Bank Holiday Reeth Run

We went out on bank holiday Monday for a run around the Dales and test out all the equipment we had recently fitted on the bikes. Due to the weather being hot we decided to avoid the main roads and instead have a ride around on very minor roads, what we like to call goat tracks. We went on one of our tried and tested routes, that has served us well on previous busy bank holiday weekends. 

We left home and headed for Settle on our usual route via Clitheroe, Sawley and Wigglesworth. We then headed North on the B6479 towards Langcliffe. We turned right here onto minor roads and headed for Malharm Tarn. At Malham Tarn we bared left and headed towards Arncliffe.  We then passed over the small bridge by Darnbrook House and then rode alongside the Great Clowder. We then passed through Arncliffe and headed towards Kettlewell after joining the B6160. We had intended to stop in Kettlewell at the Cottage Tea Room, but Kettlewell was very busy as they had an event going on. So we decided not to stop and continue on to Reeth.

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. This part of the road was very busy and it even had temporary traffic lights set up at two of the tight passing spots on this road. We realised when we go to Grinton why this was, the main road out of Reeth was closed and all the traffic was being diverted this way. I would guess this has something to do with the Tour De France, as it is coming this way is July. In Grinton we joined the B6270 and headed into Reeth, because we didn’t stop in Kettlewell we had lunch in Reeth instead of the usual ice cream.

We left Reeth and 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. Our route from Leyburn to Hawes is the exact route the Tour De France will follow on Stage 1 of the race from Leeds to Harrogate on the 5th July. We passed through Hawes and took  the B6255 towards Ribblehead Viaduct as usual. We turned left at the Viaduct and headed for Settle. We stopped in Settle for an Ice Cream from the Ye Olde Naked Man Cafe.

After our ice creams we left Settle and then continued on home via Sawley, Saben and the A56/M66. The new Satnav audio feed worked as expected on the Autocom unit. Both bike to bike radios worked but it is obvious we need to replace the  leads between the units and our helmets as they have damaged wires in them.