23/04/2017 Sunday Car - Abbeystead

 

April

Start 10:30am 

Abbeystead & Dolphinholme with Mary & Kevin McEnaney
8 miles (12.9km) easy walking

Meet at Abbeystead parking area Stoops Bridge free car park (Sat Nav: LA2 9BH Map Ref: SD564544), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk takes us through the village of Abbeystead and heads over pasture land to Far Barn Farm, carry onto the reservoir and onto Lower Swainhead farm, then Lower Dolphinholme, continue through woodland and pastures and onto Swainshead Hall, Little Catshaw, Hinberry wood, and eventually returning to Stoops bridge.

19/04/2017 Stroller - Haslam Park

 

April

10:30am Start

Haslam Park with Christine and Bob
2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a walk and venue for drinks / snacks or meal and starts at 10:30am

Meet at main car park, Haslam Park, Bristow Avenue, Ashton, Preston (Sat Nav: PR2 1JE), then afterwards at Lane Ends Pub.

Please remember there is no right turn into the car park from Blackpool Road. Approach from Pedders Lane/ Tulketh Road direction to turn left into the car park. Also there is no car park at the Lane Ends Pub, the nearest car park is at Haslam Park which is short walk to the Pub.

13/04/2017 Thursday Car - Dunsop Bridge

 

April

Start 10:30am

Dunsop Bridge with Kevin McEnaney
9½ miles (15.3km) with 1660ft (505m) Total Ascent

Meet at Dunsop Bridge car park (Sat Nav: BB7 3BB), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am, £2 for eight hours parking, toilet and boot washing facilities available, limited off the road parking for free.

We start from the car park and follow the Hodder south down to Burnholme Bridge, cross the Hodder and on to Fair Oak Farm. We then walk on to Dinkling Green and head north to Mellor Knoll before descending to Harden Farm and on to the trough road, returning to Dunsop Bridge via fields and woodland.

A good circular walk with excellent views of the Bowland Fells. 

09/04/2017 Coach - Braithwaite

 

April

8:00 Start with 17:30 (5:30pm) Return

A Walk – Crag Hill & Causey Pike with Colin Manning
9 miles (14.5km) with 3000ft (915m) Total Ascent

Wainwrights galore today for our 'A' party. Starting from Braithwaite we cross fields to reach Braithwaite lodge. From here we start our ascent up to Barrow (1493ft/455m) and on to Outerside (1864ft/568m). We descend a little from here before our ascent steepens up to Sail (2405ft/773m) and Crag Hill which, at 2753ft/839m, is the highest point of our walk. From here we retrace our steps back down via Sail and bearing right this time to head via Scar Crags (2205ft/672m) on up our final short climb of the day to Causey Pike (2090ft/637m). All down hill from here via Rowling End down to Stoneycroft. From here we can assess our time and either take the longer scenic route along Newlands beck for the full 9 miles or cut a mile off and head back via the, probably just as scenic, road and track via Braithwaite Lodge again all the way back to Braithwaite.

B+ Walk – Cat Bells with Pete Stevens
9½ Miles / 15.3km with 1,400ft / 427m Total Ascent

The last time I led a walk over Cat Bells was in 2009 before I had a bionic Knee. This will be a test for me, but a delight for the group as the views from here are some of the best in the lake district and well worth a visit.

Starting from Braithwaite (toilets available) we follow Newlands Beck south to Ghyll Bank, then passing Skelgill on to Hawes End from where we start the main climbing of the day. From here we ascend Skelgill Bank (1148ft / 350m), where we level out for a while before ascending Cat Bells at (1476ft / 450m). From the summit, we will be able to see the length of Derwent Water to Keswick and beyond, with Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw in the background. We descend from Cat Bells down Hause Gate to Manesty Park at the southern end of Derwent Water. Turning North, we join the Allerdale Ramble track (Cumbria Way) which follows Derwent Water back to Hawes End.

Leaving Hawes End, we follow a road to Swinside where we once again pick up the Newlands Beck path which leads us back into Braithwaite.

B Walk – Around Barrow Door with Dorothy Dobson
7.5 miles (12km) with 1,200ft (366m) Total Ascent

Leaving Braithwaite village we walk along the track to Braithwaite Lodge. From here we begin the steep climb, on a good grassy path up Barrow Door. We will have a few stops to admire the panoramic views and get our breath back. All the climbing is done now and we descend gradually on a path by Stoney Croft Gill to Rowling End Farm. We cross the road to Skelgill Youth Centre, then head northwards to Stair and follow a path by the beck to Braithwaite. 

C Walk – Derwent Bay with Joyce Bradbury
6 miles (9.7km) with 488ft (149m) Total Ascent

Our walk today starts from Keswick, (toilets available). Following the Cumbria Way we head for Portinscale, Nichol End and Hawse End. Between Nichol End and Hawse End we have time to visit the newly opened walled garden at Lingholm which has connections with Beatrix Potter. The gardens are free and there is a shop and cafe.

We now leave the Cumbria Way for our only real climb of the day up to Skelgill. From here we drop down into the Newlands Valley to follow Newlands Beck into Braithwaite. All we need is the weather!