Sunday 30th October White Mare Beckermet by Dianne Moyes
Roy and Dianne parked near St Benedict’s church in Whitehaven on a calm but overcast morning. Steve Lunt had ridden out to meet
them there. They followed the same route as the previous Wednesday, along the cycle track to the turn off to St Bees then along the coast to Nethertown, Braystones and Beckermet.
Thinking they were rather early they continued on the Hadrian’s route 72 to look at the little church which is at some distance from the village.
The oldest gravestone we found was 1745 and as evidenced from a number of recent plaques it is still in use for the burial of ashes.
Back to lunch at the White Mare, where Bacca, Tracy and Maurice had watched us cycle past. Then Dave Swift arrived by car so we
were 7 in total.
Maurice had cycled from home to Egremont, then to St. Bees then followed the same route as us. Bacca and Tracy had parked at Beckermet and cycled along the cycle track to Sellafield, then to Calder Bridge, Haile and back to Beckermet putting an extra loop round Beckermet to fill in some time.
After a lovely lunch and a good natter, the car drivers departed and 4 were left to ride up the steep hill north out of Beckermet towards Thornhill.
We turned left at the top to drop down to Low Mill rather than ride alongside the main road on the cycle path. There Mauricebturned off to Thornhill and a bit further on Steve recommended taking a very quiet road now closed to cars except for access over a hill he called Rothersyke.
We have been over this before and on the top there is a striking roofless sandstone structure though none of us knew what it had been used for.
On getting home, Dianne did a bit of research and found that it had been built as a summerhouse by the people who lived in Cat Gill Hall nearby.
In fact the person living there at the time was a relative of William Wordsworth, I am not sure if it was his uncle Richard who built it or his brother
Richard.
His uncle was controller of Customs in Whitehaven and his brother was a solicitor in the area. It is thought William might have penned a few lines of poetry there.
Reading about Wordsworth I learnt that his mother died at 30 when he was 8 and his father at 42 when he was 13. His father died after having to spend a night on Cold Fell after a trip to Millom.
From there we continued into Egremont then onto the cycleway back into Whitehaven to our car, where Steve left us to climb back up and through the Science Park to home.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 26th October Day out along the Cinder Track.
Original plan – Ravenglass from John Rowel's house 1000am but revised plan (due to Mavis's yummee scones) Roy, John R. Steve L and Dianne didn't set off until 1030hrs + so it was decided Seascale it was to be, lunch at the Pudding Lane Cafe (a little new cafe along the terrace of houses and shops facing the car park).
The route took them from Johns place along the A595 south then down into Mirehouse and the cycleway up to Linethwaite – Johns suggestion – to go to St. Bees and along the coastal route for a change. A big hill up then a big drop down through St. Bees village and onto the coastal route to Nethertown, Braystones to Beckermet to join the cycle track to Sellafield Station, over a river bridge and under the railway and onto and onto the famed Cinder Track alongside the rail route and Sellafield boundary fence (beware of sand pits along here!) and onto Seascale Village and the Pudding Lane Cafe for lunch.
Maurice had arranged to meet up with them after walking the dogs along the Cinder Track – good day out for the dogs as they were in good voice.
The route back was more direct same route in reverse to Beckermet then to Thornhill, Egremont, Cycleway to Woodend and onto Moor Row cycleway and down towards Whitehaven and turned off up a bridlepath to meet Mirehouse Pond Road and up to the A595 – John R, Roy and Dianne north to Johns house and Steve L south to Westlakes Science Park and home. Lovely day out. (33miles)
Sunday 23rd October Solway Club Prize Giving Dinner, Hundith Hill Hotel and Downhill Competition
On an overcast breezy day Steve L and Dave Swift rode up to Dean Cross to meet up with Roy and Bacca and Tracy to compete in the Downhill Competition. After completing the freewheel down towards Ullock, Steve L and Dave carried on to the Hundith Hill Hotel while Roy, Bacca and Tracy rode back up the hill to climb back in their cars to go to the Hundith.
25 members attended the Prize Giving Dinner, Shirley and Tracy, as usual, sold raffle tickets for the gifts that the members had brought which gained the club coffers £42. Maurice as usual called the ticket numbers for the tickets and prizes during the dinner courses.
After lunch Maurice gave his normal welcoming speech and he introduced the two new club officials to the members (Dianne now Club Secretary and Stewart now Club Treasurer). Dianne also joined Maurice to present the trophies.
Tour Competition
Gents
1st – Roy Jackson – Mens Tourist Trophy and Gold Medal
2nd – Maurice Cowley – Silver Medal
3rd – John Murphy – Bronze Medal
Ladies
1st – Sue Murphy – Ladies Tourist Trophy and Gold Medal
2nd – Maggie Grant – Silver Medal
Wooden Spoon
Maurice Cowley – Trophy and in addition a proper wooden spoon which had an effigy on the handle that uncannily looked like him
Downhill Competition
1st Bacca Moore – Mens Trophy
2nd Dave Swift
3rd Tracy Moore – Ladies Trophy
4th Steve Lunt
5th Roy Jackson – Nearest Pica Trophy
After all the official business was completed and the very good lunch was eaten everyone had a good chat before leaving for home.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 19th October The Aquarium, Maryport
All met at The Melbreak Hotel, an all male event today: no Anita or Maggie, Sue C, Sue M, away doing other things.
Steve L, Stewart, Roy and Peter P, John R set off to ride via Great Clifton, Stainburn, to Curwen Park. Maurice with 2 dogs to Maryport for “walkies”. On to Maryport along the usual coastal route to the Aquarium for lunch stop. We arrived too early (!) at 1130hrs so we cycled along the prom (having met up with Paul C, delayed start) to the golf course, then back to lunch stop. Dave Swift arrived from Workington Station (left his car) – lunch
After lunch, cheerio to Mo and his dogs, we all cycled south along cycleway to the junction of the ways at Iggersund wetland ponds. Dave S, John R and Paul towards Workington town centre: John and Paul homewards and Dave to his car at the Station.
The rest of us (Steve L, Roy, Stewart and Peter) other way from this junction to High Seaton, Camerton to foot bridge river crossing near Camerton church, over river and up a extremely steep hill to Great Clifton to Chapel Brow Roundabout and then the Melbreak. Peter home to Little Clifton, Roy, Steve and Stewart back to 4 wheels for home.
End of a lovely ride with stunning views across the Solway to Southern Scotland and a lovely ride. (25 miles)
Sunday 16th October Parkside Hotel
A very windy day with some heavy showers.
Roy took his car just over Whinlatter, then cycled along route 71 via Lorton and Loweswater to meet up with John R, Steve L and Anita at Lamplugh. All three had cycled from home meeting at the Beacon in Whitehaven before riding up the cycle track to meet Roy. All four then rode a short distance on the main road to Rowrah, then back onto the cycle path to the Parkside for lunch.
Also for lunch were Tracy and Bacca Maurice, Joe and Frances who had all traveled by car.
After lunch the rain had stopped and the sun was shining but it was still windy.
John R and Anita rode down the cycle track back to Whitehaven. Roy and Steve rode up the cycle track and onto the road as far as Fangs Brow where Steve L turn back to ride home while Roy descended fangs brow to reach his car on Whinlatter.
All the others left the Parkside by car to go home.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 12th October
No-one ventured out.
Sunday 9th October Fox and Hounds Inn, Ennerdale Bridge
5 members met at the Fox and Hounds Inn, Ennerdale Bridge, they were Joe and Frances, Maurice, John R, and Dave Swift. Maurice, John and Dave came on 2 wheels.
John R rode from Whitehaven up the cycle path to Kirkland School and on to Kirkland. He then climbed up to Cauda Brow and dropped down to Croasdale and onto The Fox and Hounds to meet up with the rest.
Maurice rode from home at Thornhill to ride up the cycle path from Moor Row to Parkside and then rode up to Wath Brow to drop down to Wath Bridge and ride on to Ennerdale Bridge and the Fox and Hounds.
Dave Swift rode from Whitehaven via Hensingham, Cleator Moor, Wath Brow to drop down to Wath Bridge and ride on to Ennerdale Bridge and the Fox and Hounds.
After lunch and a chat Joe and Frances left by car while Maurice John R and Dave rode back to Wath Bridge where they parted company. Dave and John rode back home to Whitehaven throuh Cleator Moor and Hensingham. Maurice used what is known locally as the fell road passing Black Brow Farm on his way to reach Egremont after which he climbed up to his home at Thornhill.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 5th October
Due to most riders being away on holidays etc. only 2 members ventured out. These were Anita and John R. meeting up at Anita's house at Sandwith.
Their route was keeping to the coast passing through St. Bees, Nethertown, Braystones to arrive at Beckermet. Again keeping to the coast they took to the old Railway track cyclepath to Sellafield and then to the Cinder Track to Seascale for lunch at the Pudding Lane Café.
After lunch their return journey was the reverse of the outward route.
Sunday 2nd October Kirkstile Inn, Lowes Water
5 members met at the Kirkstile for Sunday Lunch, They were Joe and Frances, Tracy, Maurice, and Dave Swift. Dave was the only one to ride there and back.
Dave's route was from Whitehaven climbing up through Hensingham to drop down towards Keekle but to turn left and drop down over Keekle Bridge and Dub Bridge to climb up to reach Frizington. It was then onto the A5086 to climb up through Frizington and Rowrah and to turn off that road to get to Lamplugh. Turning right at Lamplugh to descend down Fangs Brow passing Lowes Water to reach The Kirkstile.
Tracy had done a short ride after parking at The Kirkstile. She climbed up to and onto the Thackthwaite road and rode to Lorton and then climbed up to Hopebeck dropped down to the B5289 to turn off it at the Buttermere turnoff to climb over Scale Hill to reach the Kirkstile once more.
After a being fed and water all departed, Joe and France, Maurice and Tracy by car while Dave rode home using a different route to cut out climbing Fangs Brow.
Roy and Dianne parked near St Benedict’s church in Whitehaven on a calm but overcast morning. Steve Lunt had ridden out to meet
them there. They followed the same route as the previous Wednesday, along the cycle track to the turn off to St Bees then along the coast to Nethertown, Braystones and Beckermet.
Thinking they were rather early they continued on the Hadrian’s route 72 to look at the little church which is at some distance from the village.
The oldest gravestone we found was 1745 and as evidenced from a number of recent plaques it is still in use for the burial of ashes.
Back to lunch at the White Mare, where Bacca, Tracy and Maurice had watched us cycle past. Then Dave Swift arrived by car so we
were 7 in total.
Maurice had cycled from home to Egremont, then to St. Bees then followed the same route as us. Bacca and Tracy had parked at Beckermet and cycled along the cycle track to Sellafield, then to Calder Bridge, Haile and back to Beckermet putting an extra loop round Beckermet to fill in some time.
After a lovely lunch and a good natter, the car drivers departed and 4 were left to ride up the steep hill north out of Beckermet towards Thornhill.
We turned left at the top to drop down to Low Mill rather than ride alongside the main road on the cycle path. There Mauricebturned off to Thornhill and a bit further on Steve recommended taking a very quiet road now closed to cars except for access over a hill he called Rothersyke.
We have been over this before and on the top there is a striking roofless sandstone structure though none of us knew what it had been used for.
On getting home, Dianne did a bit of research and found that it had been built as a summerhouse by the people who lived in Cat Gill Hall nearby.
In fact the person living there at the time was a relative of William Wordsworth, I am not sure if it was his uncle Richard who built it or his brother
Richard.
His uncle was controller of Customs in Whitehaven and his brother was a solicitor in the area. It is thought William might have penned a few lines of poetry there.
Reading about Wordsworth I learnt that his mother died at 30 when he was 8 and his father at 42 when he was 13. His father died after having to spend a night on Cold Fell after a trip to Millom.
From there we continued into Egremont then onto the cycleway back into Whitehaven to our car, where Steve left us to climb back up and through the Science Park to home.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 26th October Day out along the Cinder Track.
Original plan – Ravenglass from John Rowel's house 1000am but revised plan (due to Mavis's yummee scones) Roy, John R. Steve L and Dianne didn't set off until 1030hrs + so it was decided Seascale it was to be, lunch at the Pudding Lane Cafe (a little new cafe along the terrace of houses and shops facing the car park).
The route took them from Johns place along the A595 south then down into Mirehouse and the cycleway up to Linethwaite – Johns suggestion – to go to St. Bees and along the coastal route for a change. A big hill up then a big drop down through St. Bees village and onto the coastal route to Nethertown, Braystones to Beckermet to join the cycle track to Sellafield Station, over a river bridge and under the railway and onto and onto the famed Cinder Track alongside the rail route and Sellafield boundary fence (beware of sand pits along here!) and onto Seascale Village and the Pudding Lane Cafe for lunch.
Maurice had arranged to meet up with them after walking the dogs along the Cinder Track – good day out for the dogs as they were in good voice.
The route back was more direct same route in reverse to Beckermet then to Thornhill, Egremont, Cycleway to Woodend and onto Moor Row cycleway and down towards Whitehaven and turned off up a bridlepath to meet Mirehouse Pond Road and up to the A595 – John R, Roy and Dianne north to Johns house and Steve L south to Westlakes Science Park and home. Lovely day out. (33miles)
Sunday 23rd October Solway Club Prize Giving Dinner, Hundith Hill Hotel and Downhill Competition
On an overcast breezy day Steve L and Dave Swift rode up to Dean Cross to meet up with Roy and Bacca and Tracy to compete in the Downhill Competition. After completing the freewheel down towards Ullock, Steve L and Dave carried on to the Hundith Hill Hotel while Roy, Bacca and Tracy rode back up the hill to climb back in their cars to go to the Hundith.
25 members attended the Prize Giving Dinner, Shirley and Tracy, as usual, sold raffle tickets for the gifts that the members had brought which gained the club coffers £42. Maurice as usual called the ticket numbers for the tickets and prizes during the dinner courses.
After lunch Maurice gave his normal welcoming speech and he introduced the two new club officials to the members (Dianne now Club Secretary and Stewart now Club Treasurer). Dianne also joined Maurice to present the trophies.
Tour Competition
Gents
1st – Roy Jackson – Mens Tourist Trophy and Gold Medal
2nd – Maurice Cowley – Silver Medal
3rd – John Murphy – Bronze Medal
Ladies
1st – Sue Murphy – Ladies Tourist Trophy and Gold Medal
2nd – Maggie Grant – Silver Medal
Wooden Spoon
Maurice Cowley – Trophy and in addition a proper wooden spoon which had an effigy on the handle that uncannily looked like him
Downhill Competition
1st Bacca Moore – Mens Trophy
2nd Dave Swift
3rd Tracy Moore – Ladies Trophy
4th Steve Lunt
5th Roy Jackson – Nearest Pica Trophy
After all the official business was completed and the very good lunch was eaten everyone had a good chat before leaving for home.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 19th October The Aquarium, Maryport
All met at The Melbreak Hotel, an all male event today: no Anita or Maggie, Sue C, Sue M, away doing other things.
Steve L, Stewart, Roy and Peter P, John R set off to ride via Great Clifton, Stainburn, to Curwen Park. Maurice with 2 dogs to Maryport for “walkies”. On to Maryport along the usual coastal route to the Aquarium for lunch stop. We arrived too early (!) at 1130hrs so we cycled along the prom (having met up with Paul C, delayed start) to the golf course, then back to lunch stop. Dave Swift arrived from Workington Station (left his car) – lunch
After lunch, cheerio to Mo and his dogs, we all cycled south along cycleway to the junction of the ways at Iggersund wetland ponds. Dave S, John R and Paul towards Workington town centre: John and Paul homewards and Dave to his car at the Station.
The rest of us (Steve L, Roy, Stewart and Peter) other way from this junction to High Seaton, Camerton to foot bridge river crossing near Camerton church, over river and up a extremely steep hill to Great Clifton to Chapel Brow Roundabout and then the Melbreak. Peter home to Little Clifton, Roy, Steve and Stewart back to 4 wheels for home.
End of a lovely ride with stunning views across the Solway to Southern Scotland and a lovely ride. (25 miles)
Sunday 16th October Parkside Hotel
A very windy day with some heavy showers.
Roy took his car just over Whinlatter, then cycled along route 71 via Lorton and Loweswater to meet up with John R, Steve L and Anita at Lamplugh. All three had cycled from home meeting at the Beacon in Whitehaven before riding up the cycle track to meet Roy. All four then rode a short distance on the main road to Rowrah, then back onto the cycle path to the Parkside for lunch.
Also for lunch were Tracy and Bacca Maurice, Joe and Frances who had all traveled by car.
After lunch the rain had stopped and the sun was shining but it was still windy.
John R and Anita rode down the cycle track back to Whitehaven. Roy and Steve rode up the cycle track and onto the road as far as Fangs Brow where Steve L turn back to ride home while Roy descended fangs brow to reach his car on Whinlatter.
All the others left the Parkside by car to go home.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 12th October
No-one ventured out.
Sunday 9th October Fox and Hounds Inn, Ennerdale Bridge
5 members met at the Fox and Hounds Inn, Ennerdale Bridge, they were Joe and Frances, Maurice, John R, and Dave Swift. Maurice, John and Dave came on 2 wheels.
John R rode from Whitehaven up the cycle path to Kirkland School and on to Kirkland. He then climbed up to Cauda Brow and dropped down to Croasdale and onto The Fox and Hounds to meet up with the rest.
Maurice rode from home at Thornhill to ride up the cycle path from Moor Row to Parkside and then rode up to Wath Brow to drop down to Wath Bridge and ride on to Ennerdale Bridge and the Fox and Hounds.
Dave Swift rode from Whitehaven via Hensingham, Cleator Moor, Wath Brow to drop down to Wath Bridge and ride on to Ennerdale Bridge and the Fox and Hounds.
After lunch and a chat Joe and Frances left by car while Maurice John R and Dave rode back to Wath Bridge where they parted company. Dave and John rode back home to Whitehaven throuh Cleator Moor and Hensingham. Maurice used what is known locally as the fell road passing Black Brow Farm on his way to reach Egremont after which he climbed up to his home at Thornhill.
Autumn Tints Wednesday 5th October
Due to most riders being away on holidays etc. only 2 members ventured out. These were Anita and John R. meeting up at Anita's house at Sandwith.
Their route was keeping to the coast passing through St. Bees, Nethertown, Braystones to arrive at Beckermet. Again keeping to the coast they took to the old Railway track cyclepath to Sellafield and then to the Cinder Track to Seascale for lunch at the Pudding Lane Café.
After lunch their return journey was the reverse of the outward route.
Sunday 2nd October Kirkstile Inn, Lowes Water
5 members met at the Kirkstile for Sunday Lunch, They were Joe and Frances, Tracy, Maurice, and Dave Swift. Dave was the only one to ride there and back.
Dave's route was from Whitehaven climbing up through Hensingham to drop down towards Keekle but to turn left and drop down over Keekle Bridge and Dub Bridge to climb up to reach Frizington. It was then onto the A5086 to climb up through Frizington and Rowrah and to turn off that road to get to Lamplugh. Turning right at Lamplugh to descend down Fangs Brow passing Lowes Water to reach The Kirkstile.
Tracy had done a short ride after parking at The Kirkstile. She climbed up to and onto the Thackthwaite road and rode to Lorton and then climbed up to Hopebeck dropped down to the B5289 to turn off it at the Buttermere turnoff to climb over Scale Hill to reach the Kirkstile once more.
After a being fed and water all departed, Joe and France, Maurice and Tracy by car while Dave rode home using a different route to cut out climbing Fangs Brow.