Mike and I once more took to our bikes rather than venturing undergound.
On Saturday, we cycled over the shoulder of Pen-y-Ghent to Dale Head Farm and then into Littondale on a fantastic traverse path. Once in the valley, we decided it would be rude not to call into Kettlewell for tea even though it was somewhat off route. From Kettlewell, we cycled along the back road through Conistone to Kilensey where we picked up Mastiles Lane to MAlham Tarn. The clear line of the lane going up over the hillside warned us of things to come and we had to resort to walking at the steepest bit. Once on the tops, Mastiles Lane was pure joy as was the final off road section from Malham Tarn to Stainforth. Fears of missing out on the BBQ, sped us along the main road back to the hut! (distance 56kn, 1100 m ascent)
On Sunday we set out for an easy day that sort of got longer. Up over Feizor Nick for an early coffee stop in the excellent cafe in Feizor, then up to Austwick and onto the track to Clapham. In Clapham we succumbed to an ice cream before cruising onto Clapham station to follow quiet roads south of the A65 back to Settle. Here, we decided to take a detour through Giggleswick past the school and onto the old main road where we turned left and tackled the long, oooooh sooo long hill westward before taking a minor road back to Feizor. Somehow, the return over Feizor Nick looked like hard work so we followed the excellent if overgrown bike track to Austwick for the secod time in the day but turned right before hitting the main road. One small detaour into Wharf to avoid the bad bends and then it was a fast ride back to the hut. (distance 37 km).
Jane
