After Saturdays wet ride from Lancaster, Sunday’s Stockport Community Cycling Club weekend longer ride promised a few hills, including Matterdale, but also some fantastic views. We had of course recced this ride recently as part of our Club Weekend recce.

It was a cool, but thankfully dry Sunday morning that greeted us as seventeen of us left Newton Rigg College and set off for Newton Reigny.

It wasn’t long before the first climb began, a steady rise up to Skelton.

Sadly as we reached the top at the village of Skelton, it was clear Sarah was already struggling. Wisely she then chose to ride back down the hill and join the other group of club members who had chosen the shorter of the two rides available. That group left Newton Rigg half an hour after us, so Sarah had plenty of time. You can read Sarah’s review of that ride here.

The rest of us continued on towards Ellenby and Lamonby. We were following NCN Route 7 at this point.

We next headed down towards Mosedale.

The views started to open up and we could see Carrock Fell and Bowscale Fell in the distance.

A couple of turns took us through a gated road to Mosedale and to the bottom of Carrock Fell.

From here we turned left towards Mungrisdale.

And the fantastic views just kept on coming.

As one of the guys on the ride said ‘Whichever way you look, Cumbria just keeps on giving’.

And giving …

We crossed the A66 at Troutbeck.

And followed the A5091 alongside Great Mell Fell.

 

Soon we were climbing up the main hill of the day, Matterdale.

And then a fast cycle down Park Brow.

To National Trust‘s cafe at Aira Force.

We took lunch lunch here. It offers a smaller range than most National Trust cafe’s but thankfully there was just enough to fill us up.

The afternoon ride began with us splitting into small groups along the fairly busy road alongside Ullswater.

Before turning off before Pooley Bridge to head towards Stainton.

From there we made our way through Newbiggin.

  

From here we cycled towards Greystoke Gill.

  

We then picked up NCN Route 71, which forms part of the Sea-to-Sea (C2C), as we made our way towards Greystoke.

Of course, apart from being the home of Greystoke Castle, it is also the home of the even more impressive Greystoke Cycle Cafe.

Finally it was a gentle few miles back to Newton Rigg.

This was a challenging and fantastic ride of just over 40 miles with some 2500 feet of climbing. This is a lovely area for cycling, and all those on the ride seemed to have enjoyed the ride. It is an area well worth cycling in, and Sarah and I look forward to our next visit here . Sadly for now however, it was time to return home.

You can view our cycle ride around Mungrisdale, Matterdale and Ullswater below: