To BARBON via MIDDLESHAW, HOLMESCALES,OLD HUTTON, over M6, HEIGHTS, near RIGMADEN PARK, over the METAL BRIDGE and to BARBON, returning via ABOVE CASTERTON, DEVILS BRIDGE, KIRKBY LONSDALE, OLD TOWN and OLD HUTTON
30 miles (48 km) 1900' climb (580 m) Grade – moderate but lengthy
OS 97 (Kendal & Morecambe)
A reasonable days ride – steady ups and downs, some steep but short – overall not too daunting.
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=654305
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=654305
Description
Continue up the hill from Kendal Leisure Centre on the main road. Fork left at the nearby lights, following the Station/ Oxenholme sign. It becomes quite steep by the station and beyond, although after the Station Inn it then drops and undulates.
Continue on this road to Middleshaw (by Old Hutton verge sign) 3 miles out from the Leisure Centre. Turn right unsigned into Popplemire Lane for 1+ miles (2 km), turning left unsigned at the end by Holmescales Farm to climb up to the far end of Old Hutton.
Cross straight over the road (sign Killington) to soon pass over the M6. Now simply carry straight on for 2 miles (3+ km) on the Old Town/ Kirkby Lonsdale road, with large wind turbines on the right, and straight on at a very distinct T junction (Sedbergh now the direction).
The road soon drops sharply after Heights Farm on your left, and in 500 yds/m you take a right at the first junction, a small unsigned crossroads., the road ahead dropping steeply.
In a few minutes the road drops down from a wood, and at the bottom, just before Rigmaden Park, the route goes left (sign Sedbergh) and down to cross the River Lune by the metal bridge.
Turn right at the nearby main road, to head for Kirkby Lonsdale, but in c ¾ mile (1+ km) the route turns hard left into a small unsigned lane. This lane in turn eventually meets another small unsigned lane, here going right to and into Barbon.
Go left and then quickly right at the war memorial (both unsigned) to soon arrive at the Churchmouse cafe. This is approximately at the halfway point of the ride.
Continue on the lane past the cafe to the main road in 1 ½ miles (2+ km), going left onto it.
( Note - Staying on this gradually descending road will bring you in 1+ mile (2km) to Devil's Bridge.)
This route however in 200 yds/m goes left off the main road (unsigned, by Casterton village sign) for a short climb up to a bridge over a disused railway line (Cowan Bridge, right). At this point the Lakes & Dales Cycleway is joined (blue sign, bike inside a circle) and this is followed into Kirkby Lonsdale.
Both the 1st and 2nd right turnings are down to Casterton and then the A683 main road, but this route takes the 3rd turning right (L&D sign, slightly obscure, as just down the lane), under the railway bridge, then going left in nearby Casterton (L&D sign).
In a few minutes and after a descent the L&D sign is onto a narrow path immediately to the left of a caravan park entrance. This path drops steeply and is a bit rough. Take enormous care here, as families walk it back to the caravan park.
The L&D route goes straight ahead from the bottom of the path along a narrow one-way public car park towards Devil's Bridge. Again take great care, as you are now cycling in the opposite direction to vehicles and pedestrians and there is no segregated cycleway.
Cross the main road and the busy motorbike hub (refreshment kiosk) and over Devil's Bridge (wc on far side). At the very busy main road beyond 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 crossing twice and 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 steady incline, then flattening for a nice run to a T by the big turbines, here going left (Old Hutton/ Kendal).
The outward route is rejoined here, and is retraced exactly back to the start – over the M6, straight over the Old Hutton crossroads (can turn right here for a quicker and direct way back to the start), and down to Holmescales, then right into Popplemire Lane and left at the end back to the Station Inn, railway station and down to the Leisure Centre.
Note – Route 7 gives an alternative slightly longer return route from Kirkby Lonsdale back to the Leisure Centre, as detailed below: -.
Leave Kirkby Lonsdale on the same road as detailed above (ie “leaving town with the church on your right” . . ), and after 1+ mile (2 km) bear left off the main road (sign Lupton). Go straight over the nearby crossroads, then in 1+ miles (2 km) go left at a grassy T junction – Lupton signs, but may have fallen down.
After 200 yds/ m turn right up an unsigned gated lane, soon arriving at Pant End Farm. There go right, soon up a steep hill, then a flatter section and then a fast swooping descent, crossing over the M6.
Turn right at the bottom, and continue straight on through Gatebeck to reach Holmescales Farm (and Popplemire Lane)in a mile (2km) where we rejoin the outward route.
Retrace the route now – Popplemire Lane to its end at Middleshaw, then left and all the way back to the Leisure Centre.
