Postcard from Timperley: Monday 17 November 2025 - Lantern Pike from Marple Bridge - A Bike Ride

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

Monday 17 November 2025 - Lantern Pike from Marple Bridge - A Bike Ride - plus bits

Paul and Greg kindly invited me to join them on an outing of about 24 km with 600 metres ascent, from the Brabyns Park car park in Marple Bridge at 10:30 on Monday 17 November.

It was a cool morning and Paul had been waiting for a while so he was a bit cold. We were all pleased, after about 50 metres of cycling, to find ourselves outside Libby's Café. Coffee and croissants. Excellent.

Once we got going, it was a short, steep pull out of Marple Bridge and over the top to Roman Lakes, then a pleasant undulating ride to Strines, from where our path rose steeply and I pushed rather than cycle, which the others bravely did.

The light was lovely as I rose through the woods and reached more level ground where I took the picture above before heading on upwards.

We emerged in bright sunshine at the Fox Inn, where two scarecrows were taking a late morning break..

There were good views across the valley to the Marple area.

Posing for pictures near the Fox Inn

Our off-road route took us above New Mills, past Thornsett, to Birch Vale. Here we joined the Pennine Bridleway and a very steep climb. Even Paul and Greg had to briefly dismount. Otherwise they were managing well, and seemed quite happy to wait every now and then for me to appear. On this section I chatted at length with a couple who were in the area on grandparenting duties, with time to climb Lantern Pike before school pick-up duties.

This path up the Pennine Bridleway near Birch Vale is steeper than it looks!

Eventually we reached a high point near the summit of Lantern Pike (which we didn't visit), and descended briefly to the picnic spot that Paul and Greg have used in the past. It was fenced off with 'No Entry' signs. So we free wheeled a bit further down and enjoyed our lunch in a field near Blackshaw Farm.

On this sunny but cool day there were quite a few folk about, on foot and on bikes. I envied the electric bikes as they serenely passed me as I was stumbling along.

Thanks for waiting, guys.

We proceeded on a mixture of tarmac and earth, to re-join our outward route half way between Strines and Roman Lakes, after some vicious descents made quite difficult by the glaring low sun that was at times literally blinding. At a ford near Rowarth I think Paul and Greg may have got wet feet. I may be slow, but I managed to keep dry feet there. They remained warm and dry, whilst others may have likened theirs to blocks of ice!

The sun was shining nicely on the viaduct at Strawberry Hill, from where it was an easy ride back to the car park.

Here's our route - familiar to Paul and Greg, so no navigational skills required - it's about 24 km with 600 metres ascent, taking us about 3½ hours, maybe half an hour longer than usual due to my slow pace.