This is my first go at posting a ride report, so please let me know if it is [censored] (just go easy
though ;-)
Set off about 8:00 p.m. last night, a few miles of road before taking to a byway at the top of
Heversham Head. I've lived round here for years and didn't know it existed until we spotted it on
the map. Very narrow, very overgrown, but twisty and great fun. First 100 yds or so getting stung on
legs, arms, and knuckles from nettles, and ducking under hawthorn branches and brambles. Downhill
most of the way, tree roots, mud, the occasional rockfall from a wall lurking in the undergrowth,
and dark from the overhanging trees. A bit ridged and rutty too, from previous users. Strong smell
from the wild garlic growing in the bottom of the hedge. Great fun and a real rush for about a mile
until we emerge onto the A6 opposite Levens Hall. A quick bit of road takes us up through Levens
Village and down across the Lyth Valley to Gilpin Bridge. Up the Lyth Valley road for a few hundred
yards and left onto a farm track which dog-legs us past the main road and onto a bridleway which
climbs across the bottom of Whitbarrow Scar. This is another one which I've never been on before,
and I can't help thinking as we climb steadily through the trees for about a mile that we are doing
it the wrong way round. Not too steep, but lots of tree roots carpeted in last year's larch needles
makes it tricky and hard work. The pay back comes the other side though, with a long downhill to
Beck Head. Similar to what we have just gone up but with superb views across the Kent estuary to
Sandside and beyond. Got to concentrate though, dark under the trees with a few obstacles lurking.
From Beck Head we turn right onto another bridleway, flattish, rutted twin track which leads us onto
the road up to Witherslack Hall School. Great views across the valley to the back of Whitbarrow
Scar. Opposite the school we turn left onto another bridleway climbing steadily up towards the top
of Yewbarrow. This time it is a mixture of mud which has been conditioned by horses, and polished
limestone. The mud pushes the bike all over the place, and the limestone gives very little grip at
all. Great fun picking the right line. Once over the top the downhill looks like more of the same,
but through the woods, tree roots (I don't really like tree roots!), sticking-up lumps of rock,
(don't look at the rocks, or you will hit them) the odd tree stump, and occasionally a steep drop to
the right of the trail, scary with the trail cambered towards it. About half a mile into the
downhill we are getting confident and get into a rhythm, sweeping from side to side of the trail,
avoiding most of the obstacles, a bit like skiing. Then, round a bend the track suddenly changes.
Too late to unclip or brake, there is a drop-off, not too big, only a couple of feet or so, but the
track makes a downhill turn immediately after with loose limestone and the drop on the outside. I
mutter "Speed is your Friend" through gritted teeth and go for it. Scary, but we both make it OK -
brake as hard as we dare before the drop, shift the weight back and let it go over the drop-off,
then just let the bike find it's way round the bend without looking over the edge. We feel immortal
after that and pedal flat out for the rest of the downhill until we arrive at the road behind the
Derby Arms. Time is getting on now, so it is a mad dash along the lanes back to Levens, taking it in
turns to lead against the wind, then over the climb and down the hill to Sedgwick and back to the
Punch Bowl at Barrows Green for several well-earned pints. A 23 mile ride completed in just over 2
hours with three off-road sections that we haven't been on before. A bit of tarmac between the
off-road sections, but by sticking to the back lanes we have hardly seen a car all evening. As it
got dark there were literally hundreds of bats flying about. I hope they were eating all the insects
so I won't have to next time. Next time we might try it the other way round. Some of the uphills
will make great downhills, just not so sure about vice-versa.
Twohat (because two heads are better than one)