{"id":12481,"date":"2022-03-17T22:14:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T14:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomic-temporary-41528274.wpcomstaging.com\/?p=12481"},"modified":"2023-11-22T00:58:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T00:58:21","slug":"cycling-in-cumbria-loop-up-over-the-wrynose-pass-2nd-hardest-climb-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2022\/03\/17\/cycling-in-cumbria-loop-up-over-the-wrynose-pass-2nd-hardest-climb-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"CYCLING IN CUMBRIA \/ LOOP UP & OVER THE WRYNOSE PASS \/ WITH NEAR-CRASH YOUTUBE VIDEO!"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘Where are you off to today?’, I asked the silver haired gent astride an e-bike that looked like a motor-cross bike who I encountered whilst shooting video half way round my loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Well,’ he said, ‘I’m 78!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Older people up North have a habit of telling you how old they are the minute you start talking to them…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘And I’ve had two heart attacks!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And of regaling you with their medical history…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘What, today?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Get away! No not today! I’m off up to Cockley Beck and then up Rhino’s Pass.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Rhino? Like the animal?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘No, W-R-Y-N-O-S-E Pass. You’re not from round here?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘No, Taiwan.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Oh, right… Well it’s up this way, tough little climb.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘How far do you go on this machine?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

’40 to 50 miles, three days a week, I love it. When I was younger….’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Life Story of Ken Wardleworth then ensued, it was a good one but I was turning blue by the time it finished. 6 degrees with a blowing gale in a Cumbrian valley is not a warm place to be…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case you’re not familiar with Cumbria, it’s the county above Lancashire and home to the phenomenal Lake District, a land of lakes and beautiful craggy hills, that is one of the most majestic places on the planet (especially on a sunny day, those than can be few and far between in winter).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cumbria, bordered in red<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Setting off from the picturesque town of Ambleside, I headed west along the A593 towards Skelwith Bridge and was soon reminded just what a shock to the system the short, steep little climbs around this area can bring, totally unlike the 6, 10, 20 and 85 km climbs<\/a> we have in Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I continued along this road to the small town of Torver to Broughton-in-Furness, where I stopped to re-fuel (massive flapjack and water). Then it was back north to the beguilingly named hamlet of Ulpha, which sounds Swedish to me, then up to Cockley Beck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Out of Ulpha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Not sheepish!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Looking east from Cockley Beck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The approach to Wrynose Pass from Cockley Beck bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It’s a good thing I did refuel in Broughton as Cockley Beck turned out to be no more than a single dwelling and a bridge. To the left I could have ascended Hardknott Pass (rated the toughest climb in England<\/a> by the Guardian and built in the 2nd Century by the Romans), but as it was getting on I decided I’d follow Ken up Wrynose Pass (rated 2nd toughest in the land), which was hard enough in itself, hitting 22% in places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The descent was something else too, hitting -39% at one point, which I think is where I almost hit one of those beautiful dry-stone walls, just escaping certain disaster by a whisker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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