4th February 2012: A ride to Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Food photo at the Reading Cafe at Old Manor House in Clapham

Another view of the Reading Room Cafe at Clapham.

Heading up Thwaite Lane out of Clapham.

Ian at the top of Long Lane.

Ian and Chris heading along the bridleway towards Sulber Gate.

The view from Sulber Gate looking towards Thieves Moss.

Another view from Sulber Gate looking along the fence line towards Thieves Moss.

Regrouping at the ford near Borrins on the Pennine Bridleway.

Setting off down the track.

Crossing over the River Ribble via the Pennine Bridleway Bridge.

Back on tarmac as we head down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

Lunch time view looking out of Window at the Pen-y-ghent Cafe in Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

The food photo at the Pen-y-ghent Cafe.

Heading down the B 6479 from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Helwith Bridge.

Back at Clapham.

The view out of front window of Simeon’s van.

Ride Report by Simeon Orme

After chatting in the Reading Room Cafe and chatting a bit more due to Chris being a bit late, we all had extra layers on due to the cold weather as climb out of  Clapham along Thwaite Lane, then soon join Long Lane which is part of the Pennine Bridleway. We were about half way along Long Lane when the forecast snow arrived it was just a few snow flakes at first so we carry on up the track, as we got higher up you had to be careful of  ice under the snow, it was quite fast climb up to highest point of the ride at 386 metres, I think this due to the cold weather and was only three of us on the ride. At Sulber Gate we had to stop a few minutes for Chris to do minor repairs to his back carrier due to some nut and bolts falling out!

After Chris had sort this out, it was interesting ride down into Ribblesdale but we made it down to the B 6479 which cross over to continue along the unsign part of the Pennine Bridleway which gather from Ian is still officially not open due legal issues with Railtrack ie use this new hardcore surface bridleway at your own risk until the Pennine Bridleway sign posts. Anyway we had no problems and were soon crossing over River Ribble using the new bridge, then it was climb up the tarmac on the other side of  the Ribble Valley. For careful ride down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale as there a few centimetres of snow across the road.

In Horton-in-Ribblesdale we decide to have lunch at the Pen-y-ghent Cafe due to it was to cold eat sandwichs we had with us outside.

After lunch we headed down the B6479 against head wind with snow flying at you to Helwith Bridge, at Helwith Bridge we decide not push our luck on any more tracks, so we followed the lanes down Austwick, then short section on the A65 before following the B6480 into Clapham where Chris left us to ride home to High Bentham.        

You can click here to download the GPS route files of the route. To find out where we going next checkout forthcoming events page and don’t forget to post comment on our forum or in our Photo Guest Book. Also checkout the What’s New Page to see what’s new on the site and you can also signup for site’s free weekly newsletter. You may find more photos taken on this ride by other members posted up on the South Lakes Flickr Group.

Click here to see 12th February 2012 ride photos of the South Lakes Group or click here to check out Rough-Stuff Fellowship photo galleries on the web.