ducklings and just sat in the
churchyard ignoring them and then disappeared. The little Polish maintenance man at the hotel then
took it on himself to be the duckling support service and was seen for the rest of our time there,
round and about the hotel, with ducks in hand returning them to the church yard. We hope they
survived the ordeal.
Frank and Dave arrived and we were all ready for departure for 11:00am. We stopped at Hawes for
fuel and then set off for Ingleton where we turned left and travelled through High Bentham,
Clapham then through Gisburn forest past Stocks Reservoir to Slaidburn. After a refreshment stop
and photo session we set off again and after a few miles Dave, Tony and Richard branched off for
Longridge to make their way home and the rest of the group headed for Clitheroe and the A59.
Miles 71
Total miles 448 (From Lytham)
What can be said about our 2016 Ride-out? Well first the weather forecast for the week was pretty
dire but after a wet start getting to the meeting point we had no rain all week whilst riding. How
lucky was that? The bikes all performed flawlessly. We saw the best of the northern fells and the
prettiest of villages and towns with uncluttered roads and with good surfaces on 99% of the roads. It
was quite a shock to get back into Lancashire to the potholes and traffic congestion.
Everyone got on very well and the accommodation for everyone was great.
Thanks has to go to Dave and Rose for the initial scouting trip that set us on the track for Hardraw
and to Dave for the ride planning and navigation on all the rides which was pretty near faultless.
Thanks Dave.
Now where to in 2017?