With The Lake District and The Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep - KDCS offers an exciting selection of cycle rides throughout the local area and beyond. There are social gatherings including slide shows, talks and supper evenings and members are kept up to date with cycling news and issues through this web site, emails and our Facebook pages. KDCS are an affiliated group of Cycling UK.

KDCS route 6 - Dent and Kirkby Lonsdale 40 miles

Summary

Out through OLD HUTTON and KILLINGTON, back via BARBONDALE and KIRKBY LONSDALE

40 miles (64 km)   2,385 ' climb (727 m)       Grade – strenuous
A reasonably hard day out, but with a fair bit of variety, good views and 2 good stopping places.

OS 97 (Kendal) + 98 (Wensleydale + Wharfedale)
Start - Kendal Leisure Centre, Burton Rd, Kendal, LA9 7HX

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=475690


Description

Continue up the hill from Kendal Leisure Centre on the A65. Fork left at the nearby lights, following the BR/ Oxenholme/ Old Hutton signs. It becomes steep by the station and beyond, although after the Station Inn it then drops and undulates.

Continue on this road to Middleshaw (by the Old Hutton village signs),where turn right (unsigned) onto Popplemire Lane, at the end of  which is a T by a big farm (Holmescales), here going left.

A mile on (2- km) you cross straight over the main road (sign Killington/ Sedbergh), to climb and soon pass over the M6. In a mile or so (2km) turn left (Killington/Sedbergh) and in a few minutes bear right off it just past Three Mile House (Killington sign) for a short climb.

There is a long and finally very steep descent into Killington (and sharp uphill out of it) to then arriving at a small T,  going left (Kendal/ Sedbergh).

Another mile brings you to a T, where go right and cross the river. Shortly go straight ahead when joining the A683 main road  (brown Holme Open Farm sign only).

A mile further on (2-km) turn hard back left on yourself  - Open Farm only signs again. Do not confuse this with the left turn 100 yds/ m further on.

This back lane is followed to Holme Open Farm, turning right (sign Dent) up a short sharp hill to a gated road on the open fell. Bear right, uphill, at an unsigned Y, to soon drop down to Rash Bridge – take care here, you do not have right of way.

There is a choice here. If you wish to visit Dent, it is much flatter to cross the bridge (left) and turn right on the main (usually fairly quiet) road to Dent. Otherwise go straight ahead on the small lane for the 3 miles (5 km) to Gawthrop, mostly flat by the river, but with a hard climb to Gawthrop and a sharp drop down to the main road, going right into nearby Dent for refreshments and w.c.

From Dent you retrace your steps, soon going left up the steep hill to Gawthrop. There go left (sign Barbon/ Kirkby Lonsdale) up the fearsomely steep 400 yds/ m 20% climb, before the gradient lessens slightly before steepening again to 14%.

There follows c 4 miles (7 km) down beautiful Barbondale on the  open fell road, eventually bearing left away from the road (Casterton/ Kirkby Lonsdale sign).

The road drops down to a disused railway bridge, where go left (Cowan Bridge) and then either the 1st or 2nd right down to Casterton and the main A683 road to Kirkby Lonsdale (going left).

The road drops down to the ancient Devil's Bridge on your right, a popular motorbike meeting spot. Cross the pedestrianised bridge (wc here), and at the main road push your bike on the wide footpath on the right hand side, taking the nearby Kirkby Lonsdale Town Centre road. This is much safer than cycling 100 yds on the busy A65 trunk road.

Leaving town for the return to Kendal is a bit circuitous because of the 1 way system, but head up New Road from the square (sign car parks) and follow the road round at the top where it turns to the right (Old Town/ Old Hutton) and drops down, turning left at the bottom (same signs), leaving town with the church on your right.

Stay on this gradually rising road to Old Town, reached in 3 miles (5 km). There bear right, signs Killington/ Sedbergh up a  hill, then flattening for a nice run to a T by big turbines, here going left (Old Hutton/ Kendal).


This road in a few minutes joins your outward route. Simply retrace your steps or at the crossroads past the M6 go right (same signs) for a slightly quicker return to the Leisure Centre, which is 4 miles from here.
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