Bridlington Langtoft Bridlington -76 km
“I met a man who’d met Chris Froome.”
The starting point for this ride was Coaster’s Retreat, a holiday let on the NCN 1 route just over 1 km from the Old Town.
Cycling in the opposite direction from the Old Town towards Sewerby Hall, I turned right after the school to head towards the sea and pick up the NCN 1 cycleway off road.
After a brief chat with an older cyclist who was out for his morning ride on his e-bike, I turned left through some bungalows to the minor road leading past Sewerby Hall and then on to a more open road towards Bempton. I was to return here, by car, later in the week to visit the RSPB reserve by the cliffs.
Sewerby Hall - pedestrian exit on to Church Lane
It was as I was approaching the crossing of the A165 that I met a much older cyclist coming in the opposite direction. We stopped on the Grindale Road for a chat. A keen cyclist, he told me that his rides are now 25-30 miles, taking him to many of the towns and villages within easy reach of Bridlington. He reeled off a string of names including Burton Fleming, Kilham, Burton Agnes and Harpham and asked if I had been to any of these or was intending to go. I told him that I had only just arrived in Bridlington but, yes, I recognised these names from the map and would be visiting them.
He then told me that he had met Chris Froome when the Tour of Yorkshire started in Bridlington; I believe this was 2017. He lived in a block of flats immediately above the start area, giving him a great view from his balcony. He told me that as he was walking down towards the start, he met Chris Froome and said “Good luck, Chris"!” “Thanks” “And that was all we said” - but clearly this stuck in the memory of this fellow rider.
He then told me how much he enjoyed the Grand Tours and marvelled at today’s youngsters - Pojacar of course - “and that Tom Pidock, don’t forget him, he’s from Yorkshire.”
Chat over, we went our separate ways. My route took me north to Reighton with views of countryside and sea.
The NCN 1 led into Hunmanby. Just as I thought I was leaving the village, the road turned south along Bridlington Street and there on the right was The Hunmanby Pantry. This was clearly going to be a place where I would have to stop and sample the food. Double fronted, the shop provides kerbside serving from the right hand side, avoiding the need to find somewhere to secure the bike.
The Hunmanby Pantry
Most of the pasties were meat based but I was fortunate to buy the last cheese pasty. I continued along the NCN 166 leading towards Fordon in a gentle valley with contrasting colours on each side of the road.
Gentle ascent of Fordon Lane
Continuing on the NCN 166 beyond Fordon, I had to stop twice to check what I was seeing. The rational part of my brain knew that I was riding north west away from the sea but my eyes or my imagination thought that I could see sand and sea. It was, of course, clouds but I did have to stop for a “reality check” on my navigation and sense of direction.
Riding North West - can I see sand and sea? Or just clouds?
After crossing the B1249, the NCN 166 turns south to climb Ganton Dale and then drop into the village of Foxholes. The prominent church looked like a good place for a stop; this was to be a leisurely ride and I would have welcomed a short stay on a bench in a quiet churchyard. Unfortunately it was not to be as the church was undergoing extensive works, as was a chapel a little further on. No rest in Foxholes, then.
I rode on, turning south after Weaverthorpe, ascending to the farm road to Rosemount Farm. I stopped here for the view back towards Weaverthorpe and downhill towards an area shown on the map with the intriguing name of Galloping Slack.
Quick stop by Rosemount Farm
Looking back towards Weaverthorpe and looking at the gentle descent from Rosemount Farm
Benches in Langtoft
Riding south and crossing the B1253 I reached Sledmore Road which would take me to Langtoft. The Sledmore Road descends gently on a good surface; a minor road with little or no traffic, this was sheer bliss until the surface deteriorated for a short stretch by two farms. Surface restored, the road led into Langtoft where I found benches on which to sit and eat my pasty from Hunmanby. In the photo you will be able to see a building with an application for premises to serve food: perhaps a future haven for cyclists.
The tea cake stashed away to eat with a cup of tea back in Bridlington, I continued to the very quiet village of Kilham and then on to the Roman Road leading back to Bridlington.
Entering Kilham
Shortly after leaving Kilham I came across two horses on the verge. Mindful of the sheep I met in Scotland that would run out into the road, I slowed down; this was unnecessary as the two horses were tethered to stakes in the grass.
The Roman Road - the modern Woldgate - provides a fairly straight route to Bridlington. It’s just south of the B1253 from Rudston to Bridlington which is arguably a much better route for vehicles. The B1253 is certainly wider. The old Roman Road is the nearest I found to the Berkshire quietways that I love. It’s subject to a 40 mph speed limit with frequent reminders but that did not stop vehicles from going much faster.
Despite the traffic it was a very easy ride, mostly downhill, into Bridlington where a cyclepath alongside the main road led me back through the Old Town to my starting point - and that tea cake from the excellent Hunmanby Pantry.
