Kirkby Lonsdale and the Arnside and Silverdale AONB from Carnforth - June 2022

The June ride of the Lancashire and Cumbria Group started from Carnforth and part of the afternoon stretch of the ride was in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB.  We were soon to learn the true definition of AONB - Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Our group today consisted of 11 couples on tandems and one solo. It was great to get such a good turn out and also to welcome new members to the group.

The first leg of our ride took us through the villages of Borwick, Newton and Whittington through beautiful countryside to Kirkby Lonsdale. We hadn’t lost any tandems - yet - and we safely arrived at Carterton Golf Club for our coffee stop. Casterton Golf Club welcome cyclists and if you are in the area then it is a good place to stop with good food and excellent service. 

It was getting on for midday by the time we left Casterton (where had the time gone?) on the second leg of our journey to Leighton Moss. This part of the ride took us through Hutton Roof village and I suppose the clue to the type of terrain is in the name of the village (i.e. Roof!). It was here that I managed to, let’s say, misplace 8 tandems and our group was down to 3 tandems and a solo! Fortunately, after a quick phone call to Helen and Mike, they led the errant riders back to safely meet us in the Hutton Roof village.

The lanes to Clawthorpe from Hutton Roof are narrow and quiet, but it can be a popular spot for walkers heading up onto Farleton Fell so care was needed on the descent.  Dropping in Clawthorpe provides extensive views across Morecambe Bay and the Bay was ‘lit up’ by the sun which had made a reappearance after a brief shower.  We had our lunch at Leighton Moss, the RSPB bird reserve, sitting outside in the sunshine and enjoying a well earned rest.

This area of Lancashire is limestone country and is well deserved of the AONB description. It is an extraordinary place famous for its amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, and superb walks. Stunning limestone pavements, ancient woodlands, intimate orchards and meadows and an impressive coastline make it one of England's finest landscapes - and we were there cycling through it!

Suitably refreshed we headed to the coast and Arnside, for an ice cream - and why not? Then it was upwards and onwards (and downwards and upwards again) to Silverdale and back to Carnforth where I counted, double counted and counted again the tandems. Phew, all back safely. This was a great day out, lots of laughs, superb fun, brilliant company, fantastic scenery, great coffee, cakes, ice cream plus plenty of exercise. All the ingredients of what we have come to expect on our monthly rides.