Snowdonia

Helen and I went out yesterday with CJ, Ella and Mike for a run around North Wales including part of Snowdonia National Park.

We met up Lymm Services at around 8:30am and then followed the M56 and A55 to Mold to get us into North Wales quicker. We then followed the A541 to Denbigh were we stopped at a café for a quick brew stop.

We left Denbigh and joined the A543 and followed it over the open hill tops. It was a really nice open road with very good visibility and very little traffic. So we were able to really enjoy the A543 and its sweeping corners and lovely scenery. After the A543 we joined the A5 and followed it to Betws-y-Coed, where we stopped briefly while CJ reattached his number plate.

We left Betws-y-Coed on the A5 and followed it towards Bangor. We turned off the A5 at Capel Curig and joined the A4086 and headed towards Caernarfon. We then joined the A4085 and stopped briefly at the next parking spot to take some photos of Snowdon. We left and followed the A4085 all the way to Garreg where we joined the B4410, which took us across to the A487. We followed the A487 briefly before joining the A470 just South of Llan Flestiniog. We followed the A470 South and soon passed through Trawsfynydd on our way to Dolgellau. We stopped in Dolgellau for some much need lunch and also to take on board fuel.

After lunch we left Dolgellau on the A494 and headed past Bala Lake and into Bala. We continued on the A494 and then joined the A5 and headed East towards Llangollen. We followed the A5 for a while and then joined the B5068 near to Chirk and followed that to Ellesmere. We stopped in Ellesmere for a short break as it was so hot we needed to take on board some more fluids.

We left Ellesmere on the A495 and headed towards Whitchurch. At Whitchurch we joined the A49 and followed that all the way to the M56 via Tarporley. We then continued home via the M56, M6 and M62.

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Start of Season Big Meet

Helen and I went out with NUKB yesterday for the start of season Big Meet in Masham. It was a good turn out in the end as it looked initially like the Lancs group would be very small.

We went to Clitheroe Services and waited there for the main group to arrive from their meeting point at the Tickled Trout. Once they had arrived we set out for Settle and went on our standard route via Sawley and Wigglesworth. We only stopped in Settle briefly to pick up a few other members before heading off towards Ribblehead Viaduct on the B6479. We then head for Hawes on the B6255, but decided to stop at the Creamery instead as Hawes has been rammed of late.

After the brew stop in Hawes we headed on the A684 towards Leyburn. We turned off just before Leyburn and cut across to the A6108 just before Middleham. We then followed the A6108 all the way to Masham. Due to various reasons we arrived about 1 hour and 20 minutes late so most of the other regions where starting to leave by that point.

After a quite lengthy stop we left Masham on the A6108 towards Ripon. Due to some new roads we got briefly lost in Ripon and the group broke into 2. We left Ripon on the B6265 and followed that to Pateley Bridge. We then continued on the B6265 over Craven Moor to Grassington where we stopped for an ice cream break. While we where at Grassington the rest of the group arrived and we were all together again.

We left the main group at Grassington and with Simmo in tow and headed for home. We headed from Grassington on the B6265 via Threshfield towards Skipton. Just outside Skipton we turned right onto the A59 and followed that for a while before turning off onto the A56 to Colne via Earby. Just after Colne we joined the M65 and then followed that to the A56/M66 junction and home.

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Quiet day in the Dales

Helen and I went on a ride yesterday with into the Dales. Due to the recent good weather we decided to stay off the main roads as they have been very busy of late.

We stopped briefly on our way at Clitheroe Services to fill up with fuel and then headed off on the A59 to Skipton. We took our usual route to Settle via Sawley, Wigglesworth and Rathmell. We passed by Settle which was already looking quite busy considering the early time of day.

We left Settle on the B6479 but soon turned right in Lancliffe heading for Malharm Tarn.  Just as we started up the steep incline of hairpin bends, the car infront of me stalled. I had nowhere to go and had to come to a complete stop behind him, Helen was thankfully able to pass by him without stopping. At that point he started to roll backwards so I had to reverse slightly down the hill. Eventually he stopped the car and managed to get goign nearly burning out his clutch in the process. I soon got passed him and expressed my opinion on his driving ability. We then bared left at Malham Tarn and headed towards Arncliffe, we passed by some Gate warning signs but to my dismay they have removed them. We then passed through Darnbrook House and alongside the Great Clowder where we stopped to take a few photos. We then passed through Arncliffe and headed towards Kettlewell after joining the B6160. We stopped in Kettlewell for a short while to have a lunch at the Cottage Tea Room.

We left Kettlewell and headed towards Braidley we negotiated Park Rash and passed alongside Hunters Stone Bank. We then passed through Horsehouse and Gammersgill before arriving in Carlton. We then continued through Melmerby and Agglethorpe before joining the A684 at Wensley. We continued down the A684 into Leyburn where we took a left and headed over Preston Moor Towards Reeth. We then went over Ellerton Moor before dropping down into Grinton. At Grinton we joined the B6270 and headed into Reeth. From Reeth we continued down the B6270 heading for Muker. We passed through Healaugh, Feetham and Gunnerside on the way to Muker. Just after Muker we turned left and headed over Buttertubs Pass to Hawes. Hawes was absolutely packed so we stopped at the Creamery instead.

We left Hawes and took the B6255 to Ribblehead Viaduct, where we stopped for an ice-cream. After Ribblehead we continued down the B6255 to Ingleton. At Ingleton we went straight on and took some minor roads to Bentham. We did a right and then left in Bentham and went passed the railway station and then headed on minor roads over Lythe Fell. We then passed close to Stocks Reservoir which was on our leftbefore arriving in Slaidburn. We left Slaidburn on the B6478 passing through Newton and Waddington on our way into Clitheroe. We then went over Sabden and headed home via the A56/M66.

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