18/10/2023 Stoller - Much Hoole

Meet at St Michael´s CE Church - Liverpool Old Rd, Much Hoole 

(Postcode: PR4 5JQ / Grid reference: SD46292 22319)

Much Hoole with Jean Gabbatt

2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing 

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks, snacks or meals etc. and starts at 10:30am.

The walk follows the river Douglas, passing Tarleton Lock, on a well-defined and relatively dry track. On leaving the river the route first continues along a country lane and then returns to the church via a field.

After walk - A meal / refreshments at the Arches restaurant (which is in walking distance) in Embleys nurseries, Liverpool Road, Much Hoole (Sat Nav: PR4 4RL). 

15/10/2023 Coach Walk - Great Langdale

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Pike o'Blisco and Crinkle Crags with Dave Colbert

8½ miles (14km) with 3,500ft (1,060m) Total Ascent

Crinkle Crags dominates the rugged mountain range separating Great Langdale from Upper Eskdale, a formidable array of crags, buttresses and gullies creating a tremendous backdrop to the wild glacial hollow of Oxendale. Pike o’Blisco’s steep and rocky northern flank forms the massive south wall, and The Band, a lengthy shoulder rising from Stool End at the head of Great Langdale to the col at Three Tarns, the north.

On this walk we will traverse the Oxendale skyline, beginning with an ascent of the pyramid of Pike o’Blisco (705m/2,313ft) before confronting Crinkle Crags. A succession of rocky tors project abruptly from the latter’s serrated crest, requiring easy scrambling in places, including Wainwright’s ‘Bad Step’, an optional three metre rock wall below the highest Crinkle, Long Top (859m/2,817ft). The Band then provides a lengthy but straightforward means of descent.

Note that in the event of bad weather (heavy rain / strong winds etc), we will do a linear hike from Ambleside taking in Loughrigg Fell and Lingmoor Fell. This hike is approximately 10 miles in length with 3,250 feet of ascent.

B+ Walk - Great Langdale & Little Langdale with Stuart Arnold

10 miles (16km) with 750ft (229m) Total Ascent

From Elterwater go South West to Little Langdale passing Tarn at Slater Bridge and could do Cathedral Cave from here. Move on to Fell Foot Bridge now passing Ting Mound ancient monument, Castle Howe opposite and pick up path to Blea Tarn via Blea Moss bog.. Climb Side Pike for views of Langdale Pikes then down past camping site to pick up Cumbria Way at Middle Fell Farm. Continue to New Dungeon Gill and take bridleway south thro´ Great Langdale rejoining Cumbria Way thro´ Chapel Stile back to Elterwater. A very scenic and mainly easy route.

B Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Hotel via Cathedral Cave with Margaret Oliver

7½ miles (12km) with 1100ft (335m) Total Ascent

Leaving Skelwith Bridge we pass Skelwith Force and after crossing the footbridge over the River Rothay we join the Cumbria Way to Park Farm. Continuing on the Cumbria Way we head for Stang End then visit the spectacular Cathedral Cave. After crossing Slater Bridge we have a gradual ascent passing Dale End on the way to Baysbrown Wood and onto Oak house. Crossing Great Langdale Beck we head to the New Dungeon Hotel for some well deserved refreshments!

NOTE: There are no toilet facilities at the start of this walk. Also, at Dale End Farm there is usually a stall selling homemade cake (which is very good) at £1.50 a portion, paid by cash.

C Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll with Dorothy Dobson

6 miles (9.7km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Skelwith Bridge we follow the Cumbria Way via the waterfall to Elterwater (Toilets 30p). After a short climb out of the village we drop down to a path through some woods before arriving at Chapel Style (More toilets!). Here we leave the road immediately after the Wainwright Hotel to walk by the Langdale Beck. Crossing the Beck we go along field paths, (some can be a bit rough underfoot) to eventually reach Side House. From here we cross a bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll for refreshments and the coach.

12/10/2023 Thursday Car - Denham Hill & Brindle

Meet School Car Park on A6 Opposite Chemist Whittle-le-woods (Sat Nav: PR6 7HW), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Denham hill and Brindle with Dorothy Dobson
7 miles (11km) with undulating ascent

We cross the A6, climb many steps and various paths before going over the M61 to reach Birchin Lane. From here we take a footpath across fields to climb Denham Hill and pass through the quarry. We have now reached the highest point of the walk. A little road walking takes us to Top o´th Lane where there is a plaque on a wall which depicts the site of an orphanage over 100 years ago. Then we pass through more fields to reach the canal towpath. Following the path for a mile or so, we leave it at Lower Copthurst to retrace our steps to the car park.

01/11/2023 Sunday Car - Hoghton and Riley Green

Meet far end Chapel Lane, immediately after Boar´s Head (Sat Nav: PR5 0RX), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Hoghton and Riley Green with Dorothy Dobson

6 miles (9.7km) with minimal ascent

Taking the footpath across a field we skirt the grounds of Hoghton Tower and descend to a path through the woods to Hoghton Bottoms. Here we join the Witton Weavers Way to pass under the viaduct, walk by the River Darwen, through more woods to cross fields to Feniscowles. Now a change of direction as we walk along the towpath to Riley Green. We cross more fields to reach Hoghton Tower drive and back to Chapel Lane.