Bikes go free on Windermere ferry

Windermere Ferry won't be charging for bicycles between 22 and 30 July

This week sees a Drive Less See More Awareness Week unfolding across places like Windermere, Coniston, Grasmere and Ambleside, to help the public understand more about the multitude of sustainable travel options available.

The week started on Sunday July 22nd and runs until Monday 30th July and offers over 20 activities, special offers and dozens of events. Cumbria County Council is offering free travel on the Windermere Ferry for cyclists all week, and has seen a positive uptake and a really good response from cyclists – despite the rain!  There’s also great deals and discounts to be had all week at local hotels, attractions, cafes and transport providers. For more information on the week, visit http://www.golakes.co.uk/travel/Challengeweek.

Annual mega-ride - Saturday 21 July - Join us if you dare!

Description: A trip into the heart of the Lakes taking in some of the toughest climbs in the area including Hardknott & Wrynose Passes. Strong cyclists only on this one please. Distance 52 miles.

Start from the Windermere Ferry - meeting 9.45am (to allow for the train from Oxenholme/Kendal). There will be numerous challenging climbs. To warm us up is the hill from the Ferry but worse is to come.

We will skirt Hawkshead and head up Hawkshead Hill to Coniston. A severe climb awaits at Torver taking us to Stephenson Ground for a pleasant but hilly lane eventually dropping down to Dunnerdale. No morning tea stops so bring elevenses.We turn left for a short distance before another severe climb at Ulpha which will take us over to Eskdale. The gradient is kind for a while here so to celebrate we will stop for refreshment at Dalegarth Station to ogle at the engines (or anything else which catches our eye) and wonder why the heck we didn't just catch the train.
On a high from our steamy encounter (and hopefully a good dollop of ice cream) we head up the valley to our fate. Hardknott Pass from the west is acknowledged as one of the hardest routes in the land. Let us hope the weather is kind and we do not encounter too many motorists to impede our attempt to get a good line on the curves. Wrynose Pass is next before a long descent to Little Langdale and civilisation. We will then head back to Hawkshead and the Ferry by late afternoon/early evening. The route is hard so expect a low average speed and thus a fairly long day out.

Health warning: An extremely tough ride - riders will need to be able to cycle all or most of the climbs as there will not be the time available to wait for long periods. Also there are no easy get out options once we have gone beyond Coniston.

Latest on Arnside to Grange cycle route

The Feasibility Study that Sustrans have compiled has been received and they have identified 7 possible routes or route segments on the Meathop side. A copy of the survey will be made available to supporters soon. There are pros and cons for most of the routes. The Farmer on the North side has been approached but is understandably concerned about the project and the impact of dog walkers on his land.

Adrian and Stuart have attended meetings hosted by Suzannah Bleakley of the Morecambe Bay Partnership with the aim of submitting a Joint application for funding from the Coastal Communities fund. The good news is that we are through to the next stage of the application. We now have to get the next stage application prepared before 21 September.

Adrian has had a meeting in Manchester with Jon Kelly of Network Rail to discuss issues such as access, ownership, cost and the GRIP process which is Network Rails process for managing work affecting their infrastructure. The following stages of GRIP would be a “Design Agreement” and then an “Outline Design and Detail Design. Jon was also asked to give an opinion on the proposed routes.

We are hoping to hold meetings soon as ATOG will need formerly establishing with a constitution at which point we will need volunteers to come forward to fill some of the posts in order to push the project forward.

Our Facebook page is now established and there are photos of the old and new viaducts, and comments on the page. Please feel free to have a look and put your views and ideas forward.

Further details from Martin about his ride next Saturday 14th July 2012.

Meet at Shap Memorial Hall at 10.30.

From Shap, we cycle through Keld to join the concrete road towards

Burnbanks, with a detour up the secluded valley of Swindale. Proposed lunch

stop at Bampton (pub - I recommend the Emergency Bitter! - or general

store), then we head North to Yanwath, visiting the very impressive Mayburgh Henge (where you can see what 5 million of something looks like!). There's also chance to visit another couple of ancient monuments along the route, if there aren't enough amongst the participants!

From Eamont Bridge, we head South through Lowther Park (I've checked that

this is OK), emerging near Lowther Castle. When I did the reccy, I rode

through Hackthorpe and Great Strickland (tea stop), followed by a long

steady climb to Castlehowe Scar, finishing with a quick descent into Shap,

total distance 34 miles. However, another, easier, option would be to turn

right at the castle and return to Shap along the East side of the valley

through Askham and  Bampton Grange, which I think would be just under 30

miles.

Gradients fairly gentle throughout, apart from the downhill finish into Shap if we take the longer route.

I recommend that you take a snack to eat at the top of Swindale, as once we

leave Shap there are no opportunities to buy refreshments before Bampton.

Further details of Hilary’s ride on Wednesday 11th July 2012, meeting at Kirkby Stephen Market Place at 10.00 am

Here is what Hilary says about the plans for her ride -

Well .. I was going to say that my ride will be as per the programme, ie

decide on the day, but here are the possibilities:

Good weather - up to Tan Hill, down Arkengarthdale to Reeth, up and over

Swaledale back again.  Half good weather - half the ride.  Rotten weather -

circuit of Eden valley to Meaburns, Dufton and back.  Nobody calls me - we

go nowhere!  NB - I'm not in on Tuesday evenings, leave a message.

Don't forget to give me a phone call if you are planning to go on the ride. 01539 563518

Happy electric cycling (the sooner someone fits one to my bike the better

..)

Hil

Sunday, 5th of August - Longsleddale & Ambleside - A bit of both for all ability levels

A ride of two halves, designed especially by Jo MacDonald  for variety of ability levels (new riders are very welcome), starting at Wilf's, returning for coffee / lunch. The morning route will head East on small, quiet roads, and will include some riding on bridleways, and about a mile of walking with your bike, (so no road tyres/ shoes!), then return via Sadgill into Kentmere. This part of the route can be made longer or shorter dependant on ability level of all riders. We might not find a cafe venue in the morning, so bring your own mid morning munchies in case!

We will have a lunch break back at Staveley, so you are welcome to come for just the morning ride, just the afternoon ­ or of course ­ both parts!

We will depart Staveley again around 1 pm, and remain on road for the afternoon section, (we might not be able to avoid some busy road sections ­but route is flexible dependant on group). We will slot in another refreshment stop if required mid-afternoon ­ or just keep peddling, and wind our way back to Wilf’s, possibly over the gated road.

Starts at 9.30am from Wilf’s Café, Staveley for the AM Longsleddale ride, and departs around 1.00 pm for the  Ambleside ride. Distance 25 + 25 miles    

Leader: Jo MacDonald  -- email:  jo@jamie-macdonald.com  --  mobile: 07834 729951