Well! Here we are again on our first adventure this year following the horrendous world wide bout of COVID 19 coronovirus which has brought the world to its knees. The UK has been under restrictions since March 2020 with limits on mixing and travel both within the UK and abroad. Restrictions still apply but we can go to hotels if we dont mix too much and mask wearing obligatory areas, so off we go.
Several cyclists arrived in Clitheroe yesterday and went out for a meal together at Holmes Mill joining the throng of people finally released from purgatory. Luckily the weather forecast for the week is good, with no rain and temperatures up to 20 degrees C. Whilst we were due to depart from the Platform Gallery at 9am, this was delayed by the Rose and Crowns 8.30 breakfast for three of our group. We got away at 9.20 in light cloud and reasonably warm.
The route today took us up the hill from town to Cow Ark and into the beautiful Hodder Valley where the Queen has quite a lot of
A few lumps in the road this morning, a sharp climb out of Newton in Bowland with a steep descent into Slaidburn before another climb out of the village heading towards Tosside and back into the Ribble Valley again. In Slaidburn we stopped for coffee at the Riverside Cafe where Andrew did some wheel repairs. We crossed over the river Hodder and up the hill with the hairpin bend. The Hodder starts just a few miles away up in the hills, and passes through Stocks Reservoir before heading down to the river Ribble just a few miles below Clitheroe. Turning left by the church in Tosside we noticed the weather vane on the monument in the road junction with a fox atop. Apparently Tosside is old English for fox field. The old spelling was actually Tossit, and is the way the locals still pronounce it. The road out of Tosside was quite narrow and traffic free with wonderful views across the valley and into ‘Gods Own Country - Yorkshire. Along this road is my daughter Joannes farm diversification project, Peaks and Pods, a five unit glamping site with all
mod cons and great views over to Settle and one if the three peaks - Pen y Ghent. After a brief visit we headed along to Settle along the Wham road, which again provided us with splendid views. In Settle we crossed over the Ribble on a footbridge and into town to the busy market square to see the Shambles and the famous shop and cafe called Ye Old Naked Man. Back over the river and then we followed it up through Stackhouse to Knight Stainforth for lunch at Knights Table by the caravan site and Stainforth Foss where crowds gather to watch the salmon jumping in spring. Unfortunately the cafe was only serving tea and cakes so we had to put up with that for calories. Out of the cafe and another hill before dropping down into Helwith Bridge with the old quarry workings in the foreground. Through Horton in Ribblesdale into a headwind and a steady climb up to Ribblehead viaduct which carries the famous Settle Carlisle railway line. The obligatory photograph and then a right turn into yet another steady climb up to the source of the river Ribble before a fast descent, but alas not for
long. The source of the Ribble was dry and my legs were suffering as we approached the summit for a short respite. The wind worsened so I tucked in behind Margaret for a while but unfortunately she was not the idea size to draught behind. The Youth Hostel at the edge of Hawes was a relief after the relentless climbing of the day. We put our bikes in the shed and enjoyed the showers which are first class following a revamp since I was there last five years ago. Dinner soon enough, somebody is starving.
