Summer Evening Ride

As I cycled to the start of my Summer Evening Ride it felt more like early April than late June. On arriving at Scorton, I spotted a group of familiar figures outside the Farmers Arms. Steve, Nigel and John were busy unloading bikes while Maura was deciding what to wear. I was expecting one more and sure enough dead on seven Liz came hurtling into view, in her car I hasten to add. In fact although she was kitted out in her cycling togs, she was minus a bike. Liz had decided it was too wet but had come along to let us know. We were having none of that nonsense and she was duly sent home for her bike!

Scorton was also the venue for a serious road race, I assume it was serious as they all had those solid back wheels and those funny shaped handlebars that you steer with your chin. To save their embarrassment we waited till they had passed before we set off. On leaving Scorton we turned right just before the Police Station onto the Bridleway that takes you behind Tancred Grange. First obstacle, apart from the cowpats, was a locked gate back onto the main Richmond road. We crossed the road to join the bridleway that heads upstream along the Swale (part of the Coast to Coast Walk). Where the bridleway changes to footpath we turned right into Howe Hill Lane which brings you out at the other Farmer's Arms (how many arms did this farmer have?) at Catterick Bridge where Liz was waiting this time complete with bike.

After a short delay at the traffic lights (bit of a novelty on a mountain bike ride) we sped up the old A1 to our next bridleway just past Robin Hood Farm. We now headed east through a number of fields after which you suddenly emerge at the top of what is now a very pleasant basin with two lakes at the bottom. We headed down the grassy slope towards the lakes, the tranquil peacefulness of the evening being disturbed only by the rustling of leaves in the trees, gentle mooing of cows as they grazed and horrendous screeching of geese. These lakes were formed from old quarry pits and have been quite nicely landscaped by, we were proudly informed, one of the sons of the Deightons, Richard I think. It's a shame the lakes are rarely visited apart from fishermen and the odd mountain biker or as on this occasion six odd mountain bikers.

Unfortunately the track leading away from the lakes is very overgrown with nettles and thistles but fortunately Maura had heeded my advice and decided against shorts, even so I'm sure on returning home she would be straight on the phone to her son telling him to get himself back up here to finish the job off.

On arrival at the old railway line we had a rest while we watched Steve repair a puncture. Next we headed north, again through fields, eventually arriving at Moulton Hall. Here we had the luxury of tarmac with a few speed humps to keep us on our toes. On arriving at Moulton, my original plan was to head along bridleways to North Cowton but this would have meant getting back well past our bedtime so we headed along the back road.

Just before reaching North Cowton we turned right and headed through fields to join the disused railway line. Now at this point we should have crossed the railway line and taken the bridleway to Uckerby but it was a wet night and how were we to know the railway line is private when the only sign is at the St. Cuthberts Inn end where we came out. From here it was a short sprint back to Scorton.

Although not the most technically demanding of rides, I hope everyone enjoyed it. At least it was a route new to even the locals. Thanks to everyone for turning up on what was not the most pleasant of summer evenings.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Summer Evening Ride

Dave Neesam