Saturday
Myself, Cliff and Steve, headed out of Kirkby Stephen along Appleby Road to Warcop. At GR 748155, we follow the lane through to Warcop Old Bridge, where soon turn off the tarmac and follow well marked bridleway to Sandford Bridge. Where we then followed the bridleway from Blacksyke Farm to Little Ormside where we stop look at tree from Lebanon which Cliff told the history of. We then continue along to Great Ormside where we stop to look at Ormside Hall. We then continue up to Helm Road and then on to Broadmire Road before stopping for a late morning coffee and soup at the cafe at Rutter Mill ( well worth a visit if you going to the Easter Meet at Brough).

We then continue along the public byway to Haybanks and then follow the road through Drybeck, then turning on to the white road/ bridleway to Gaythorne Hall. We stop for lunch in shelf of Harding’s Wood before continue along the track pass Gaythorne Hall, at Gaythorne Cottages we followed the road towards Great Asby, at GR 668118 we turn on to bridleway which we follow through to Asby Grange and then on to Little Asby ( please note if following this route at Easter please follow the bridleway to Whygill Head and not the footpath to Little Asby like we did) we continue along the road to Whygill Head and then through Water Houses (good photo stop) to Soulby. We then followed the lanes through to Stripes and then on to Moorlands where we stop read a farmer’s poem about foot and mouth. We then continue on via Sandwath Bridge to Kirkby Stephen. Has it just turn 4.00pm all the cafes in the town had closed, we end up at the Youth Hotel for afternoon tea with another group of cyclist’s from the Bicycle Doctor in Manchester.

In the evening we were joined by Sharron Clifford who had cycle up from Preston after work and was cycling back the following day.

Sunday
On the Sunday we were joined by Richard from Harrogate and we headed out of Kirkby Stephen via Sandwath Bridge and Waitby for Smardale Fell. We follow the track over Smardale Fell and cross Smardale Bridge to Friar’s Bottom Farm. We then cross over the A685 and stop for morning coffee at the Garden Centre in Newbiggin-on-Lune.

After morning coffee we follow lane out of Newbiggin and soon join the A685 for a short while before turning off to follow the minor road through Coldbeck and stop at the church in Ravenstonedale to look at the ruins of a old priory at the back of the church (church is also worth a look at as while). We then continue through the village and followed Low Lane to Bowber Head. We then follow the lane down to Crooks Beck and crossed over the A683, then followed the white road up to Flass Farm. We followed the bridleway around the farm building  and followed it to Stennerskeugh over few nice bridges.

At The Street we followed the track over High Dolphinsty, stopping for lunch at one of fords on the way up to the summit (Their photo of the track on inside back cover of  the July/August Journal marked Wild Boar Fell by Simeon Orme). At summit we when through gate and had fine views of  Mallerstang on one side of the gate and the Lune Valley on the other side. We continue down the track into Mallerstang and then was blow back to Kirkby Stephen along the B6259 and we had short stop to look at Pendragon Castle and then continue on to Kirby Stephen where we made it in time for afternoon tea in cafe.

Simeon Orme