Tour of the Northern Fells.

-
Another blue sky morning in West Cumbria so I headed out early for a bike ride - unfortunately Susan is in Dumfries looking after her Mum who is just out of hospital. I wanted to do a tour around the back of the Northern Fells from Keswick so parked below Latrigg and headed for Threlkeld on the cycle track. This was a little rough on road tyres but I was soon on tarmac heading for Caldbeck via Mungrisedale and Hesket Newmarket. The roads were very quiet and the going felt quite easy despite a northerly head wind - must be getting fitter. From Caldbeck the wind was a great help and I was soon above Uldale looking into the fells.
The descent into Uldale is 16% and I was flying down when my front tyre blew. The inner tude had exploded and the tyre came of the rim. What a fright!! Luckily I managed to control the wobble and come to a stop without falling off. Thankfully the wheel rim was fine and with a new tube fitted I was able to continue.
The day was too good to head straight for Keswick so I took the A66 to Braithwaite and then headed up the Newlands valley to Stair. From here it was on to Grange and then down the Borrowdale Valley back to the car. An excellent 45 mile round despite the wee mishap.

The quiet road below Carrock Fell.



Looking towards Skiddaw from above Uldale - just before the 'blow out'.


The destroyed inner tube.


The Northern Fells from above Derwent Water.


Susan has her bike in Dumfries and did manage to get out for a wee round in the afternoon - great.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A week in Scotland.

-
Image
A week ago now we had an excellent 8 days up in Scotland spending time in Symington, Aviemore and Glasgow. We drove up to Symington on Friday 7 July and on the Saturday had a great ride to Peebles where, of course, we visited Cocoa Blacks for a wee treat. On Sunday we were up early and heading north to Aviemore and the Glenmore Campsite - one of my favourites despite changes in recent years. We had a leisurely drive but still had time for a ride once we'd 'set up camp'. Our route was a circuit to Boat of Garten and then a steep climb up the 'Ski Road' to the base of the Cairngorm Ski Station. This reached 20% in places and Susan wondered why we needed to do it. The views and the descent made it worthwhile.  The weather forecast for Monday wasn't too bad so we decided on a walk in the mountains. We drove up to the Ski Station and then headed for Scotland's second highest top Ben Macdui. It was overcast but dry as ...
Read more

Week off.

-
Image
Susan had last week off work and typically the weather has been very changeable.  On seeing the forecast we decided not to travel up north. The first weekend and Monday was spent in Dumfries and Symington and we cycled on all three days in mixed weather. A red dot in a sea of green - climbing over to Glenkiln. Higher on the climb over to Glenkiln, Dumfries. Disappearing towards Glenkiln.   On the road to New Abbey, Dumfries. Climbing out of New Abbey. On Tuesday we decided to head off on a short camping trip to the south Lakes. Due to the 6 month closure of the Keswick to Ambleside road we've not been beyond Dunmail Raise so this was a great change of scene. We headed first to Coniston to walk the fells above the village something we've not done for 10 years. Again the weather wasn't great for July but we got some great views and thoroughly enjoyed the round. On the Walna Scar Road. Threatening clouds above the fells. ...
Read more

Happy New Year.

-
Image
We decided to stay in Cumbria this New Year - a first for Susan!!! Thankfully the weather was much better than over the Christmas period and we were out on the hill every day. Hogmanay was overcast and windy but it was dry and we had a good day climbing over Bannerdale Crags and Blencathra. There were few people out but when we went into Keswick it was busier than ever. Dropping in to the Glenderamackin valley. A makeshift bridge across the burn - the bridge was washed away in Storm Desmond 2015. Climbing up onto the east ridge of Bannerdale Crags. On the east ridge . Some easy scrambling. Nearing the top. Good views despite the cloud. The sun trying to break through as we reach the summit. Heading for Blencathra. Susan battles into a strong wind. Looking to Thirlmere from a very windy summit. Looking to Derwent Water. On the descent. Dropping down to Scales Tarn to try and get out o...
Read more