Wednesday 24th June 2020
From home to Whitehaven at 10.30 driving 2.5 hours, distance 159 miles. Parked by the harbour and cycled UKD 131 Harras Road. From the harbour along Tangier Street then a left turn on Wellington Row where the steady climb begins. This road becomes Solway View further along. I made the mistake of continuing on along Oakbank Road but should have passed under the A595 Loop Road and along Park View that becomes Harras Road, so I backtracked and passed under the bridge. From here the road becomes steeper and reaches the top among houses lining both sides of the road. The top is reached before reaching the end of the road and the outskirts of the town at approx 2km from the harbour, it took me about an hour with the mistake made in direction at the bridge. From here, driving 24 miles via Cockermouth A595 then B5292 to Keswick A591, passing through the town and parked up midday at Applethwaite and cycled Under Skiddaw UKD 130, taking an hour. It’s a narrow, steep road with high hedges but this eventually opens out into a broad expanse with the slopes of Skiddaw to the left. The road ends at a wooden gate, however a path continues a short distance where the highest point is reached. It’s worth contuing the 200 metres from the gate for the viewpoint across the upper valley. Back down to the gate where’s there’s a small car park – and when I was there a large van where it was possible to buy a hot or soft drink and homemade cakes. From there, back down the hill to the car and drove along the A66 heading for Penrith but took a right on A5091 to Ullswater then a left on A592 and cycled to Park Brow on Gowbarrow Fell, a quiet road tree lined to the top where it opens up for a view. Back down to the car then to Pooley Bridge, parked then cycled UKD 134 Martindale, along the east shore of the lake,8 miles 1 hour 30 minutes to Martindale church then over a rise to an interesting upper valley over Hallin Fell. This road, although short, is very steep. Back along the lake shore and drove Pooley Bridge to Penrith then south on A66 to Appleby for some food then headed south towards Maulds Meaburn and parked on the Tebay road. Distance from Pooley Bridge 20 miles, 1 hour then 30 minutes. Cycled the Kings Meaburn road then a right turn for Maulds Meaburn, a pretty village alongside a stream and an old stone bridge spanning the small valley. From here the next climb of UKD 135 Maulds Meaburn 2.2km wasn’t difficult, a short rise taking in two bends then returned to the car in the early evening and drove 13 miles to Brough via Appleby then 18 miles over Shot Moss to Middleton in Teesdale 2 hours, Cycled 20 miles back to top of Shot Moss UKD 118 and return 1.5 hours. It’s a tough challenge climbing the road to Shot Moss, not particularly steep but exposed and windswept. It was now becoming dark and I needed to find a place to park up and sleep in the car. Just outside Newbiggin west of Middleton in Teesdale I found the perfect spot. I had all the food I needed in the car and after pasta with wine I settled down for the night in the passenger seat. Would have preferred a place to stay but everywhere shut due to the pandemic.
Thursday 25th June 2020
Starting at sunrise from Newbiggin near Middleton in Teesdale and cycled 5 miles to Westernhope Moor BIG 77 / UKD 115 and return 1.5 hours, only birds and sheep for company. Continued west to St John’s Chapel then cycled Harthope Head UKD 114 4km over the moorland on a fairly steep but not difficult road and down to Langdon 3.8km and return, 7.8km x 2 = 15.6km or 10 miles, 1.5 hours. Cycled 6.8km from St John’s Chapel to Killhope Cross UKD 126 which is a main road climb but not too busy. It’s an exposed height so for winter purposes the road is lined with snow poles. Continued over to Nenthead and cycled 1.6km UKD 127 Nunnery Hill and 2.8km down to Cargill village where there’s an interesting and very old chapel then steeply up from the village to the main road and back over to Nenthead and return 8.8km or 5.5 miles, 11.30 to 13.10 1 hour and over Killhope Cross to Stanhope. Cycled 3.2km north to Crawleyside UKD 112 and return to Eastgate (passed through earlier) 1 hour. Cycle 8.5km to Cuthberts Hill UKD 111 and return. Cuthberts Hill is interesting as it’s a short rise with good views looking south and I coupled this with the north side of Peat Hill UKD 113 3.7km and down to Westgate 2.9km, total 6.6km x 2 = 13.2km or 8 miles, 1.5 hours. Return to car at Eastgate, 10 miles, 1 hour Total 12 hours at 20.00. Drove to Alston then passed over Hartside Cross (driving not cycling) and Penrith. Fantastic views across to the Lake District from Hartside Cross, 30 miles, 1 hour for M6 heading south for home, 2 hour drive = 22.00