Sun. 15th June
I set off from Stockton on Tees to the Vale of Mowbray, aiming for Bolton on Swale. The weather is warm and sunny and with the bike loaded up with tent and the rest of kit. I set towards Sadberge, then south to Middleton St. George, Neasham, Hurworth, Croft. Then I decided to take the A167 to Lovesome Hill, which here I turned right for Danby Wiske. It was a bit early in the day to set up camp, so I decided to push on for another 5 miles further up the road to Layland's Farm up, just outside Bolton on Swale. The camp-site is on a lovely kept lawn, for £4.50, not bad. Anyway the farmer's wife made me a cuppa of tea and after pitching up the tent, I got talking to a young couple, who were walking the Coast to Coast from St. Bees to Robin Hood's Bay and seem to be enjoying it. The only trouble I had sleeping is the dammed ducks, noisy things. God only knows what there were doing in the early hours of the morning.
35 miles.
950' ascent.
Mon. 16th June.
Got up 8:00am and again the weather is sunny and warm, Kirkby Stephen is my target. After a cup of instant hot chocolate and a couple of cereal bars, I was ready to pack up the tent and get away. I was talking to the farmer and he was talking of being a keen cyclist and suggested a route that went from Bolton on Swale, through Catterick Garrison and over the Bellerby ranges into Leyburn. I had other ideas, one was to go South and use the Sustrans Route 71, I thanked him and got on my way. The route I took was pretty good, going through Great Langton, Little Fencote, Bedale, Newton le Willows, Harmby and Leyburn. At Leyburn I decided to stop for 20 minutes for a drink of SIS and a bite of SIS. After looking at the map, I decided to take the A684 road to Hawes and not to bad a road to cycle which passes through the villages of West Witton, Aysgarth. I arrived in Hawes for lunch and popped into a local butchers shop and got a Chicken & Mushroom Slice with a pint of Semi-Skimmed Milk, which went down pretty well. I continued on the A684 to the Moorcock Inn. Now I only have to take the B6259, which go's up the Mallerstang Valley and a firm favourite of mine. I arrived in Kirkby Stephen about 4:00pm and got to the Pennine View Caravan & camping park which cost £6.50, the showers are great! with music to wash yourself to?
54 miles.
2988' ascent.
Penhill Beacon
Wild Boar Fell from the B6259, alongside the Settle to Carlisle railway line.
Tues. 17th June.
I awoke about 8:00am and packed the tent and rest of gear, the weather is somewhat cloudy and cooler than of Sunday and Monday. At least the rain kept off and was glad of being cooler today with the biggest climbing to tackle. I was going to do Tan Hill, but decided against it with it being a bit windy on top. I decided instead of using the B6270 and one that starts to climb from 600' straight up to 1600' with a good descent into Keld. After 2 miles, the going was getting tough and I decided to walk some of the way. First thing in the morning, is not good for the lungs. Anyway I made the Cumbria/North Yorkshire County Boundary and could make out some of the Lakeland peaks. Now it's all downhill into Swaledale, going through the villages of Keld, Thwaite, Muker, Gunnerside, Low Row and Reeth. Here I rested for 1/2 hour and got a couple of nice home baked buns from the village bakery with Beef paste I got from Kirkby Stephen. I was going to push on to Ingleby Cross, but heard the weather forecast for Wednesday, which was heavy rain. I decided to cut the tour short at Danby Wiske and come home on Wednesday morning, I needed to get the gear washed and get the train tickets for me and the bike for the York Cycle Show this week-end. I had also done from Grinton to Whitby in May with Mick F on his Grand Tour, so was'nt really missing out on much. I departed from Reeth, going through Richmond, Brompton on Swale, Scorton. Here I stopped for a pint of Black Sheep and sat outside for 1/2 hour before continuing onto Bolton on Swale, Streetlam and finally the White Swan, Danby Wiske. The land-lady charged me £5 for a basic field, also a bar-meal of Hot-Pot with a bread bun which was bit of a rip-off at £7.45.
45 miles.
4084 ascent.
Camp at Pennine View in Kirkby Stephen.
At the top of the Cumbria/North Yorkshire County Boundary @ 1683' ASL.
At the top of the 1000' climb on the B6270 road.
Looking down Swaledale from above Thwaite Village.
Wed. 18th June.
I was awoked in the early hours of the morning and was pouring down with rain, probably just a heavy shower. I glad it did, so the new "Particle 13" by The North Face could get a good weathering. After getting packed up, I set off back to Stockton on Tees, going through, Deighton, Appleton Wiske, Hornby, Girsby, Low Dinsdale, Neasham, Middleton St. George, Sadberge and finally back home.
27 miles.
913' ascent.
The White Swan, Danby Wiske. My last night.
Total miles: 161
Total ascent: 8935'
On a last note, whilst on this tour. I never saw a single cycle tourist on any of the roads, only the odd racing cyclists. Plenty of ramblers or Coast to Coast walkers.
