AND HERE IT IS IN ALL ITS GLORY  ONLY 6 MONTHS TO GO

We will be riding through some very varied countryside indeed; stopping at some beautiful places for photo’s and lunch breaks. I shall lead the ride and I know this area very well. We have a volunteer for a Tail -End –Charlie (Thanks Geoff) and we will travel at a sensible pace catering for all abilities.

I have included a detailed itinerary for you to have a look at but rest assured you will see some of the nicest bits of the Yorkshire Dales.
If anyone has any requests then please ask and I will try to work it into the ride. The details are subject to very minor changes but basically the format is as follows.

Friday night, arrive when you can at Howstean Gorge near Lofthouse, about 15 miles NW of Harrogate. There are pubs in staggering distance and we can stay up late and sit around a campfire drinking beer or whatever takes your fancy. I will arrange a BBQ in advance so bring some burgers and stuff. Beer/wine can be bought in Pateley. Facilities at camp are more than adequate and they are biking group friendly. Cost is £5.50 per person per night and I have so far secured 10 pitches. It does not matter how big or small your party/tent, there is lots of space and I may be able to get a few more pitches allocated if demand outstrips supply. There are B and B and hotel facilities in nearby Pateley Bridge for anyone not wishing to camp.
I will be personally funding the deposit to the campsite this week, as I need to cement the reservation with hard cash so please book early.

Details here: http://www.howstean.co.uk/camping
It is first and foremost a gorge and plays host to many activities in the daytime. At night, it’s closed of course and it’s just a camp site again so all the day visitors go home.

Saturday
Have a quick look at Scar House dam, a most impressive bit of engineering from the 1930’s for a group photo. Then it’s off on our way calling at; Pateley Bridge, Stump Cross Caverns (go in and have a look if you like, years since I have so if anyone wants to go underground then we will have a stop here) http://www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk Appletreewick, Burnsall, Grassington, Kettlewell, Cray, Aysgarth, Hawes, Millthrop, Kirkby Lonsdale, Settle, Malham, Arncliffe, Kilnsey, Pateley Bridge, Howstean gorge.
Total trip from base to base is about 140 miles and can easily be done in half a day, so with stops for photo’s and cups of tea/lunch we will have a nice relaxed ride out. I will be producing laminated maps for all riders with waypoints and approximate times/distance.

BBQ at the campsite for the group “which I will again arrange in advance”, all we need is the grub which we can all pick up at the stop at Kirkby Lonsdale as there is a Booths supermarket there. If the weather is bad (which we hope it will not be, then we will eat in a pub).

Sunday
Take your pick, either join us on the second days ride or head home depending on your circumstances.

The ride
A ride to the East Coast via Helmsley (bike mecca) and Pickering travelling over the North York Moors. Proposed route is to Whitby for lunch and then on to Scarborough which is 90 miles from our base. I will then be heading back to Dishforth to deliver the group to the A1 J49 where the Great Dalesman rally will end. Total for the Sunday ride including the return leg to the A1 is 141 miles.

As soon as the booking form is live you can begin to book your places but remember, I have only 10 tent pitches at the moment with the prospect of more if needed.

Looking forward to it.  Al (ilkleyal)