KDCS route 9a - Kendal to Arnside and back

Summary

From KENDAL LEISURE CENTRE to MILTHORPE and ARNSIDE, returning via STORTH and HEVERSHAM. It is a sister ride to Ride 9, exploring the broadly same area. 

It is a generally flat ride to the coast and back, with nearly all the gradients being short and not too demanding.

24 miles (38 km)                       980 ' climb (298 m)                   Grade – easy Map - 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=475767

Description

From Kendal Leisure Centre go left up the main road for 100 yds/m to  the cycleway, which crosses the road from the left footpath via the central reservation to the right. Take the steep drop down to the old canal bed (now National Cycle Network 6) and bike through the woods to the road by Clarks Distribution Centre warehouse and continue on. If wet and you wish to stay on tarmac go left from the Leisure Centre and immediately right onto Rinkfield, turning left at the end and soon meeting the canal path exit by Clarks.

Carry on through Natland to Sedgwick, where go left immediately past the canal bridge overhead (sign Milnthorpe) and left again at the end of this short lane.

Woodhouse crossroads is reached in a couple of miles, where go right, now rejoining NCN 6 (sign 6/ Milnthorpe) and soon right and immediately left at the nearby junctions (same signs).

Halfway up a nearby small hill NCN 6 goes right onto a lane (sign 6 to Milnthorpe/ Lancaster), and this is followed (signed 6) into Milnthorpe 1+ miles further on (2 km).

Turn right onto this busy road and straight over the traffic lights to stay on this road the 3 miles (5 km) to Arnside, running alongside Morecambe Bay at Sandside en route.

Turn right at the T by the Arnside railway bridge (NCN 700 sign) and into seaside Arnside and its many facilities. This is roughly 10 + miles (17 km) from the start. Trains from the station can take you to Grange (the opposite side of the bay) in just a few minutes.

For the return go back past the station, but carry straight on rather than turning under the railway bridge. In a mile + (2 km) take the second of the 2 close- together turns (sign Storth) and go up to the Storth crossroads.

Here go right (Beetham sign). The lane soon has a slightly wearing ¼ mile climb but soon comes to a T (now rejoining NCN 6), where go left and quickly right (6) for a descent through Dallam Park to the main Milnthorpe – Arnside road you came out on.

Turn right across the bridge (6) and immediately left (700/ 30 sign) for a flat ride alongside the levee. After a 90 degree turn go straight on at the only junction (where 700 goes left) and on to the Heversham Hotel. 

Cross straight over the A6, up the short hill then turn right and then left to pass the church on your left and climb another short hill and in a mile come to your outward route.

Take the left turn (Woodhouse) but carry straight on at the nearby crossroads (where you came in from the left)

to a railway bridge overhead in a few hundred yds/m, turning left (unsigned) immediately after it (easy to miss).

Carry on up this quiet lane by the railway and straight on at a nearby T, taking care here as no-one has priority.

Pass under the railway (flood risk in exceptional circumstances), and a short up brings you to a drop down into Sedgwick – again take care as visibility for oncoming traffic is sometimes poor.

In Sedgwick turn right, and simply follow your outward route through Natland back to the Leisure Centre.