20/06/2018 Stroller - Ainsdale/Birkdale

Walk with Geoffrey and Roy
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 the Fisherman´s Rest pub, 2 Weld Road, Birkdale, Southport. (Sat Nav: PR8 2AZ), then afterwards at the pub (Fisherman´s Rest).

Directions :- Turn left at the roundabout that is 1 mile further on from the pier, along the coast road. The pub is on the right just over the brow of the hill. 

17/06/2018 Sunday Car - Downham / Scorton

B Walk - Downham with Dorothy Dobson 

7½ miles (12km) undulating walk.

Meet car park at the bottom of the hill (Sat Nav: BB7 4BS), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Today we walk through four lovely villages in the Ribble Valley.

Starting at Downham we head uphill to the church and Assheton Arms before taking a path leading to pastureland. At this point we have a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. We eventually walk across more fields, cross the A59 and follow a tree lined path which passes the remains of Sawley Abbey as we descend into Sawley itself. Crossing the River Ribble, we follow a road for a while before taking a track to Hill House Barn, on our way to Grindleton. We cross the river again and climb a steep slope as we approach Chatburn. We then go along more leafy paths, cross the A59 again to climb a steep limestone escarpment before reaching Downham.

A delightful walk !!

C Walk - Circling Nicky Nook with Bob Tognarelli 

5½ miles (8.8km) with 300ft (91m) Total Ascent

Meet at the picnic area north of Scorton, near Cleveleys Bridge (Sat Nav: PR3 1BU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Leaving the picnic area we return to the lane and turn left to go over the M6 and then left at the T junction taking the road to Clifton Farm. From here we across fields (could be muddy) in the direction of Harrison Fell, to get to Skye´s Farm. We then turn right to follow the narrow road to the rough track leading to Holme Wood. Here we join the Grize Dale trail to Higher Lane. Then cross fields to Tithe Barn Lane, going through Ghyll Woods to Snowhill Lane and the descent into Scorton.

There is the opportunity for refreshment, before we leave Scorton and take the Wyre trail back to the car park.

14/06/2018 Thursday Car - Arnside

B Walk - Arnside with Allan Benson 

8½ miles (13.6km) with 600ft (183m) Total Ascent

Meet on promenade - Free Parking (Sat Nav: LA5 0BY), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We start our walk today, from the promenade and make our way to the summit of Arnside Knott 516ft (159m). From the summit we make our way to Silverdale via Arnside Tower, and Eaves Wood Nature Reserve.

From Silverdale we make our way back to Arnside via Far Arnside and Arnside Park, and the spectacular coastal path.

03/06/2018 Coach Walk - Llanberis via pass of Llanberis

8:00 start with 18:00 return

A Walk - Y Lliwedd & Yr Wyddfa with Graham Hogg

10½ miles (17km) with 3608ft (1100m) Total Ascent

Today´s A walk route offers a hugely enjoyable ascent of Y Lliwedd (easy grade 1 scrambling) and then onto Wales´ highest mountain – Yr Wddfa (aka Snowdon).

Y Lliwedd is one of Wales´ iconic rock faces and although largely ignored by the climbing fraternity today, it was the birthplace of British rock climbing. The noted British climber George Mallory undertook many of his early climbs here and it was also the site of considerable training activity for the 1953 British Everest Expedition.

Avoiding the V Diff and VS climbs today, our route begins at the Pen-y-Pass car park and follows the Miners Track southwards past Llyn Teyrn to the causeway that crosses Llyn Llydaw. Here we deviate southwards from the Miners Track crossing a metal footbridge and gently begin to ascend the eastern slopes of Y Lliwedd.

The East Ridge gradually becomes steeper and rockier, eventually turning the path into a grade 1 scramble. The route closely follows the crest of the ridge to Y Lliwedd´s east peak (893m) before traversing to the west peak (898m) and then descending some 160m into Bwlch Ciliau where the Watkin Path joins from Cwm Llan.

From Bwlch y Saethau the route zig zags up to the summit of Yr Wddfa (1085m) via its south face. The summit is sure to be busy and not a place for quiet contemplation.

Our descent route will avoid the busy path beside the railway and strike off west down the Snowdon Rangers Path until reaching Bwlch Cwm Brwynog. From here we have a 170m ascent to the summit of Moel Cynghorion (674m) offering great views back onto the vast cliffs of Clogwyn Coch.

We´ll descend to Bwlch Maesgwm then head north through Maesgwm and out to Llanberis.

B+ Walk - Snowdon via the Pyg Track with Kevin Poole

8½ miles (13.7km) with 2350ft (716m) Total Ascent.

This is one of the few times that a mountain over 3000ft can be climbed within the B+ guide lines. The reason for this is that we start the walk from the top of the Llanberis Pass (coach drop off point), at 1210ft / 369m. The first part of the walk is spent climbing to the summit of Snowdon, which is steady rather than steep, the second part descending back to Llanberis.

After a toilet stop at the coach drop off point we start our ascent to the summit following the Pyg Track over the ridge and into the Snowdon Horseshoe just before the ridge develops into the awesome Crib Goch. Snowdon and Crib-y-ddysgl now come into view along with a number of small lakes used by miners in the past. The track continues up the left hand side, zigzagging until we reach a large marker stone at Bwlch Glas (Green Pass) where we meet the Llanberis track and the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The summit station is about 15 minutes walk up from here and the actual summit marker (trig point), 3560ft / 1085m, a short distance further up to the left. The views on a clear day are truly paneramic, with Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cumbria visible. We descend on the opposite side of Snowdon via the Llanberis track (good going), virtually following the railway all the way down to Llanberis.

B Walk - Dinorwig and Clwt-y-bont with Stuart Arnold

8½ miles (13.6km) with 1200ft (366m) Total Ascent

Our walk will start at the Nant Peris car park from where we will make our long ascent to the disused slate quarries above lake Peris. From the road the start looks unappetising but is on a very substantial road full of very interesting features with piles of slate to the right and the left. For the next mile and a half we make our way through the quarries these are absolutely spectacular with cliffs of slate rising above you. We can look down on the Dinorwic hydro power station for which this area is well known. The water from the top reservoir flows through the power station at high demand times and during the evening and low demand times the power is used to pump the water back up to the top reservoir. Upon our exit from the quarries we are afforded superb views of the lakes of Peris and Padarn and of Llanberis.

Moving on, we then walk up the road to the edge of Dinorwig and then drop down to a smaller quarry at Fferam Fachwen and then back up to the road. After a short distance on the road we drop down further via a tricky path eroded by a stream to the small hamlet of Clwt-y-bont. We turn out of the village to follow the tracks down to the village of Brynrefail where outside the post office there is a superb display of tubs with spring flowers. We then cross the river Afon Rhythallt to the opposite shore of the lake Padarn. We pick up the disused railway line on which there is a superb cast iron bridge, reminding us of Iron Bridge. It is an ideal photo opportunity. We follow the lake through Padarn country park back to Llanberis where we will hopefully have time for a beer or a cup of tea before catching the bus back home.

This is a superb walk for those not wanting the busy slog up Snowden.

C Walk - Lake Padarn with Peter Stevens

6 miles (9.7km) with 525ft (160m) Total Ascent

Our walk today is a complete circumnavigation of Llyn (lake) Padarn and starts in Llanberis. There is some climbing in the first half but flat for the second half with good paths throughout.

The walk starts at the Lake side Railway Station to follow a pathway up to a viewpoint just below the Quarry Hospital Visitor Centre. From this point we can see the ruins of the thirteenth century Dolbadarn Castle and on a clear day, the summit of Snowdon. Climbing some steps we find ourselves in the grounds of the old Quarry Hospital used for the quarry employees.

As we leave the Hospital grounds, we pass the old mortuary and enter a wooded path which climbs steadily for a while before descending to an old bridge which crosses the river Fachwen (pronounced Vackwen in Welsh). Crossing the bridge we leave the country park boundary following a track which leads us to the west end of the lake at Pen-y-Llyn.

Crossing the old road bridge at the end of the lake, we follow the road round for a short while until we find a hole in the wall which leads us down onto the old Llanberis to Caernarfon railway line. This line now takes us back into Llanberis and the awaiting coach.

20/05/2018 Sunday Car - Claughton on Brock

B Walk - Claughton on Brock with Stuart Arnold 

7 miles (11km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent

Meet at St Mary's catholic primary school in Smithy lane Claughton on Brock (Sat Nav PR3 0PN), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We will set off and walk through to Clarkson's farm then up the hill and across the fields to High House farm, Foggs farm, Butt Hill farm, Huds Brook farm and on towards High Moor farm were will will walk down the Delph road and eventually into the valley of the river Brock at the bottom of Snape rake lane.We will then follow the river all the way back to Walmsley bridge. We will then leave the river and via the fields we will come back to Smithy lane and our starting point.

16/05/2018 Stroller - Garstang

Walk with Bill and Marie
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 the main car park by the river (PR3 1FU), then afterwards at ?

10/05/2018 Thursday Car - Hornby

B Walk - Hornby with Tony Ingham 

9½ miles (15.3km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

This walk has been moved from 8th March due to adverse weather conditions.

Meet at the car park next to River Wenning (Sat Nav: LA2 8JR. Map Ref: GR 585683), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The first 2 miles of the walk are flat as we follow the banks of the Rivers Wenning and Lune. The next section includes a climb up Windy Bank on the way to Tatham. From there it is mostly field paths to the village of Wray. The last 1.5 miles takes us from Wray back to Hornby. In the right weather this should be a lovely walk, but it is bound to be muddy in the many fields if there has been a lot of rain. If there has I have a cunning plan B!

06/05/2018 Coach Walk - Glenridding via Dockray

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Helvellyn & The Dodds with Colin Manning

11 miles (17.7km) with 3500ft (1067m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Dockray we head up the road towards High Row and on to a cycle track to Groovebeck Fold. From here we head up over Matterdale Common all the way up to Great Dodd. Our high level walk takes us over Watson Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd and Raise, before reaching our ultimate goal of Helvellyn.

Our planned decent is via the rocky ridge of Swirrel Edge and over the distinct peak of Catstye Cam before following the traditional valley path alongside Birkhoise Moor all the way back in to Glenridding. If the weather is bad we can descend a safer way, via Red Screes, avoiding Swirrel Edge.

B+ Walk - Grisedale Pilgrimage with Kevin Poole

8 miles (12.9km) with 2500ft (762m) Total Ascent

Today´s walk starts in Patterdale. After passing waterfall wood we climb up to the ridge consisting of Black Crag, Birks, The Cape and St Sunday Crag. Weather permitting great views will reward your exertion.

We then descend to the mystical Griesdale Tarn. After soaking in the atmosphere we walk down the valley, until paths take us to Glenridding and the coaches.

Any regular B+ walker should be fit enough to enjoy this route.

B Walk - Great Mell Fell & Aira Force with Tony Ingham

9 miles (14.5km) with 650ft (198m) Total Ascent

We leave the coach on the Dockray Road and walk along a disused (honest!) army firing range to the foot of Great Mell Fell. When I reccied the walk I climbed it, but, as it would add a very steep and boggy 700 ft climb to the total, I have decided that you might enjoy it more if we walk round the undulating base of the Fell, on the southern flank, to Brownrigg Farm. From there we will head south west to Matterdale End. It is then south east to Ulcat Row where we turn to go south to Aira Force. From there we take a newly formed path, part of the circuit round Ullswater, and this leads south west and south for 3 miles to Glenridding and the coach.

C Walk - Dockray via Aira Force to Glenridding with Bill & Bob

5 miles (8km) with 150ft (45m) Total Ascent

Starting from Dockray we take the track to our left along this splendid Valley, passing the farm and barn we turn right. After passing through the gate, at this point the track becomes rough and undulated continuing we pass along side of High Force, shortly we fork right at a junction leading to 76 steps down to Aira Force.

After lunch we climb out from here before crossing over the beck to follow the track to the information centre and cafe by the A592. Turning right we walk along the Ullswater Way to Glenridding, a few climbs along the route. Extra walk when reaching Glenridding after refreshments.

25/04/2018 - A Grand Night Out

A Grand Night Out with Pete & Steve

Slide Show, Raffle & Hotpot Supper.

Tickets £6 which includes a Hotpot Supper, Apple Pie & Cream.

There will be a slide show of photographs taken by club walkers from the previous year and a Raffle.

Drinks including tea, coffee and alcohol can be purchased on the night.

Tickets available from Committee Members, or email secretary@pdwc.org for details of how to buy tickets (Vegetarian option available if notified when buying ticket).

Venue: The Longton VM Sports & Social Club, School Lane, Longton, Preston PR4 5ZA

22/04/2018 Sunday Car - Abbeystead / The Crook O Lune

B Walk - Abbeystead - The Twin Rivers with Margaret & Bob 

6 miles (9.7km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

Meet at Stoops Bridge, Abbeystead. (Sat Nav: LA2 9BH Map Ref: GR563543), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From Stoops Bridge we turn right passing Abbeystead House following The Wyre Way making our way towards Top of Emmetts and on to the hamlet of Tarnbrook. Passing through we continue along towards Gilberton Farm where we climb up to the highest part of the walk at the edge of the moor. We then make our way to Tower Lodge and the Trough of Bowland Road to Marshaw Wyre. Continuing on road and field paths we approach Hore Wood. Eventually passing the front of Abbeystead House built in 1886 leading back to stoops bridge.

C Walk - The Crook O Lune with Roy Smith 

Meet at the Crook of Lune main car park (Sat Nav LA2 9HY), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the main car park we make our way along the disused railway line, in the direction of Halton. Along this stretch we will pass a number of interesting features, including the disused railway station of Halton. Just past the station we cross the river via a narrow road bridge and enter the village of Halton. Following the northerly bank of the River Lune we pass the recently constructed hydro-electricity station, before heading uphill to Low Road! From Low Road we make our way along field paths and woodland tracks, until we come to the footbridge across the River Lune. We cross the bridge and continue through fields, and along farm tracks until we meet the Lune Valley Ramble footpath. We now follow the path back to the main car park.