Mike's Natural Musings: Cycling the C2C, Day 3

Thursday, 15 May 2014

Cycling the C2C, Day 3

Our only wet morning of the trip today and that didn't last long; the sun was out again by midday. We began by reversing yesterday's route for a mile of so to get back onto the loop around Mungrisdale to Greystoke of Tarzan fame. This part of our journey took us out of the big hills for a while until the Pennines. We stopped at the wonderful Greystoke Cycle Cafe for coffee and cake and what a wonderful experience this was. Although it appeared closed a notice said "We should be able to serve you, please knock". And served we were despite the lovely owner having just arrived back from a cycle tour of the Croatian Islands that morning. We had excellent coffee and cakes. Their website is definitely worth a read for all the facilities and workshops provided (click the link). A real gem of a place. From here the route took us to Penrith, which we negotiated without difficulty and onto the village of Langwathby, passing woods full of bluebells on the way. Here we enjoyed lunch in the local hostelry and this time succumbed to a pint with our soup. Next stop, after lunch, was the nearby Long Meg Druid Stone Circle. Local legend has it that Long Meg and her daughters were found cavorting on the moor on the Sabbath and turned to stone. The truth is that they date from about 1500 BC and are the second largest stone circle in the country. Long Meg, herself, is a 12 foot high pillar of local red sandstone complete with mysterious symbols carved on it and the four corners pointing to the cardinal points of the compass. It is about 60 feet outside the main circle of 69 smaller stones all of rhyolite granite. Procrastination over, the main item now on the agenda was the long climb of Hartside onto the top of the Pennines. Our route avoided the main road until the last mile and, although long and sustained, it proved eminently rideable; unlike some that were to come the next day!!!. Hartside Cafe at the top of the climb was welcomed gratefully, as was the tea and cake provided. Next followed the most wonderful swooping descent down into Alston where our night's accommodation was situated: the local Youth Hostel; excellent but a tad different to the previous night's luxury at The Troutbeck. On the wildlife front, highlights of the day were bluebells, fields of marsh marigolds, the flock of golden plovers near the top of Hartside and, everywhere, the wonderful bubbling song of curlews; this must be the most beautiful bird song in the world, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Well OK the nightingale must be up there somewhere!!!

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