NCN 6 passes through Natland, Sedgwick, Minthorpe, Beetham, Yealand
Redmayne, Yealand Conyers and Warton to Carnforth. The return is through
Borwick to Holme, Milnthorpe, Natland and Kendal. Nearly all of the climbing is
done on 3 ascents on the outward route to Carnforth, which is at the halfway
point of the route.
33 miles ( 53 km) 1,610'
(490m) climb Grade Moderate
overall OS 97 Kendal
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=675758
Description
From the back of Kendal
Leisure Centre go right on the shared path/ cycleway,. This is National Cycle
Network 6 (NCN 6), which you follow for 16 miles (26 km), all the way to
Carnforth. The route 6 is well signed.
It quickly passes up to the
main road, over via the central refuge and down then through the wood to soon
join the public road by Clarks warehouse. If wet cross from the front of the Leisure
Centre over to Rinkfield on the other side of the main road, bike to the end
and then left, to soon reach where route 6 comes in by Clark's warehouse.
Continue through Natland and
in a couple of minutes NCN 6 bears left up a little hill (Stainton/ 6) and then
forks right at the top. The route soon drops down by a cemetery and goes over
the crossroads (6/ Stainton Cross – take
care here, limited visibility both ways).
A mile further on (2 km) a canal bridge is crossed, and immediately
after 6 turns right to pass under the road and then railway to Woodhouse.
Here 6 goes right and immediately left, the Milnthorpe road. A small
rise is quickly reached, and halfway up it NCN 6 turns (right) off it, and onto
small lanes through Haverflatts to the middle of Milnthorpe (shops, cafes, pubs, wc), just
before the lights. Milnthorpe is 7 miles (11 km) from the start.
Cross over the lights on this sometimes busy road towards Arnside,
but in a couple of minutes the route turns left into Dallam Park, immediately
after the river bridge.
The route climbs slightly through the park, then goes left at the
top and drops down into Beetham (pub, shop/cafe), turning right at the
Wheatsheaf pub.
There follows a steepish but not too long climb up Slack Head, at
the top going straight ahead for a long gradual descent to a larger road, again
going straight on and soon arriving at a T. Here the “6” signs are absent, but
the route goes left, up the big hill and then down the other side.
Go left (effectively straight on) at this larger road, to soon pass
through Yealand Redmayne and on to Yealand Conyers, where again a 500 yd/m
steep climb is followed by a long gradual descent to and straight through
Warton (shop, pub, wc).
At the far side of Warton route 6 bears right into the wide Sand
Lane road, and after a short rise soon goes straight on (where the main road
bears right) onto a small lane, immediately over a railway bridge and again
immediately left onto what is more of a track..
At the track end a narrow footbridge crosses the small river. Here
NCN 6 goes right, towards Lancaster, but today's route now leaves it. The return goes left, following Lancashire
Cycleway 90 signs. It passes under several railway bridges and soon joins the
road to the centre (right). Carnforth has the interesting Railway Heritage
museum/ cafe as well as shops, pubs, wc.
It is 16 miles (26 km) from the start, halfway through the ride,and
nearly all of the climbing has now been done.
The return leg continues straight on through the traffic lights,
then in 100 yds/m turning left onto North Rd for a short rise, then along and
down under the M6 to go left at the next junction (Borwick sign).
A waterside cafe is soon passed and shortly after the route goes
right at a crossroads to nearby Borwick. There by a grassy triangle it goes
left to and through Priest Hutton. Lancashire Cycleway 90 has been now
rejoined.
At the main and sometimes busy A6070 it goes right (Burton/ 90), but
in ½ mile (c 1 km) goes left (90 sign only) onto a quiet lane, soon crossing
over the M6 and then the railway.
Go right (unsigned) at the small T just after a farm, and then in 50
yds/m again unsigned right (90 here going left). In 100 yds/m now go left
(unsigned) down a lane running parallel to the railway.
At the end, the route goes right, under the railway bridge and
simply follows the road into Holme (shops, pub). Holme is 24 miles (35 km) from
the start.
The route goes left on the major road towards Milnthorpe. It passes
through Whasset and soon, shortly after a sub-station on the right, turns right at a small crossroads (unsigned)
into Smithy Lane.
Smithy Lane quickly joins the main road, and the route here goes
right and quickly left off the main road towards Kendal.
In a few minutes the outward route 6 is rejoined and is again
followed briefly, this time in reverse. At nearby Woodhouse it goes right and
immediately left, straight ahead at the nearby crossroads but then immediately
after passing under a railway bridge it goes left, where 6 goes straight ahead.
Easily missed.
Continue on this lane
(railway on left), then straight on at the next (unsigned) Y junction (take
care – no priority) and on to pass under the bypass road and then soon under
the railway bridge (danger of flooding here in very wet weather), then up and
down (take care, limited visibility in places) to Sedgwick.
Here go right, and in a mile (2- km) the outward route 6 is joined
(coming in from the right) back through nearby Natland to Kendal Leisure
Centre, reached either via 6 through the woods or 4th right onto
Rinkfield.
