12/03/2017 Coach Walk - Castleton via Peak Forest

March

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

A Walk - The Great Ridge with Dave Colbert

12½ miles (20km) with 2,600ft (800m) Total Ascent.

The 'Great Ridge' divides the rolling limestone uplands of the White Peak to the south from the higher millstone grit country of the High Peak to the north. This walk will see us traverse the full length from Rushup Edge to Lose Hill.

Starting from Hayfield, famous as the starting point for the mass trespass on Kinder Scout in the 1930s, we follow the valley of the River Sett to eventually ascend Famine Hill (1,552ft/473m), not an appropriate place to stop for butties. Continuing along the high ground we climb the slightly higher South Hill before getting to 'grips' with Brown Knoll (1,867ft/569m) and its infinite wetness.

A lengthy descent then takes us south-eastward across the Manchester to Sheffield railway line deep underground in the 2 mile long Cowburn Tunnel before we swing round to Rushup Edge, a surprisingly narrow ridge for the Peak District. Beyond a nick in the ridge lies Mam Tor (1,696ft/517m), known as the 'Shivering Mountain' given the propensity for its precipitous south-east face to slip on a frequent basis. One such landslip closed the main road from Chapel-en-le-Frith to Castleton permanently. Our traverse continues to Hollins Cross, Back Tor and finally Lose Hill (1,562ft/476m) before descending to Castleton via Losehill Hall.

B+ Walk - Lose Hill, Hollins Cross & Mam Tor with Val Walmsley

10 miles (16.1km) with 2008 ft (612m) Total Ascent

From Castleton we head along Hollowford Road east to Losehill Hall and then north east to Losehill Farm from where we ascend to Lose Hill and a viewpoint. We then head west, passing Back Tor, Hollins Cross leading to the high point of Mam Tor. Then descend to Winnats Head Farm and passing Blue John Cavern, Cliff Cavern & Speedwell Cavern to reach Goosehill Farm. We then take a path south west to Limestone Way and follow this back down Cave Dale to Castleton Dark Peak Centre. 

B Walk - Mam Tor with Barry Mather

7½ miles (12km) with 1700ft (518m) Total Ascent

We leave Castleton south up Cave Dale. High above on the right can be seen the remains of the 11th Century Peveril Castle. Following the Limestone Way we leave Cave Dale and follow a track north heading for Mam Tor and after a short climb we arrive at the top. Mam Tor is also known as the Shivering Mountain due to layers of unstable slate causing land slips. We then proceed to Hollins Cross and on to Lose Hill. With all the serious climbing done we return to Castleton via Losehill Hall.

C Walk - Cavedale with Tony Ingham

6 miles (9.7km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

We head north out of the village along the Hollowford Road. At the road end we turn west and follow a path which passes Mam Farm and leads on to the road heading south which finally closed in 1979 after years of landslips below the "Shivering Mountain" (Mam Tor).

It is still a footpath and we continue along it to the Blue John Cavern where we can tarry awhile before following a field path to Winnats Head Farm. We go west for a short distance to Windy Knoll before turning south again past Oxlow House to eventually join the Limestone Way. This takes us north east through Cavedale, below Peveril Castle, and back into Castleton where there are plenty of tea shops and pubs.

09/03/2017 Thursday Car - Mawdesley

B Walk - Mawdesley with Tony Ingham 

9.5 miles (15.3km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

We meet in the Rectory field, School Lane, Mawdesley, (Sat Nav: L40 3TG), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The main feature of this walk is the climb up Harrock Hill which, at around 450ft, is by far the highest land in an otherwise very flat landscape. We will find a derelict old windmill at the top, quite a contrast with three modern wind turbines which we encounter later in the walk on Mawdesley Moss. Other places of interest on the walk include Cedar Farm Galleries, the now disused Black Bull pub dating back to 1580, the small village of Andertons Mill and the Cliffs Farm Outdoor Pursuit Centre.

26/02/2017 Sunday Car - Scorton

B Walk - Scorton & Nicky Nook with Mary & Kevin McEnaney 

8 miles (12.9km) with 1080ft (329m) Total Ascent

Meet at Scorton picnic area, free car park, near Cleveleys Bridge, north of Scorton village. (Sat Nav: PR3 1AU Map Ref: SD 504504), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk at the western edge of the Forest of Bowland offers views that reach North Wales, the Lake District, and I O M, as well as Bleasdale Moor to the east. We pass through farmland, woodland of Holme wood and ascend to Nicky Nook, with stunning views of Grizedale Reservoir and return via Grizedale valley to Scorton village and along the river back to the car park.

15/02/2017 Stroller - Lytham Hall

Snowdrop Walk with Bill
2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing

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

Meet at car park, Lytham Hall (Sat Nav: FY8 4TQ), then afterwards at the cafe in Lytham Hall.

12/02/2017 Coach Walk - Tebay via Kendal & A685

8:00 start with 17:00 return

A Walk - The 'Other Borrowdale' Horseshoe with Graham Hogg

12 miles (19.3km) with 3116ft (930m) Total Ascent

An area often glimpsed from the M6 motorway but never fully explored by the Club, we today have the chance to enjoy the delights of the "Other Borrowdale". Despite being less well known than its namesake, south of Derwent Water, this Borrowdale affords a splendid horse shoe walk, presenting a varied and different perspective on the Lakeland and Howgill Fells, with no fewer than ten separate tops on the route.

We leave the coach at Hause Bridge on the A685 and commence our climb up a short but well defined ridge, first to the summit of Grayrigg Pike (1568ft / 478m) and then to Grayrigg Common (1620ft / 494m), which will be our highest point on the walk today.

Tracking west, we make for Whinfell Beacon ( 1548ft / 472m), Castle Fell (1568ft / 478m) and Mabbin Crag (1581ft / 482m), with the Lakeland views opening up progressively. On reaching Ashstead Fell (1538ft / 469m) we descend steeply to the head of the Borrowdale valley at Huck's Bridge.

We'll aim to cross the Borrowdale Beck by the very large stepping stones before reascending the north Borrowdale ridge to Winash (1545ft / 471m). From here we head back east towards the M6 taking in Winterscleugh (1522ft / 464m), Belt Howe (1338ft / 408m) and finally Jeffrey's Mount (1240ft / 378m).

This just leaves the small matter of finding our way under the motorway, the west coast mainline railway and over the River Lune, back to J38 Tebay truck stop. 

B+ Walk - Beacon Hill with Barry Mather

10 miles (16.1km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

We leave Kendal crossing the River Kent and make the short ascent of Castle Hill to Kendal Castle. Having got nicely warmed up we descend to the river which we follow south. After passing the site of the Roman Fort we enter Scroggs Wood then on reaching Brigsteer Road we follow it for a short while before gradually ascending Scout Scar. On reaching the Trig Point we follow the ridge to the Viewpoint with views over the Lythe Valley. Then after following the Cunswick Scar ridge to the summit we descend through the golf course via Kendal Fell and back to Kendal.

B Walk - Scout Scar, Kendal with Chris Cook

9 miles (14.5km) with 1000ft (304m) Total Ascent

We leave Kendal heading for Cunswick Fell, on to Hallhead Nab and then down to Cunswick Scar and Underbarrow Road. From there it is a short walk on the road to Scout Scar. We walk the length of Scout Scar enjoying the beautiful scenery (including Morecambe Bay). A short walk on Brigsteer Road to High House Farm then passing under A591 on to Scroggs Wood to the River Kent which we follow back into Kendal. Lovely walk. HAPPY DAYS.

C Walk - Sedgwick to Kendal with Bill Manning

7 miles (11.3km) with 130ft (40m) Total Ascent

After leaving the motorway we leave the coach at the next junction of the A590 and the A591. Starting the walk from the roundabout we make our way in to the village of Sedgwick via lanes and field paths. After a short walk round the village we leave by climbing a track which was once the canal link to Lancaster to Kendal. Continuing along the track to Larkrigg Hall bridge we turn left onto the path along the River Kent, leading to Hawes Bridge. Still following the river, we reach Watercrook Farm by the Roman Fort before rejoining the disused canal path to Kendal via the Quaker Tapestry and Kendal Castle remains. Coach pickup point to be arranged on the day.

09/02/2017 Thursday Car - Martin Mere

B Walk - Martin Mere Revisited with Peter Cobb 

9 miles (14.5km) with no climbing.

Meet at Martin Mere Car Park (Sat Nav: L40 0TA), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

This is the same walk as last year, only with the addition of a short diversion to the Mere Sands Wood Visitor Centre.

Leaving the car park we make our way to Meresands Wood. From Meresands we follow field paths until we reach the Rufford branch of the Leeds Liverpool canal and walk to Burscough, stopping for lunch on the way. After lunch we continue on the canal until we reach the swing bridge at the Farmers Arms Pub. We then take the road to New Lane Junction Railway Crossing and from there follow Mars Moss Lane back to Martin Mere.

03/02/2017 Annual Club Meal

Club Meal at Ferraris, Chipping Road, Thornley, near Longridge. 

Arrive 7pm for 7.30pm. (Sat Nav: PR3 7PR)

3 course meal and coffee. Price: £17 per person, payable on the night.

Bookings to: Tony Ingham (see programme for contact details).

29/01/2017 Sunday Car - Witton Park, Blackburn / Penwortham

B Walk - Witton Park, Blackburn with Chris Cook 

8 miles (12.9km) with minimal climbing

Meet at Crematorium Entrance (Tower Road) Off A674, Witton Park (Sat Nav BB2 2TP) ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the car park we take a path through Crow Wood to climb to the highest point of the walk today, Billinge Hill. Turning West we take the Witton Weaver’s Way through fields to Hoghton Bottoms. We walk by the River Darwen via the viaduct, through woods to Feniscowles. Here we join the canal tow path for one and a half miles back to Witton Park. HAPPY DAYS!

C Walk -  Ribble Way & Guild Wheel with Bob Tognarelli 

5 miles (8km) with minimal climbing

Meet at Hurst Grange Car Park on Hill Road, Penwortham (Sat Nav: PR1 9XH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

This walk will be like visiting an old friend as I am sure most have walked the Ribble Way, Guild Wheel and nearby paths many times, but it still will be a pleasant walk of around 5 miles. There is a short easy descent from the car park down to the Ribble. Since it is January the walk will be on good paths following the south side of the Ribble, before turning onto the old tram way which will take us to the path leading to the A6. Crossing the A6 we pick up with the Guild Wheel for a short distance to connect with the Ribble Way. We follow the Ribble Way until it again connects with the Guild Wheel which we then follow back to the parks and onwards to cross back over the Ribble at the old Penwortham Bridge. Now all that remains is the short climb back to the Hill Road car park.

18/01/2017 Stroller - Meal

Meal
No Walk

No walk this month but a meal at Lakeside Coffee House, Charnock Farm, Wigan Road, Leyland (Sat Nav: PR25 5DA). 12.15pm for 12.30pm.

15/01/2017 Coach Walk - Malham

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Malham Mysteries with Dave Colbert

11 miles (18km) with 1900ft (580m) Total Ascent

Way back in the mists of time (well in 1992 anyway), the pages of ‘Footprints’ reverberated to furious academic debate regarding the disappearance from Cumbria of the Horvhet or Lakeland Pygmies, a theory first put forward by the late Professor TSK Fullalore and researched in depth by a Dr Bente Kanin-Vakmester from Tromso University. More recently, others have alleged that this disappearance was the responsibility of the ‘Ogri’, a race of carnivorous standing stones said to inhabit the area around Malham Tarn, but despite extensive investigations by Celtic stravaiger Evad Trebloc, no hard evidence has yet come to light. Maybe today some will, or maybe not, but we can certainly try on this clockwise circuit of the Tarn from Malham by way of Grizedales (553m/1,815ft), Great Close Hill (465m/1,526ft) and Watlowes Valley.

B+ Walk - Tarn Tantaliser with Merriel Nutter

9 miles (14.5km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

This walk may be 'tweaked' depending on recce and weather.

We leave the coach at Airton and follow the Pennine Way towards Kirkby Malham, at Hanlith Hall road head north easterly  through Hanlith to Windy Pike Lane and Weets Top. Down north, then north east to Smearbottoms Lane, not literally I hope!

Westerly on Hawthornes Lane to Gordale Bridge. Following a path west to the road at Malham Rakes, there may be time to have a look at Janets Foss? Continue north east over the road, past Sheriff Hill and the field system at Trougate towards Malham Tarn. If time allows continue to Lings Plantation and return on the Pennine Way for teas etc in Malham.

B Walk - Malham & See The Dales with Chris Cook

8 miles (12.9km) with 1495ft (455m) Total Ascent

We head south to the Pennine Way to Airton, Calton and onto Hanlith where we turn and head for Weets Top. Leaving Weets Top we walk ¾ of a mile on a quiet road (passing the way to Gordale Scar) and onto Janet’s Cave where The Queen of all the fairies lives. She showers underneath the water fall at 12 noon every Sunday. Let’s hope we are there at the right time! Then its back to the Pennine Way and Malham. HAPPY DAYS!

C Walk - Becks Scars & Coves with Pete Stevens

5¼miles (8.4km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent

Today's walk is quite an interesting walk. We will take in Janet's Foss famous for fairies, its waterfall which was used as the location of the fictional Molkham Falls as featured in the 2006 independent British film, WATERFALL. Filming took place there in May 2006. Gordale Scar with its two waterfalls and overhanging limestone cliffs over 100 metres high and finally Malham Cove, an ancient waterfall now dry which has left a huge curved amphitheatre shaped cliff formation of limestone rock. Scenes for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows were filmed here.

We start today's walk from the visitor centre car park where toilets are available. Following Gordale Beck we make our way to Janet's Foss following good paths. From here we continue our walk to Gordale Bridge, where a short walk on Gordale Lane leads us to a path that takes us into Gordale Scar. Retracing our steps back to Gordale Bridge, we start a gentle ascent over the next mile or so where we slowly gain height as we cross fields and follow footpaths which will bring us out at the top of Malham Cove on the limestone pavement.

From the top of the cove we descent the 420 steps (never counted them to be sure!) to the foot of the horse shoe cliff which was an impressive waterfall before the river found an easier route through the porous limestone. We are now on the homeward stretch and follow a minor road back towards the village where refreshments and the coach awaits.