Waking up to blue sky’s was a nice surprise after the forecast of storms.
After another photo shoot by the Wortley Fountain we waited about ten minutes for the the hard riders to leave as we were starting off in the same direction towards Penistone.
Fifteen riders set off towards the Trans Pennine Trail. On reaching Penistone, one rider left us to prepare his speech for the evening. Leaving the T.P.T.,we rode on the lanes to Ingbirchworth, on the way a second rider left us. We continued around the Reservoir to have morning coffee at the pub. Four more riders left us here to go back to base, leaving nine of us to continue to lunch. We headed through Upper Denby turning into Gunthwaite Lane to view Gunthwaite Hall. Having viewed this old relic we head down Coach Gate Lane to the bottom. The rain met us here and several riders donned waterproofs, by the time we had ridden to the top of New Road a rainbow was out over Gadding Moor and it was dry again. Not far to lunch now. Turning off North Lane into Raw Green, the lane to the Hall. Down to the bottom over Cascade Bridge, which is an old single track bridge, and up to the bottom entrance to Cannon Hall Farm and a very welcome lunch.
Traversing around the outside of the Hall after lunch and through the gardens we eventually mounted our trusty bikes and made our way through Cawthorne. Crossing the A635 onto our first bridleway which leads us down to Silkstone, along an old wagon way which is now a bridleway. Up the steep climb to Silkstone Common . Here we rode into the rain again.We turned west along the Dove Valley Trail until it joined another link to the T.P.T.
Continuing on this to the top of the hill we then dropped down to Four Lane Ends. Along the specially constructed cycle track, crossing Oxspring Lane onto Willow Lane Top. Down an interesting but very steep section of the T.P.T., over (Willow Bridge) an ancient pack horse bridge over the River Don, up the other side and joining the main Trans Pennine Trail at Oxspring. Collecting another rider at the kissing gate and returning very wet to Wortley Hall where another Rainbow awaited us. Another good ride with good company.
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