The rest of the descent was completed without further incident. As we
dropped back into the park the number of walkers and dogs increased.
This forced us to reduce our speed for a leisurely spin around the
park to take in the castle and tick off all the attractions, before
returning to the car park for the end of the ride and a well deserved
ice cream.
Directions for this ride can be found in the routes section of this site.
Related pages: Rivington Pike Shop Ride Feb '07
dropped back into the park the number of walkers and dogs increased.
This forced us to reduce our speed for a leisurely spin around the
park to take in the castle and tick off all the attractions, before
returning to the car park for the end of the ride and a well deserved
ice cream.
Directions for this ride can be found in the routes section of this site.
Related pages: Rivington Pike Shop Ride Feb '07
|
The mist cleared just before I arrived at Rivington
Pike Country Park, which revealed a sunny day with
blue cloudless skies. With the sun came the day’s
visitors, who quickly filled the car park. Despite Paul
being kicked out of his cheeky parking spot
everyone found a space. This was made eaiser as
we were one car down on the expected number.
Martin, who’d turned up for his first Social Ride, was
being followed to the ride by his mate. That was
until they got split up on the motorway. Later we got
a call to say his mate had caught back up with Martin’
s car and started following it. It was only when he
had gone miles in the wrong direction he realised it
wasn’t actually Martin. As he didn’t know where the
ride started, he went home.
Pike Country Park, which revealed a sunny day with
blue cloudless skies. With the sun came the day’s
visitors, who quickly filled the car park. Despite Paul
being kicked out of his cheeky parking spot
everyone found a space. This was made eaiser as
we were one car down on the expected number.
Martin, who’d turned up for his first Social Ride, was
being followed to the ride by his mate. That was
until they got split up on the motorway. Later we got
a call to say his mate had caught back up with Martin’
s car and started following it. It was only when he
had gone miles in the wrong direction he realised it
wasn’t actually Martin. As he didn’t know where the
ride started, he went home.
| Ian and Paul descending by the Yarrow Reservoir steps |
With the car parks being busy we waited until 10.30am before starting the ride to see if anyone else would
turn up. Surprisingly for such a nice day no one did, so the four of us set off through the walkers for the
first loop around the reservoirs. It wasn’t long before we left the crowds behind for an easy ride to the fun
trails in Healy Nab wood. After a brief pause for Martin’s broken chain we got to enjoy dusty trails in the
shade of the trees. With rocky drops and some tricky climbing it was a challenging circuit that not
everyone cleaned, even me. I was tired from moving house that week, which I thought was a good enough
excuse.
turn up. Surprisingly for such a nice day no one did, so the four of us set off through the walkers for the
first loop around the reservoirs. It wasn’t long before we left the crowds behind for an easy ride to the fun
trails in Healy Nab wood. After a brief pause for Martin’s broken chain we got to enjoy dusty trails in the
shade of the trees. With rocky drops and some tricky climbing it was a challenging circuit that not
everyone cleaned, even me. I was tired from moving house that week, which I thought was a good enough
excuse.
| Ian and Martin climbing into Healy Nab Wood |
| Ian and Martin tackling one of the rocky steps |
With the woods behind us we headed over the hill on the opposite side of the Anglezarke Reservoir and
kept a steady pace while climbing through the still morning air. Reaching the top rewarded us with a great
view of the Rivington Country Park and the tower on the Pike that would be the summit of our next climb.
From this distance it look quite peaceful but with the good weather it would definitely be busy.
kept a steady pace while climbing through the still morning air. Reaching the top rewarded us with a great
view of the Rivington Country Park and the tower on the Pike that would be the summit of our next climb.
From this distance it look quite peaceful but with the good weather it would definitely be busy.
| (left) Martin, Ian and Paul on the Manor Hall Climb (right) Riding back towards the Country Park |
After completing the first
loop we sat and ate out
sandwiches while
loop we sat and ate out
sandwiches while
watching motorbikes go by on their way to
the café at Rivington Hall Barn. Paul
admitted that, until recently, he had visited
the park that way. The motorbike had now
been sold to fund the full-sus he was
eagerly expecting. That full-sus would
have come in very useful on the next climb,
a wide cobbled track leading to the car
park the bikers had been heading for.
the café at Rivington Hall Barn. Paul
admitted that, until recently, he had visited
the park that way. The motorbike had now
been sold to fund the full-sus he was
eagerly expecting. That full-sus would
have come in very useful on the next climb,
a wide cobbled track leading to the car
park the bikers had been heading for.
| The cobbled climb to Rivington Hall Barn |
Paul on the climb after the Barn
We made our way through a sea of
motorbikes and out the other side only to
have one type of congestion
replaced by another, large groups
of walkers. It wasn’t a problem
though, we were on the long climb
to the top of the Pike, taking in the
Chinese gardens and Pigeon
Tower on the way, so weren’t
going fast. It was a climb that
ended with more lumpy cobbles,
not the easiest to ride and great
entertainment for the walkers, as
they watched us struggle on our
way up.
replaced by another, large groups
of walkers. It wasn’t a problem
though, we were on the long climb
to the top of the Pike, taking in the
Chinese gardens and Pigeon
Tower on the way, so weren’t
going fast. It was a climb that
ended with more lumpy cobbles,
not the easiest to ride and great
entertainment for the walkers, as
they watched us struggle on our
way up.
| Paul at the Seven Arch Bridge |
| Junction at the Pigeon Tower |
| Martin and Paul descending the rock steps from the Tower on Rivington Pike |
Climbing the cobbles to the Tower
The views weren’t the best as the air was hazy, so without a reason to hang
around we headed down the big rock steps and fast grassy ruts from the
top. The walkers only seemed to use a few paths so it wasn’t long till we
left them behind and got to enjoy an uninterrupted run down through loose
rocks of Wilderswood.
around we headed down the big rock steps and fast grassy ruts from the
top. The walkers only seemed to use a few paths so it wasn’t long till we
left them behind and got to enjoy an uninterrupted run down through loose
rocks of Wilderswood.
We said hello to the lamas at the bottom before pointing ourselves back
towards the Pike and the long climb back up. The temperature had risen and
there was still no breeze so it was hot, sweaty work. We made our way up at
our own pace and regrouped at the top for a quick rest before the last
descent.
The top part of the descent, with its big rocks, was a great place for a photo, so
I set off first to find a good spot. It wasn’t a bad one as I got a shot of Paul
coming off after panicking at seeing a 4x4 on the trail, one that had stopped for
the riders coming down. I also got one of Ian without his backpack. After
realising his mistake all he could do was climb back up and hope it was still
there. He made it back up just in time to stop a park ranger from droving off
with it. Fortunately nobody deemed a controlled explosion necessary.
towards the Pike and the long climb back up. The temperature had risen and
there was still no breeze so it was hot, sweaty work. We made our way up at
our own pace and regrouped at the top for a quick rest before the last
descent.
The top part of the descent, with its big rocks, was a great place for a photo, so
I set off first to find a good spot. It wasn’t a bad one as I got a shot of Paul
coming off after panicking at seeing a 4x4 on the trail, one that had stopped for
the riders coming down. I also got one of Ian without his backpack. After
realising his mistake all he could do was climb back up and hope it was still
there. He made it back up just in time to stop a park ranger from droving off
with it. Fortunately nobody deemed a controlled explosion necessary.
(left) Ian and (right) Martin descending
through Wilderswood
through Wilderswood
| Paul (above) in the undergrowth & (below) nailing the drop off |
| Riding to The Castle |
| Paul on the hot final climb |
| Martin on the Pigeon Tower descent |
| Ian minus his backpack |
| A 'Social' Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |