Day 12: May 29

Kirkby Lonsdale / Casterton to Talkin / Hallbankgate

96 km / 1550 m

A stunning ride through unspoiled towns and villages of the fells.  Alongside rushing rivers and rolling hills we head for Talkin or Hallbankgate, near Brampton, and our quiet overnight stay.

After yesterday's mid-day deluge, we weren't quite sure what to expect today.  Depending on what forecast you looked at, we could expect just about anything at some point today.  It was dry when we set out, so that's a good thing.  One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was that we have now passed the halfway point.  Yay!  And - only two more days until our one and only rest day.  I'm ready for it!

Today was a gorgeous ride, so I'll mostly just let the pictures speak for themselves.  We started out continuing north through the western side of  Yorkshire Dales National Park, then just east of the Lake District National Park and finally just west of the North Pennines National Landscape.

We passed some Gypsies on their way to the Appleby Horse Fair to be held June 6-12.  It is "an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers."  It is billed as the biggest traditional Gypsy Fair in Europe.  It attracts around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers, and over 30,000 other visitors.  Appleby's normal population is about 3,000.  

Lots of stone bridges today.

At the top of the first big climb of the day.

We had our first tea break at about 20 miles in the village of Orton.  The George Hotel is where we stayed on our Coast to Coast walk in 2014.  And, of course, I had to visit the chocolate shop - again...

Very scenic climbing out of Orton.  When I passed the C2C signpost I met some walkers from Germany who were just heading in to Orton.

For a while in the afternoon we were, apparently, following the Coast to Coast cycling route.  There was supposed to be a "steam railway viewing" spot, but I missed it.  The steam train would probably be the same one that we saw on our C2C walk while Marilyn was picking herself up out of the cow pattie.

We took a short detour to see Long Meg and Her Daughters Stone Circle.  "Situated on a gently eastwards sloping hillside with the western foothills of Pennines as a dramatic backdrop, the site known as Long Meg and her Daughters is the largest stone circle in Cumbria and sixth largest in England.  It is also thought to be one of the earliest, dating from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age."

 

Back on the road........

Most village signs say "Please drive carefully".

By the time the day was done, my legs were starting to feel the cumulative effects of the last 11 days.  Not sure how tomorrow will feel.........Hopefully my neighbour who appears to live on the roof right outside my window isn't an early riser.  

Talkin / Hallbankgate:  

Population:  ? / 60

No info available on Talkin.

Hallbankgate is a village in Cumbria.  It is a former coal and lead mining village.  Limestone is quarried here and it once had a gasworks and a forge.  The village has a primary school, a village shop and tea room, and a pub.

Hotel:  The Blacksmiths Arms   www.blacksmithstalkin.co.uk

Ride Stats:

94.7 km

1327 m (4554 feet)

The Route: