Those red cowslips fascinate me, and have done for years.
Well, summer is beginning now, and that means often the blog will be a bit behind at weekends as I go cycling and get back into long distance rides again – this weekend I began with an early train journey to Congleton, where I commenced a 100 mile plus ride around The Roaches and Staffordshire Moorlands, before returning home via the Weaver Hills, Ashbourne and Tutbury.
It was a beautiful day and a great ride and despite mechanical issues and a pothole that cost me a few lost hours and a new rear wheel, I realised what I’d been missing.
I went from Congleton, climbed to the top of The Cloud, near Timbersbrook, which is hard work but gives great views over Cheshire, Staffordshire and the Peak District, including the wonderful Jodrel Bank. Then to Rushton Spencer, onwards to Dane Bridge, Wincle and the north Roaches. Here I called at the highest village in England, Flash. From there, back to Gradbach where I was sad to see Tisha’s Teas – mentioned in one of the earliest posts on the blog – seems to have closed.
It takes about 45 minutes to push the bike up The Cloud – but it’s well worth it.
From Gradbach, over through Royal Cottage to Morridge, at 482m, the highest point on the ride. Down from Morridge to Waterhouses, past the huge cement works at Cauldon Low to Calton and the Weaver Hills. Mechanical issues necessitated a call at Halfords in Ashbourne, then back home via Ednaston, Hatton, Tutbury, Barton and Lichfield. I had a great time despite the troubled steed, I manage 108 miles.
Some of the things I noted were the alpaca with remarkable teeth, the poor shot of a hare was one of a pair, scrapping in the road just outside Flash, and a rare sight indeed. The red cowslips are, I think, a genetic aberration and I try to visit them every year. Like Tisha’s Teas, they have been mentioned several times here and are like a silly, personal spring pilgrimage. But I love them so.
So please excuse the lack of updates this weekend, I was out on my bike.
For more of this sort of thing, the 365daysofbiking journal is still running. This post was mainly for Trev in Oz, who I know loves the cycling travelogues.
