DAY 3: Austwick to Lancaster After two days in the hills, today’s ride is a more gentle affair, following the River Wenning to where it joins the River Lune and returning to Lancaster along a picturesque riverside cycleway.
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rom Austwick, the route heads west into the quaint Dales village of Clapham – gateway to the caves and subterranean passages of limestone country – and an early opportunity to grab a cuppa at the splendid Reading Room Café – another regular haunt of local cyclists. The route then crosses the Wenning and follows quiet country lanes into the Forest of Mewith on the northern flanks of the Bowland Fells, bypassing the market town of Bentham before gently © Jon Sparks descending to Wray – another scenic rest stop at the delightful riverside tearooms at Bridge House Farm.
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www.forestofbowland.com
Following the Lune downstream, grand houses such as Hornby Castle stand as testament to the wealth accumulated by the merchants and ship owners operating out of the Port of Lancaster during its 18th and 19th Century heyday. At Claughton the Fenwick Arms is an excellent lunchtime stop, where a leisurely lunch is in order – safe in the knowledge that you can coast along the Lune to Lancaster without too much effort if the dessert menu proves just too tempting. Alternatively, to allow extra time to explore Lancaster in more depth, the Fenwick offers secure bike storage for those who want to stay for an extra night before cycling the final 12km back to the station.
