Paul Rushton's full day ride to Challenging 23rd July 2022
The ride listing said the route was departing from The Bowling Green, Otley at the usual start time and was going North and West to Challenging, where is that? Paul wasn't saying and the ride destination (and route) remained a mystery. Just like the weather really which varied immensely depending on which forecast you looked at from cloudy but dry or showers. The varying weather forecasts created similar variations to what to wear stretching from mesh (teabag) jackets to full wet gear and variations in between and whilst the glorious sunshine evident at the start of the ride indicated the mesh wearers had got it right, all will be revealed later.
Paul's briefing at the start of the ride included the protocol for getting a group of riders through gated roads (of which there may be one or two he suggested) following which 12 bikers set off for the days adventure.
Heading out of Otley on the B6451 we passed through Farnley passed the Lindley Wood reservoir which was looking seriously depleted and on heading towards the Sun Inn but turned left before it over Swinsty reservoir, looking equally depleted. Turning right at Fewston and crossing the A59 we travelled on through Thruscross and on to turn left towards Greenhow. Staying on the B6265 we passed through Hebden and Grassington where turning right we tramped down the B6160 out of Threshfield and through Kilnsey before taking not the first left to Arncliffe but the more minor road just a little further on, eventually arriving in Arncliffe but now turning right, over the top through the Dales National Park.
The glorious sunshine at Otley had modified somewhat by now with the wind getting up and the sky now an ominous slate grey. Before long some spitting of rain was being felt but nothing heavy and it stayed with us to the first stop. Eventually we brushed the edge of Settle and pushed on through Giggleswick travelling out past Settle golf course and turning right on to a narrow gravelly track road and then turning right again on to a similar road but this one is a dead end. If you don't want to go to a place called Fiezor (pronounced as in Yamaha according to the locals) you shouldn't be on this road but our destination was Elaines Tea Rooms, at the end of this road. As we dismounted and went in the rain started to get heavier and our T&P stop started to get longer as we waited for the "heavy shower" to blow past.
After a long wait it was becoming apparent that the forecast showers were in fact steady, heavy rain and at this point Paul suggested we abandon the planned ride (but save the mystery for another day) and head back to Yorkshire and Manor Cafe where it might not be raining. A suggestion that was agreed by all.
After a bout of putting on wet gear or thinking "it's only water" from those without any we set of again, albeit in a different direction. Retracing our tracks back to and out of Settle we made a left turn onto the B6479 to Horton in Ribblesdale, passing through there and Selside before arriving at the famous viaduct where we turned right towards Hawes. Not far along here we turned left onto a more minor road towards Cowgill and through here towards Garsdale Head. The signs at the start of this road suggest not to use it in wintry weather as it's high, narrow, a bit twisty in parts and just to add to that it's recently been resurfaced in loose gravel, not to mention it was still raining and hadn't stopped since we left Elaines, concentration definitely necessary on here. Turning right at Garsdale Head we rode on through Askrigg, Redmire and on to Bellerby where a welcome lunch awaited and would you believe the rain had now stopped. The official ride ended at this point with each going their separate ways although the temptation of Brymor proved irresistible for some. The destination "Challenging" remains a mystery for another day. Sorry to report no pictures I'm afraid but the weather really did preclude them. Copy of the route below though.
Thanks Paul for planning and leading the ride and thanks also to Adam Meek for excellent back marker duties.
Paul's briefing at the start of the ride included the protocol for getting a group of riders through gated roads (of which there may be one or two he suggested) following which 12 bikers set off for the days adventure.
Heading out of Otley on the B6451 we passed through Farnley passed the Lindley Wood reservoir which was looking seriously depleted and on heading towards the Sun Inn but turned left before it over Swinsty reservoir, looking equally depleted. Turning right at Fewston and crossing the A59 we travelled on through Thruscross and on to turn left towards Greenhow. Staying on the B6265 we passed through Hebden and Grassington where turning right we tramped down the B6160 out of Threshfield and through Kilnsey before taking not the first left to Arncliffe but the more minor road just a little further on, eventually arriving in Arncliffe but now turning right, over the top through the Dales National Park.
The glorious sunshine at Otley had modified somewhat by now with the wind getting up and the sky now an ominous slate grey. Before long some spitting of rain was being felt but nothing heavy and it stayed with us to the first stop. Eventually we brushed the edge of Settle and pushed on through Giggleswick travelling out past Settle golf course and turning right on to a narrow gravelly track road and then turning right again on to a similar road but this one is a dead end. If you don't want to go to a place called Fiezor (pronounced as in Yamaha according to the locals) you shouldn't be on this road but our destination was Elaines Tea Rooms, at the end of this road. As we dismounted and went in the rain started to get heavier and our T&P stop started to get longer as we waited for the "heavy shower" to blow past.
After a long wait it was becoming apparent that the forecast showers were in fact steady, heavy rain and at this point Paul suggested we abandon the planned ride (but save the mystery for another day) and head back to Yorkshire and Manor Cafe where it might not be raining. A suggestion that was agreed by all.
After a bout of putting on wet gear or thinking "it's only water" from those without any we set of again, albeit in a different direction. Retracing our tracks back to and out of Settle we made a left turn onto the B6479 to Horton in Ribblesdale, passing through there and Selside before arriving at the famous viaduct where we turned right towards Hawes. Not far along here we turned left onto a more minor road towards Cowgill and through here towards Garsdale Head. The signs at the start of this road suggest not to use it in wintry weather as it's high, narrow, a bit twisty in parts and just to add to that it's recently been resurfaced in loose gravel, not to mention it was still raining and hadn't stopped since we left Elaines, concentration definitely necessary on here. Turning right at Garsdale Head we rode on through Askrigg, Redmire and on to Bellerby where a welcome lunch awaited and would you believe the rain had now stopped. The official ride ended at this point with each going their separate ways although the temptation of Brymor proved irresistible for some. The destination "Challenging" remains a mystery for another day. Sorry to report no pictures I'm afraid but the weather really did preclude them. Copy of the route below though.
Thanks Paul for planning and leading the ride and thanks also to Adam Meek for excellent back marker duties.
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