09/01/2022 Coach Walk - Skipton via Gargrave

8:00 start with 16:30 return

A Walk - Noyna Hill & Pinhaw Beacon with Dave Colbert

12 miles (19km) with 1800ft (550m) Total Ascent

This is a genuine Trans-Pennine ‘watershed’ walk starting in the Ribble catchment and finishing in the Aire catchment.

Starting from Foulridge, we begin with a gradual climb to Noyna Hill before heading east to Pike Edge and the Pendle Way at Black Lane Ends. It´s then down into Lowthersdale, crossing the Lancashire – Yorkshire border on the way, passing Raygill to reach The Fold. A further climb takes us to the strangely named Cripple Hole Hill and Pinhaw Beacon, at 388m / 1,273ft the highest point hereabouts. Picking up the Pennine Way for a short distance, we then head for Skipton by way of Tow Top Moor, Ramshaw and Carleton Bridge. 

B+ Walk - Skipton Scury with Meriel Nutter

9 miles (15km) with 1000ft (305m) Total Ascent

Leave the coach at Gargrave. Follow the Penine Way, minor roads and field paths mainly in a northerly direction to Friars Head. Turn right onto a bridle way passing the Giants Graves/ Pillow mounds, then right onto a path to Howson Lapiths and a bridge over Flasby Beck. Take the Dales High Way up Flasby to Sharp Haw and down. In to Skipton.

If the weather is poor or time pressing we will use the path through the woods on the Fell side to Tarn House Farm then join the Dales High Way to Skipton.

B Walk - Scarnber Hill with Dorothy & Chris

8 miles (12.9km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

The walk today starts at Gargrave and passes through some lovely undulating countryside.

We go along Eshton Road to take a footpath through fields to Eshton and on a track that eventually reaches Friars Head. This is a Tudor Manor House and looks very imposing and grand as we approach it. Turning east we climb Scarnber Hill and then descend to the hamlet of Flasby before entering High Wood and later Crag Wood. The woods aren´t dense and have good wide paths which are undulating and gradually drop down to the Grassington Road. Crossing the road here we take a footpath which leads us to Skipton and the coach park.

C Walk - Gargrave to Skipton Canal Walk with Bob Tognarelli

5 miles (9.7km) with very little climbing.

The walk starts from the centre of Gargrave (toilets look to be available on the park). The tourist info says that “Gargrave pulls out all the stops with canal locks, cute cottages, tearooms, pubs and a church” so let´s do a little looking around before starting the walk.

From the main road we will walk along West Street to the canal. Then onto the winding Liverpool and Leeds canal towpath through pleasant countryside all the way to Skipton. Entering Skipton we will continue following the canal, before changing to the springs branch which leads to the Castle, Spring Woods and Eller beck. If time allows we can continue into the Skipton Castle Woods and maybe follow the Eller Beck, before turning back to start enjoying the refreshments on offer in Skipton.

12/12/2021 Coach Walk - Hawkshead via Ambleside

December

8:00 Start with 16:30 (4:30pm) Return

A Walk - Red Screes round with John Parkinson

9.9 miles (15.9km) with 2800ft (850m) Total Ascent (Assuming Scansdale Pass descent)

To maximise walking time during winter daylight we´ll be dropping off at Ambleside and walking through the village to climb the ridge route ascending past Flesh Crags and Snarker Moss to the top of Red Screes at 776m.

From there we´ll make the short descent to Middle Dodd along Smallthwaite Band to take in the views over Brothers water and Place Fell. We then track across to Broad Crag and take the long descent down the Scandale Pass though the valley and back to Ambleside.

As an alternative to the Scansdale Pass descent, if conditions are good and progress rapid, there will be an option to ascend Black Brow and follow the east ridge of the Fairfield horseshoe across High Pike and Low Pike before descending to Ambleside. 

B+ Walk - Ambleside to Hawkshead via Loughrigg Fell with Dave Colbert

10 miles (16km) with 2000ft (610m) Total Ascent

Due to Dave Thornton not being available, Dave Colbert has stepped in to lead this walk.

There is significant damage to woodland in the original proposed walking area caused by Storm Arwen, so a different walk will be substituted as opposed to the write up in Footprints.

B Walk - Blelham Tarn to Wray Castle with Chris Cook

8 miles (12.9km) with 1000ft (305m) Total Ascent

This is a lovely ramble from Hawkshead to Hawkshead taking in lakeland scenery.

Heading north we pass Craggwood and Hole House going left of Blelham Tarn and onto to the splendid Wray Castle. Still heading North we pass Spica Coppice heading towards the village of Outgate and onto Knipe Fold crossing fields to Skinner Lane and back to Hawkshead.

HAPPY DAYS

C Walk - Here and There around Ambleside with Bill & Bob

6 miles (9.7km) with 150ft (46m) Total Ascent

The walk starts from Waterhead, Ambleside (toilets available).

From here, we follow the roadside path to the Roman site, passing through, before we reach are that Bridge. We then take the riverside lane to Rothay park. Keeping left over the bridge, we follow the track to the A591. We turn left here and take the roadside path to enter the grounds of Rydal Hall. Reaching the hall, we will have a short stop before leaving to make our way down to the Badger Hotel.

We cross the road to pass through the wood where we turn left to head for Pelter Bridge. We now walk along the lane by the river Rothay and back to pass through the park. Here we can make our way to Hayes Garden centre before meeting the coach at Waterhead.

09/12/2021 Thursday Car - Longridge

B Walk - Longridge with Chris Cook

7½miles (12km) with 300ft (91m) Total Ascent

Meet at Longridge Civic Hall (Sat Nav: PR3 3HJ), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

A pretty steady lovely walk.

We leave the car park, to walk through the park from there to the reservoir. We then walk to the Written Stone, and from there to Knowle Green and through the wood to Buckley Hall. We then make our way to Pinfold to then cross Ribchester Rd.. Crossing fields to Lords Farm and Lower College Farm. Crossing the road again making our way back to the Civic Hall.

HAPPY DAYS.

01/12/2021 Stroller - Christmas Lunch

Farmers Arms, Whitestake.

Christmas meal at The Farmers Arms, Whitestake, (Sat Nav: PR4 4JS).

Meet 12:15pm for 12:30pm.

There is no pre ordering as we will be ordering food from the Farmers Arms standard menu. On the day everyone decides what they want to eat/drink and pay at the bar.

Please contact Bob Tognarelli for more details and to book.

28/11/2021 Sunday Car - Chipping / Edgworth

B Walk - Chipping with Stuart & Judith

6½ miles (10.5km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

Meet at Main Car Park (Sat Nav PR3 2GN), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk will start from the car park in the centre of Chipping and walk up the road past the old chair works to the duck pond. Depending on the conditions underfoot the leader will decide whether to cross the fields to Peacock hey farm or to stay on the road past Wolfen hall. Further on a decision will be made whether to go up to Saddle end farm and on to Burnslack or whether to stay on the road a little longer. At high barn we will then itake the track which leads to Lickhurst farm.

Here we will decide whether to carry on to Dinkling Green farm or whether to stick to the road. We will then start our return via the Greystoneleys, Knot barn round Knot Hill back towards Leagram Hall and down into Chipping.

C Walk - Edgworth with BobTognarelli

5¼ miles (8.4km) with 250ft (76m) Total Ascent

Meet at “The Barlow Institute Building”, Parking on public car park behind building next to the cricket ground. (Sat Nav: BL7 0AP Map ref: GR742166), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We make our way to the dam at Wayoh Reservoir and cross to the far side where we have a steady climb through woodland to reach Bartridge Barn car park. then through fields where we join the path heading towards Clough House Farm.

We are now on the Witton Weavers Way with beautiful views across the valley of Edgworth and Bradshaw Brook proceeding towards Turton Tower where we can take time to visit. We then approach edge of Jumbles Reservoir where we turn left heading for Turton Bottoms, winding through field paths back to Edgworth and welcome refreshments.

The last time we walked this route it was in August, this time it´s November so better rap up well.

14/11/2021 Coach Walk - Kirkby Lonsdale

November

8:00 Start with 16:30 (4:30pm) Return

A Walk - Farleton Fell & Hutton Roof with Graham Hogg

12½ miles (20km) with 1650ft (500m) Total Ascent

Today´s A walk presents an opportunity for an early start and a linear walk to Kirby Lonsdale. We will leave the coach on the A65 at Lupton, opposite the Plough Inn & Restaurant.

Heading for Aikbank and then Puddlemire Lane, we commence our ascent of Farleton Fell to reach the summit at 265m/870ft. Hopefully, weather permitting, we will be afforded some fine views across to Arnside and the South Lakes.

It´s off to Hutton Roof next, across the Uberash Plain and some intricate weaving around and in between heavily vegetated limestone outcrops and pavements, to reach the trig. point at 274m/900ft. Farleton Fell and Hutton Roof are part of the Morecambe Bay Pavements Special Area of Conservation, and the combined area of limestone pavement on the two fells represent a significant proportion of the United Kingdom´s overall total.

From the summit of Hutton Roof, we descend in a south westerly direction, over Dalton Crags, making for Henridding, Keer Holme and then Docker. From Docker, footpaths and tracks lead us to Whittington where we head towards the River Lune and follow this north until we arrive at Devil´s Bridge and Kirkby Lonsdale in time for some refreshments. 

B+ Walk - Barbon Low Fell with Sue Banister

9 miles (14.5km) with 1345ft (410m) Total Ascent

We leave the coach a few miles north of Kirby Lonsdale on the A683 at Hodge Bridge then walk through Barbon village and into Barbondale.

After crossing Barbon Beck at Blindbeck Bridge we join a bridleway south to Bullpot Farm. This is the home of the Red Rose Caving and Pot Holing Club. Here you are standing over the longest caving system in Britain known as the Three Counties system. You can go underground in Yorkshire, pass under Lancashire and emerge in Cumbria!

From Bullpot, a short stretch of lane leads us to a path which takes us up to the trig point and highest point of Barbon Low Fell at 1437ft (438m). The views up here are spectacular if we get a decent day.

We then cross to the cairn on Brownthwaite Pike after which it is downhill back to Kirby Lonsdale by fields and lanes via Blindloss Farm, Cragg House Farm, and Laitha Lane.

B Walk - The Giant´s Boulders with Stuart & Judith

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

We will start from the car park close to Devil's bridge.

Walking up through the caravan site we will pass through Cragg House Farm, Blindloss Farm and onto the remains of Fell Foot road. It is up here that we will see some of the giant's Boulders as we progress to Tuplot wood.

From here we walk to Hole House and Langthwaite on our way into Casterton. Down by the river we will pass Casterton Hall and Marigold Well on our way back. 

C Walk - The long way round to Ruskin´s View with Bob and Margaret

6 miles (9.7km) with 215ft (65m) Total Ascent

After thinking about it, I have decided to repeat Bill Manning´s walk of 2014, going through fields with some easy climbing, as it suits a November day.

The walk starts from Devil´s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale (toilets cost 40p and you pay by contactless card, no cash accepted). Then it is an easy climb to Laitha Lane track passing the caravan park and golf club on the way to the A683. Turning left here we have a short walk on the A683 to reach the field paths to Casterton Hall and Marigold Well.

We continue through woodland before either climbing up or passing by Gildard Hill and then on through further woodland and fields to reach Lowfields Lane. Turning left we can either go under the old tramway bridge and take the broad track down to the River Lune. Or go across the fields alongside the river. Both routes end up at the castellated bridge over the Lune, and weather obliging a pleasant stop for lunch.

After crossing over the bridge and out of the woods it´s a right turn and then left to walk down the narrow lane to Kearstwick and go left on to the B6254, where a short walk brings us to another left turn to go along the track leading to Ruskin´s View, St Mary´s Church and the Hot Spots of Kirkby Lonsdale for refreshments. After refreshments it´s a 10 to 20 minute walk depending on the route taken to get back to the coach.

11/11/2021 Thursday Car - Hoghton

B Walk - Hoghton Bottoms / Billinge Hill with Dorothy Dobson

7½ miles (12km) with 6000ft (183m) Total Ascent

Meet at Witton Park main entrance - Car Park charge £1.80 (Sat Nav: BB2 2TP), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE

From the car park we make our way across the park, past the lily pond to the foot of Billinge Hill. We follow a winding path up through the woods to the top, before emerging into a field to pass Wainwright Memorial Stone.

Here we have wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. We then descend via The Witton Weavers Way to Hoghton Bottoms to walk on the flat for a while before gradually climbing Throstle Nest Brow to Pleasington. We skirt round the cemetery to cross Witton Park and back to the car park.

31/10/2021 Sunday Car - Lytham

B Walk - Lytham with The Three Amigos

Meet at the Windmill, Lytham Green, Lytham (Sat Nav FY8 1SJ Grid Ref: 366269), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk takes you along the Promenade then after a little road walking out along the embankments then along Lodge Lane until you come to the Bridlepath which takes you to a railway crossing then passing Easthams Caravan site follow the track which leads to Saltcoats Road carry on along this road passing the Catholic Church, at the junction turn right into Ballam Road and carry on back into Lytham passing shops and cafes.

20/10/2021 Stroller - Astley Park, Chorley

Astley Park, Chorley with Roy Smith

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.

For details contact Roy.

17/10/2021 Coach Walk - Glenridding via Kirkstone Pass

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Raise & Helvellyn with Dave Colbert

10 miles (16km) with 3350ft (1020m) Total Ascent

Helvellyn is the third highest mountain in England, one of only four that reach ‘Munro’ height. It is best climbed from the east by one of the twin arêtes that enclose the glacial corrie holding Red Tarn, so today our ascent route, weather permitting will be via Striding Edge, followed by a traverse of the range as far as Raise before descending from Sticks Pass to the Greenside Road.

We start from the car park in Glenridding and head up Little Cove to Birkhouse Moor and the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall, basically a gate. The traverse of Striding Edge is very exposed and includes a down climb of some 15 metres at its far end before the final steep climb to Helvellyn´s summit plateau. It´s then along the broad ridge from Lower Man northwards over White Side and Raise to the Sticks Pass, from where we descend alongside Sticks Gill to the Greenside mines and Glenridding.

If weather conditions are poor, we will follow an alternative route from Patterdale via Grisedale, Grisedale Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike, descending from White Side to the Greenside mines. This is slightly longer and involves an additional 90m / 300ft of climbing. 

B+ Walk - The Knot & Angle Tarn with Val Walmsley

9 miles (15km) with 2000ft (610m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Horseman Bridge East to Hartsop & path via Hayeswater Gill to ascend The Knott.

Path north west passing below Rest Dodd to Angle Tarn & Pikes. Follow route to Boredale Hause then back to Glenridding via Side Farm, Patterdale & Grisedale Bridge.

B Walk - Boredale Hause and Sandwick with Stuart & Judith

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

The walk will start when the coach drops us off in Patterdale.

We leave Patterdale along the lane to Rooking and start our climb of Boredale Hause. We make for Boredale Head where we start on our rocky descent into the valley to reach a tarmac road.We follow this for about 2 miles before coming to Beckside. A left turn along an undulating path brings us to the shores of Ullswater. We continue the walk to silver bay where we take the lower path, when we will shortly reach Side Farm. Leaving the farm we walk on until we reach the main road which leads us into Glenridding for the coach.

Hopefully we will have time for a drink in the rather nice Inn on the Lake where they have a walkers bar.

C Walk - Brothers Water to Glenridding with Bill Manning

5 miles (8km) with 200ft (61m) Total Ascent

Starting from Sykes farm camp site, we take the farm track down to Hartsop Hall where we bear right to reach the shoreline path of Brothers Water before joining the A592. From here we head for Hart-sop village.

Retracing our steps, we turn right down the lane to Calf Close. Here, we start our climb to Dubhow and Crookabeck and on to Side Farm, where we can stop for refreshments. Leaving here, we meet the A592 taking us to Glenridding for the coaches and cafes.

Come and join me for an extra walk to Lanty's tarn if you wish.