A Grand Day Out!
Tuesday 11th October
A dismal start and poor forecast failed to put off 21(ish) hardy riders on the October Saddleworth circuit. It was good to see several familiar faces from September’s Pennine Walk and Ride Festival ride joining us again. After the official group photograph (it’s the only way Rob can be sure how many he started off with) and with waterproofs on we set off in the drizzle down the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Leaving the canal we climbed the back lanes and tracks towards Lydgate, some of us quickly realising that we had one too many layers on. Clothing adjusted we pressed on up the slippery, narrow path to the White Hart and crossed over onto Quick Edge Lane. Usually this old salt route offers lovely views but the clag was down and we all zipped up our jackets before enjoying the speedy downhill to Top Mossley, past the old Grotton brickworks to Kiln Lane and a quick game of ‘hunt the snicket’ through to Thornley Lane. The track up to Hartshead Pike from Lanehead Road was only slightly drier than usual, despite the Indian summer, and just as rough as ever and was eventually walked by more than a few.
On a good day you can see Jodrell Bank and the Welsh Mountains from Hartshead Pike – but this was not a good day. The clag was still down and the lure of lunch in a warm dry pub drove us on. The familiar cry of ‘it’s all downhill to lunch’ was heard and for once it was true. Progress came to a halt at a ‘Road Closed’ sign by the side of George Sixsmith’s Organ Builders. As this is one of the steepest little lanes in the area an executive decision was made to send Eric and his e-bike down first to see if it was really closed to us cyclists. Just as we were giving up hope of ever seeing him again he reappeared and gave us the all clear. After a short stretch on the Huddersfield canal (again) we were at Roaches Lock, our lunch stop (2 courses £5.99; 3 courses £6.99!).
By now the sun was shining and a slightly reduced group (in numbers, not girth) decided to burn off a few calories cycling up Friezland Lane and on to Intake Lane. From here the views towards Alderman and Chew Valley edges were stunning and worth the climb. All enjoyed the descent down to Forty Row and Bradbury Lane.
No ride around Dovestones Reservoir would be complete without the ‘Newton Lecture’ on the King of Tonga’s stone but this was more of an oral test to see how much we had remembered from last time. Quite a lot, it seems. A much diminished group finished up at the Limekiln for a welcome cuppa and debrief.
All in all, another grand day out in Saddleworth.
Tish Tuckey
Roger's photos and videos can be view on Flickr here:
