Chris’s Dent and Sedbergh Run 7th September 2024
The forecast for the day was good with some cloud but warm and some showers later on. Nine riders arrived at Auction Eats to enjoy the day and at 10:30 we set off. A recalcitrant G80CS refused to start but the rider waved us away as a plug change was all that was necessary and he would catch us up at the Lancaster meeting point. We arrived at Bull Beck about 40 minutes later and the offending G80 arrived before we had removed our helmets. Chris and Trevor were there to meet us so we were now 11 riders. After a short stop we set off East up the A683 and turned off towards Wray. I thought we were going to Slaidburn but Chris had other ideas. At the Junction with the Slaidburn Road over Lythe Fell we turned left to Bentham and at the town centre managed to turn right onto the B6480 to Clapham. The junction at Bentham was very busy and joining as a group was facilitated by a kind motorist who stopped the traffic from the left and allowed us to join as a group.
The road to Clapham had just been properly re-surfaced and it was a pleasure to ride down to the A65 on it. At Clapham it was a bit difficult to get across the A65 as the traffic was quite heavy but eventually we made it across to ride in towards the town centre but we turned left onto the Old Road which is a very scenic road and runs parallel to the A65 to Ingleton. In Ingleton we stopped at Seasons Bakery for refreshments. What a lovely bakery this is with pies, pasties and cakes for all tastes. After the break we set off though the town to pass under the old railway viaduct and crossed the river Greta and on up to Thornton in Lonsdale where, at the Marton Arms Hotel, we turned right onto Thornton Lane. This is a lovely lane with grass verges between dry stone walls with Whernside Fell to the right and Green Hill and Great Coum to the left. This is a gated road and we had to organise opening and closing the gates as we went. As this road is a farm road it has a lot of loose gravel in places and a sharp lookout for this hazard had to be kept all the time. As we passed over the top of the fell the view down the valley across to Garsdale head was superb and shortly we descended down into Dent.
As we entered Dent a huge tractor with a large hay turning machine in tow blocked our path so we detoured round the village green to get to the parking area. I thought this was our lunch stop as it was now 1pm and I started to unpack my lunch but we were informed that Sedbergh was the lunch stop so we started up again and headed off down the valley following the river Dee to Sedbergh where we parked up in the car park and walked back into the main street with our lunches. Here we sat on the benches outside the Book Shelter opposite the Waffle shop. Unfortunately the Chippy was closed for those who who wanted a fish and chip lunch but there were many other cafes and shops for those looking for sustenance.
After our lunch we rode out of Sedbergh on Station Road following the Kendal signs and shortly after we crossed the narrow bridge over the River Lune. Further on, as we approached the Killington Bridge over the Lune, we turned right into a narrow lane signed Killington and Old Hutton. This bumpy lane followed the river Lune down to Kearstwick where we met the B6254 just north of Kirkby Lonsdale. The town was very busy and we rode through with shoppers standing and watching our procession!
At the A65 we crossed the road and took the road through to Arkholme and on to the Red Well Pub where we stopped for a drink and chat. After this break we carried on by taking the Lancaster turn to ride through Halton Park to get to Caton. We said goodbye to Chris here and then Trevor and John at Caton. The remaining eight carried on through to Quernmore and Bay Horse to Forton village and the A6 to Preston. (This route was taken as some riders needed fuel.)
When I arrived home I had completed 133 miles so still plenty left in the tank but some riders still had a few more miles to ride as many live East and South of Preston.
Overall I found the ride very scenic and well planned by Chris. Thanks to him and the dry weather for making the day so nice.
Richard