Manchester Ship Canal to Gretna
Sunday 12 May
Northwich to Garstang
Daily miles 57.9
Total miles 495.3
Daily ascent 2319
Total Ascent 26229
Weather Bright & Sunny
Difficulty Mostly easy, but several miles of probably the worst road surface I have ever seen.
Although we had a night without rain, there was a heavy dew so once again we had to pack our tents while they were soaking wet before we left Belmont Hall for what we knew was going to be one of the less pleasant days of our trip. We had planned to head for the A6 and use that route to take us all the way through the built up areas around Chorley, Bamber Bridge and Preston. I had spent some time previously checking over the route and discovered much of it had cycle tracks and lanes that we could use to help protect us from the traffic we expected to encounter.
Once we left the campsite we had a pleasant enough ride along country lanes etc as far as the Warburton Toll Bridge. This was to me something of a milestone as it is a boundary between the Midlands and the north of England. for a couple of days now several of the places we passed through had familiar names because they had football teams which play in the same league as my home team, Whitby Town, and during the day we would pass through several more. At last I felt as if we were making some progress up the country and for probably the first time, I began to feel confident that I could finish the trip.
Once over the toll bridge our route took us towards Irlam where we joined a network of lanes which had the worst road surfaces I have ever seen in my life. Great sections of road were cracked and and tilted at all angles, there were even potholes in the potholes it was so bad. This went on for two or three uncomfortable miles passing a number of run down buildings of various types until we regained 'civilisation'. One building did stand out however, a very nice house on a corner site with well cared for gardens with lots of ornaments etc. In a parking area next to the house was a collection of vintage cars the most noticeable of which was The J. Jones butchers van (or a replica) used in the TV series 'Dads Army'.
After a while we found ourselves on the A6 but fortunately, the traffic was not as heavy as we had feared due to it being Sunday. As expected there were plenty of cycle tracks etc so most of the time we were separated from the traffic and the biggest problem was the constant drone of passing cars. Some of the junctions were quite 'interesting' to negotiate but we managed without mishap or upsetting anybody.
Eventually we left Preston behind and regained the open countryside again which came as something of a relief to us and began to look for a camp site for the night finally stopping a few miles North of Garstang. We didn't realise at the time that the main railway line passed very close to the site and the M6 Motorway was out of sight just beyond that so it wasn't the quietest place that I have ever stayed at. I had not realised until then what a noisy place some parts of our country can be.
Total miles 495.3
Daily ascent 2319
Total Ascent 26229
Weather Bright & Sunny
Difficulty Mostly easy, but several miles of probably the worst road surface I have ever seen.
Although we had a night without rain, there was a heavy dew so once again we had to pack our tents while they were soaking wet before we left Belmont Hall for what we knew was going to be one of the less pleasant days of our trip. We had planned to head for the A6 and use that route to take us all the way through the built up areas around Chorley, Bamber Bridge and Preston. I had spent some time previously checking over the route and discovered much of it had cycle tracks and lanes that we could use to help protect us from the traffic we expected to encounter.
Once we left the campsite we had a pleasant enough ride along country lanes etc as far as the Warburton Toll Bridge. This was to me something of a milestone as it is a boundary between the Midlands and the north of England. for a couple of days now several of the places we passed through had familiar names because they had football teams which play in the same league as my home team, Whitby Town, and during the day we would pass through several more. At last I felt as if we were making some progress up the country and for probably the first time, I began to feel confident that I could finish the trip.
Once over the toll bridge our route took us towards Irlam where we joined a network of lanes which had the worst road surfaces I have ever seen in my life. Great sections of road were cracked and and tilted at all angles, there were even potholes in the potholes it was so bad. This went on for two or three uncomfortable miles passing a number of run down buildings of various types until we regained 'civilisation'. One building did stand out however, a very nice house on a corner site with well cared for gardens with lots of ornaments etc. In a parking area next to the house was a collection of vintage cars the most noticeable of which was The J. Jones butchers van (or a replica) used in the TV series 'Dads Army'.
After a while we found ourselves on the A6 but fortunately, the traffic was not as heavy as we had feared due to it being Sunday. As expected there were plenty of cycle tracks etc so most of the time we were separated from the traffic and the biggest problem was the constant drone of passing cars. Some of the junctions were quite 'interesting' to negotiate but we managed without mishap or upsetting anybody.
Eventually we left Preston behind and regained the open countryside again which came as something of a relief to us and began to look for a camp site for the night finally stopping a few miles North of Garstang. We didn't realise at the time that the main railway line passed very close to the site and the M6 Motorway was out of sight just beyond that so it wasn't the quietest place that I have ever stayed at. I had not realised until then what a noisy place some parts of our country can be.
Click on images to open
Monday 13th May
Garstang to Shap
Daily Miles 48.2
Total miles 543.5
Daily Ascent 2540 ft
Total ascent 28769 ft
Weather Bright but a little cool.
Difficulty Moderate but with a long climb from Kendal
After a night listening to railway trains clattering past and the background drone of traffic on the nearby M6 it was something of a relief to start packing our, for once dry tents and renew our journey North. I think John must have been eating energy tablets for breakfast because as soon as we were on the road he was away as though his pants were on fire and he kept it up almost all the way to Kendal. By the time we stopped for breakfast I was on the verge of exhaustion and just about ready to throw all my toys out of the pram. Once we had eaten though I was feeling better and actually began to enjoy the long climb to Shap which, give or take a few miles, is roughly half way between Lands End & John 'o' Groats, or in our case, Lizard & Dunnet Head. It also happens to be the highest point on the journey which surprised me.
We decided to take a break at Shap and stopped at the Crown where we got into a conversation with the landlord who as it turned out came from Redcar, not too far from where I live, and was a member of the same diving club as John. As there was a small camping area behind the Crown we decided to stay the night.
Total miles 543.5
Daily Ascent 2540 ft
Total ascent 28769 ft
Weather Bright but a little cool.
Difficulty Moderate but with a long climb from Kendal
After a night listening to railway trains clattering past and the background drone of traffic on the nearby M6 it was something of a relief to start packing our, for once dry tents and renew our journey North. I think John must have been eating energy tablets for breakfast because as soon as we were on the road he was away as though his pants were on fire and he kept it up almost all the way to Kendal. By the time we stopped for breakfast I was on the verge of exhaustion and just about ready to throw all my toys out of the pram. Once we had eaten though I was feeling better and actually began to enjoy the long climb to Shap which, give or take a few miles, is roughly half way between Lands End & John 'o' Groats, or in our case, Lizard & Dunnet Head. It also happens to be the highest point on the journey which surprised me.
We decided to take a break at Shap and stopped at the Crown where we got into a conversation with the landlord who as it turned out came from Redcar, not too far from where I live, and was a member of the same diving club as John. As there was a small camping area behind the Crown we decided to stay the night.
Click on images to open
Monday 14th May
Shap to Annan
Daily miles 47.3
Total miles 590.8
Daily ascent 1615
Total ascent 30384
Weather Bright & sunny but still cool
Difficulty Easy but some heavy traffic in Carlisle
Another bright day but once again we packed wet tents due to a heavy dew. The first few miles were mainly downhill so we made reasonable time and got as far as Carlisle before we started looking for our breakfast which actually took a little finding, there seemed a definite lack of cafes along our route and we had to deviate a little before we found somewhere. After breakfast we ran into some heavy traffic for a while until we joined a minor road which closely followed the M6 motorway almost all the way to Gretna where we stopped at the border for photos and coffee at the The Old Toll Bar, the first house in Scotland before continuing to Annan where we planned to spend the night. The site when we found it was located next to the Galabank Stadium, home of Annan Athletic football club where I was pleasantly surprised to hear, there was to be a cup match that evening and a very good game it was too with Annan winning 1-0.
Total miles 590.8
Daily ascent 1615
Total ascent 30384
Weather Bright & sunny but still cool
Difficulty Easy but some heavy traffic in Carlisle
Another bright day but once again we packed wet tents due to a heavy dew. The first few miles were mainly downhill so we made reasonable time and got as far as Carlisle before we started looking for our breakfast which actually took a little finding, there seemed a definite lack of cafes along our route and we had to deviate a little before we found somewhere. After breakfast we ran into some heavy traffic for a while until we joined a minor road which closely followed the M6 motorway almost all the way to Gretna where we stopped at the border for photos and coffee at the The Old Toll Bar, the first house in Scotland before continuing to Annan where we planned to spend the night. The site when we found it was located next to the Galabank Stadium, home of Annan Athletic football club where I was pleasantly surprised to hear, there was to be a cup match that evening and a very good game it was too with Annan winning 1-0.