A dry but cloudy start to Star Wars day, it’s so nice to have a bank holiday, especially after the weekend weather has been rather mixed. I tried to guess where the bank holiday crowds might be and knew I wanted to avoid Wray scarecrow festival, which is normally my main entry point toward the Dales. Instead, I decided to head NW through the back roads to Windermere. The outward journey took me through Silverdale and along the Kent estuary with some lovely views across from Sandside which when the tide is out is very aptly named. From there I headed up the Lyth valley taking an easterly route through Brigsteer and Underbarrow before picking up the B road to Bowness on Windermere at Crook. Following the Long climb toward Windermere, I descended through Bowness which was extremely busy and had lunch at the steam boat museum. The café there is good although you aren’t able to order food between the end of brunch at 11:30 and the start of lunch at 12! They did supply me with a cheese scone and flapjack which put me on, and the magnificent view up the lake lifted my spirits. The lake was actually in quite thick cloud and felt rather cool in comparison to the Lyth valley. The return was similar but I took a more direct route along the Valley Road to Levens where I stopped for a cup of tea before heading home through Arnside and Silverdale AONB. 105 km with 1200 m of climbing.
Pictures out of the bike asserting it’s right to park by the estuary not being a car and the view up Windermere from the steam Jetty museum.
Pictures out of the bike asserting it’s right to park by the estuary not being a car and the view up Windermere from the steam Jetty museum.
Once onto the lanes it was nice and quiet. The old Roman Road was about as dirty as I'd expected after rain the previous evening. The tailwind along it was very nice to have though.
