NP&SP Rsf Congleton Sunday 12 May 2019
This has to be one of the best varied rides that we do. Rolling plains, country estates/parks and villages of Cheshire. Excellent pub stop for lunch followed by a climb of Mow Cop - short & vicious or long and steepish – take your pick. Finally a fast descent followed by a gentler six mile descent along Biddulph Valley Way.
We started with a pre-ride coffee at Astbury Mere Country Park Congleton where there is free parking. Country lanes took us to Swettenham with its pretty church. An idyllic bridleway then led us through an estate to Brereton Heath and on to Brereton. This is Cheshire at its prettiest. Further lanes and bridleways took us to the canal at Scholar Green where The Rising Sun provided an excellent respite.
Fed, we made the steep but less vicious ascent to the Mow Cop Inn. A long fast descent then took us to Biddulph where we were able to follow the old railway track back to the canal at Congleton. A final short bridleway then led us back Astbury Mere and ice creams. - Truly one of the best summer rides.
Rsf NP&SP Hope Valley 23 July 2019
Graced with the presence of both Chairman and President we left the Grasshopper (formerly Woodbine) Cafe and easily rode through Castleton in glorious summer sunshine to begin the slow climb up the old road below Mam Tor. This once major through route is now impassable due to landslips and always provides an interesting little challenge as it climbs up to the Blue John Caverns. Here we had a welcoming tea stop while Alan1 repaired his puncture. From the top of The Winnats we took the track over the moor to meet the bridleway that climbs from Castleton up the unrideable Cave Dale. Here Alan2 left us. Turning right we climbed gradually and then dropped steeply past Eldon Hill quarries (always impressive). On the way we met two ladies doing a circuit on hybrids whom we tried to encourage to join the Rsf – time will tell. Down the delightful Perrydale to find the pub at Peak Forest closed midweek, So - on to Tideswell with John & Caroline showing us the way through Dale Head and Wheston and to The George at Tideswell for a late lunch. Sated, it was well after 3pm so we rode more or less directly back through Little Hucklow to drop very steeply into Bradwell. Finally we took the bridleway that leads through the massive cement works and quarries back into Hope. The weather had been superb, the ride scenic, the company excellent, and as it was John’s birthday he bought us all a drink – what more could we ask of life?
NP&SP Wirral Sunday 4th August 2019
I had never cycled on the Wirral before so I was pleased when Nev told me that he had a long standing cycling friend who lived there and that he could take us on a guided tour and what was more important knew where all the cafes were. Conveniently we met at the large ‘park and ride’ car park adjacent to Hooton station (£1 all day).
Paul led us by the old railway line to Willaston and thence via lanes and villages to Denhall House Farm on the coast where we stopped for elevenses. We passed through Neston and the along the Wirral Country Way to West Kirby for lunch. Most of the party stopped at a cafe, but three of us who are tight fisted went to Wetherspoons and saved ourselves a bob or two!
After lunch we returned via the coast to Hoylake before turning south through Greasby, Arrowe Park and various villages of which Thornton Hough was particularly attractive.
Thanks to Paul and his partner for saving us from having to stop at every junction to check the map.
John Kemp