Back Roads to Reeth

Helen and I went on a ride yesterday with NUKB on a route taking in some minor back roads to Reeth. I planned and led the rideout but it was a very poor turnout this weekend. Not sure if it was post Big Meet blues or not. Anyway we had a nice day and the weather was great all day and the roads were bumpy but the scenery was fantastic.

 

We met up with Ray the only other NUKB member out today at around 9:45am at Clitheroe Services. We left Clitheroe at 10:00am and headed down the A59 to Skipton. We took our usual route to Settle via Sawley, Wigglesworth and Rathmell. We intended to stop in Settle for a brew but everyone was moved on by the Police as the Scouts were using the full extent of the carpark for something.

 

We left Settle on the B6479 but soon turned right in Lancliffe heading for Malharm Tarn. At Malham Tarn we bared left 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 brew 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. We had intended to stop for lunch in Reeth but due to being moved on at Settle and only recently having a brew in Kettlewell, we decided to head on to Hawes for lunch instead.

 

After a brief comfort break 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. We stopped for lunch in Hawes at the Crown Hotel as we have had great food there before and they didn’t disappoint today either.

 

After lunch at around 2:30pm we set off for home. We took the B6255 to Ribblehead Viaduct on the way Ray and I passed several sport bikers, who where not too impressed at being passed. 1 of the said sport bikers tried to catch me up but only managed to catch me as I slowed down around Ribblehead Viaduct. After Ribblehead we continued down the B6255 to Ingleton. At Ingleton we turned left onto the A65 and headed towards Settle. We soon turned off the boring A65 and headed through Clapham Station and onto Clapham Moor. We dropped down off Clapham Moor and headed past Stocks Reservoir and through Gisburn Forest before turning left onto the B6478 and headed into Slaidburn. We continued on through Slaidburn on the B6478 passing through Newton and Waddington on our way into Clitheroe. We stopped at Clitheroe Services for some fuel and then headed home via the A56/M66.

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Masham Big Meet

Helen and I went out yesterday with the Lancs arm of the NUKB on a rideout to Masham for the first big meet of the year. We met up with  the North East and Yorkshire NUKB regions as well in Masham Market Square. There was probably around 100+ bikes in the square at 1 point yesterday and to top it all off the weather was nice and sunny all day long.

 

We left home at around 9:15am and met up with DocB and small group at Haslingden Tesco’s on the way up. We left there at around 9:30am and headed up to Clitheroe Services to met up with the rest of the Lancs group. We left Clitheroe just after 10:00am, CJ was leading and Scotsy was bring up the rear as TEC.

 

We left the service on the A59 heading for Skipton. We soon turned left and headed trough Sawley, Wigglesworth and Rathmell. We then crossed over the A65 and headed into Settle. From there we took the B6479 to Ribblehead Viaduct via Horton-in-Ribblesdale. We then joined my favourite road the B6255 to Hawes. We stopped in Hawes for the first brew of the morning and a nice bacon butty.

 

We left Hawes after our short break and headed on the A684 towards Leyburn. Before getting to Leyburn we cut across on a minor road at Wensley to join the A6108. We headed through Middleham on our way to Masham. We arrived at Masham just before 1:00pm and parked up behind the Yorkshire group who had arrived first.

 

Helen and I found out to our horror that the Kings Arms were no longer doing sandwiches and jacket potatoes on a Sunday anymore. We headed over to 1 of the cafes and Helen had a wrap and I had a Panini. We had a good chat with some of the guys from other regions and at around 2:45pm we headed off.

 

We left Masham with Scotsy now leading and CJ now being TEC. We headed on minor roads for Kirkby Malzeard. However Scotsy’s satnav took us a strange rout through Grewelthorpe and then again as we got into Kirkby Malzeard. The result was that the group got broken up as someone also failed to mark a junction. A small group headed to Ripon, I turned around and headed through Laverton and then over Dallow and Pateley Moor just joining the B6265 before Pateley Bridge. At Pateley Bridge I saw Ella and CorgiKev marking a junction and then knew the main group were in front of me. I continued on the B6265 towards Grassington passing by Stump Cross Caverns on the way. I arrived at the carpark in Grassington and met up again with the main group. Helen and I walked to the Spar and I got a much needed ice cream.

 

As we left Grassington we broke up into 2 groups, the majority headed for Preston and we headed down the B6265 towards Skipton. At Skipton we turned right and took the A59 towards Preston. We then turned left just after Broughton and took the A56 through Earby to Colne. We then jumped on the M65 and headed home via the A56/M66.

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