Day 141 Ravenglass to Millom

 

Date: Saturday 3^rd August 2013   Distance: 22 Miles

 

It was all local produce used for breakfast and very tasty. There had been lots of nice touches at this B and B with a bowl of fruit, a water bottle by each side of the bed and a little box of 2 handmade chocolates.

 

We had hoped to cross the ford over the Esk leaving across the beach, yards from the B and B but we were warned, as it turned out quite rightly, that the water was too deep with currents. This put an extra hour on our trip today as we had to go up a hilly busy road. Muncaster Castle, built in the hillside above the Esk, looked impressive as we passed by but it is closed Saturdays for weddings. The gardens, owl centre, playground and castle are probably worth visiting but £13 seems rather expensive.

 

We took a lane off the main road for 5 or 6 miles. At a place called Lane End we saw a little butchers shop selling cumberland sausages, that had a sign saying By Appointment to The Queen.

Then we rode out closer to the sea at New Biggin where we came to the other end of the ford that confirmed it was an impassable depth.

 

At Eskmeals we soon were passing yet another military area  with no red flags flying today but signs warning of gunfire. At a nearby farm there looked to be a bomb crater in the field next to the road.

 

We rode by Bootle Station and then on to Millom finishing with a section of main road without anything of note. It was clear the road to Barrow was going to be winding and busy as well as hilly.

After stopping at a cafe here we decided to catch the train to Barrow and then go home. With some time to spare we looked around Millom first. There is an old bridleway marked across the bay to Askam in Furness so we rode the path down towards the water and next time we would ride from Askam. This saved 20 miles of stressful riding. Local people said that the bridle way can’t be used now.

 

The train, though delayed, got us to Barrow in time for our train back to Manchester Airport. Today was a bit of an anti climax but we were pleased with the ground we had covered overall this holiday.