Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale – Casterton (coffee) – Barbondale – Dent (lunch) – Barbon Village (tea) – Lancaster

This favourite route goes on the high route up the west side of the Lune Valley, with fantastic views of Ingleborough on the right.We usually by-pass Kirkby Lonsdale (but there are plenty of refreshment opportunities here) and continue a mile or two north on the Sedbergh road to the friendly café at Casterton Golf Club.It’s then onto quieter back lanes to the west of the Lune valley, climbing steadily until we enter the secluded valley of Barbondale.A not-too-demanding climb to the watershed near Calf Top where we stop to rest and admire the views up Dentdale, before descending steeply to Gawthrop and on to Dent village for lunch, at one of the cafes, pubs or picnic benches.

Our return route climbs back up to Gawthrop, then takes the quieter valley road down to Rash Bridge and the unfenced and gated road over the shoulder of Holme Fell, looking north to Sedbergh and the Howgills.We regain the Lune Valley and seek out the quiet lanes on the east side of the valley to Barbon Village and the hospitable Church Mouse café.From here we generally split into two groups, with those living north of the Lune taking the road to the west of the river and those from Lancaster and the south taking the east side for the final leg home.

CTC Lancaster and South Lakes covers all the LA postcodes and the majority of our members live in the Lancaster area.  Most rides start from Lancaster and are 40-70 miles, so we can only access a large part of the southern Lake District using car-assist. As well as the Lake District, we are lucky to have the 3 Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales and the Howgills within striking distance.  Many of our rides head south, into the Forest of Bowland AONB or onto the Fylde, but these are not LA postcodes. A very popular area for shorter rides is the Arnside/Silverdale AONB.