Summary
From CARTMEL to GRANGE, MEATHOP, WITHERSLACK and BOWLAND BRIDGE, returning via HIGH NEWTON21 miles (34 km) 1,450' (442 m) climb (with possible 4 mile (6 km) extension (500'/ 150 m climb)
Grade – hard A hill, a good flat bit, through a wood, a hard hill and downhill finish.
Start – Cartmel (near Grange over Sands) square – SD 380 787 LA11 6QB OS Landranger 97 Kendal
Map
To view elevation details please use this link and select "Elevation Graph" from the top left hand side corner of the map.
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=475911
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=475911
Description
From the square in Cartmel go
past the Priory and Kings Arms and turn 1st left by a white –
painted sign in the wall (sign Grange). Go right and immediately left at the
stepped crossroads by the Pig & Whistle (sign Grange).
A steady climb follows for a
mile, turning left near the top (sign Grange). The climb continues briefly, but
soon there is a long steep descent down into Grange.
Go left at the bottom, and
follow the one way road round and down to the small roundabout at the top of
the hill, here going left down through the town. We have now picked up the well
signed National Cycle Network 70 Walney to Wear, which we follow for 5 miles (8 km) to the Derby Arms at
Witherslack.
Go right at the next
roundabout (70, Kendal), past the railway station and in 700 yds/ m 1st
right again, taking care (70/ Meathop/
golf club) for the 2 mile ride to Meathop.
There a large 70 sign takes
you onto a short lane, quickly bearing right to pass through the hamlet, to go
left in a couple of minutes following the now flat route 70, to reach the main
road underpass in a couple of miles.
At the far side of the
underpass is the Witherslack Community Shop and the Derby Arms. NCN 70 here
goes right, but you carry straight on ahead, following the lumpy road through
the wood, and after 4 miles (6 + km) arriving at and going left at the road to
Bowland Bridge, which is reached in a mile (2 km).
Bowland Bridge has a shop and
pub if need be. It is 13 miles (21 km) from the start. Here there is an option
to extend the ride by 4+ miles (7 km),
with a considerable amount of climbing.
For now the main route is to
go left (sign Newby Bridge) and up a short sharp 14% hill, quickly turning left
(follow High Newton signs only from here. Ride extension now meets here) for a
lumpy mile + (2 km) to a scissor crossroads, going right towards High Newton.
The next 3 miles (5 km) is
hard work, more or less continually, before the drop down into High Newton
itself. The Crown Inn is there, but no other facilities.
Turn right at the main road,
and in 100 yds/ m take the last of 3 little roads left – unsigned, by a small
grassy area and postbox. This immediately goes up, quickly reaching a bridge
over the dual carriageway.
A T junction is at the bridge
far end, where you go left (follow Cartmel signs from here back to Cartmel) and
immediately right for the 3 + mile (5 km) downhill / flat final section. Take
the 1st right in Cartmel (Unsuitable for HGVs) to take you back to
the square.
The extension from Bowland
Bridge is as follows – go right, past the shop/ pub, taking the nearby left (sign
Bowness via Winster) for a lumpy mile, left and immediately right (same signs)
on to a ford in a few minutes.
Cross the ford (footbridge),
after which is a testing ½ + mile (1 km) 14% climb. At the top is a 5 way
junction, go hard left (Cartmel Fell sign), continuing the now switchback
section to arrive at an obvious Y junction, here going left (Bowland Bridge
sign) down to the main road at the Strawberry Arms pub.
100 yds/ m down the main road
is the right turn to High Newton, where the main ride is now joined.
