Our club weekend from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th September stayed at Hawes Youth Hostel and coincided with our vice-president Peter Gott's 50th birthday on the Saturday.
The ride over on the Friday headed off from Burnley via Higherford, Barnoldswick, Cracoe, and Grassington with a lunch stop at Buckden. We then continued on through Aysgarth and onto Hawes for a cafe stop while we waited for the hostel to open. The ride was a very pleasant 60 miles with 4600 ft of ascent, although the last section was quite tough into a strong headwind.
In the evening we ate at the hostel before walking down into the village to sample a couple of the local pubs, which were very busy as there was a walking & beer festival being held over the weekend.
On the Saturday after breakfast at the hostel we set off via Askrigg, Carperby, Castle Bolton and over Redmire Moor to drop down past Grinton Lodge YHA into Grinton and on through Reeth to start the long climb up to Tan Hill the highest pub in Great Britain at 1732ft ASL. We had a well earned lunch stop at the pub, before heading down over Stonesdale Moor to Keld, and Thwaite before the climb over Butter Tubs and the final descent back to Hawes. We had only done 44 miles but they were quality miles with almost 5200ft of Ascent.
After our evening meal in the hostel we again ventured down into the village to sample some more of the local brew.
After breakfast on Sunday we set off to cycle back home via Ribblehead, meeting the club long ride at Horton-in-Ribblesdale. By John Ramsden.
