13/04/2023 Thursday Car - Ribchester

B Walk - A walk through history around Dinckley with Dorothy Dobson

 7½miles (12km) with little climbing.

Meet: From A59 crossroads (traffic lights) turn left towards Ribchester on B6245, the Car park (no post code) is on the left almost at bottom of hill, ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

During this walk we pass three beautiful Elizabethan Manor Houses.

We head up the road to go in fields to Bolton Hall then to Park Gate to reach A59. After 100 yards we turn north west through fields to Dinckley Grange. Here we do a stint of road walking down country lanes to reach Aspinalls, where we head north to take a path towards Dinckley Hall. We reach a wooded path by the River Ribble and continue along it for about a mile all the way to Salesbury Hall. From here it is once more road walking to Ribchester Bridge and pass the last Manor House, New Hall, before reaching the car park.

02/04/2023 Coach Walk - Keswick via Thirlmere

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Springtime Scramble with John Parkinson

11.9 miles (19.2km) with 2857ft (871m) Total Ascent

We start the walk on the A591 at The Kings Head at Thirlspot leaving behind the Thirlmere reservoir which helps slakes Mancunian thirst via 83 miles of engineering wonder.

An early scramble over Brown Crag will warm us up as we head for the summit of Whiteside. Turning north along the Helvellyn ridge we ascend Raise before descending down to Sticks Pass and a trio of Dodds. These undulating hills, formed of volcanic rock 450 million years ago, we tick off in turn - first Styborrow Dodd, next out to Watson´s Dodd, then the final ascent to Great Dodd. From there we descend across Matterdale Common, briefly joining the Old Coach Road before heading north again to finish at Scales where we await the coach from Keswick.

B+ Walk - Stile End summit 447m (1467ft) via Braithwaite village with Stan Park

11 miles (17.7km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

At the summit of Stile End, you are rewarded with stunning 360 degree views of the north-western Lakes. The ascent starts from the lovely village of Braithwaite, a steady climb but fairly steep in parts. The path to Braithwaite, via Portinscale, is a pleasant trail through countryside.

B Walk - High Rigg & the Stone Circle with Stuart Arnold

 8 miles (12.9km) with 1250ft (381m) Total Ascent

We will start the walk at Legbuthwaite on the A591.

We start climbing immediately to Wren Cragg and on to Yew Cragg. From here it is a fairly comfortable undulating path to High Rigg. We then take a nice grassy path down to the Youth Centre at St John´s in the Vale.

We will then visit the Stone Circle before making our way back to Keswick for a well earned beer or cup of tea.

C Walk - Keswick and Castlerigg Stone Circle with Barbara Gilbert & Jan Atkins

5-6 miles (8-9.7km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent

The walk starts in Keswick where we cross over the river Greta via a bridge between Upper and Lower Fitz Park and then along part of the railway path and leaving it to continue upwards towards Castlerigg Stone Circle where there are 360 degrees views. Along a track crossing A591 to enter fields before entering woods where there are views of Walla Cragg and Derwent water.

We may add a small addition to the walk time allowing which I think we will have and then returning to Keswick for a much needed cuppa.

19/03/2023 Sunday Car - Longridge

B Walk - Quarries, Railways and Reservoirs with Tony Ingham

6 miles (9.6km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

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

The walk passes five of the seven reservoirs in Longridge and the Tootle Heights and Lords Quarries. It also follows part of the quarry railways and the Longridge - Preston line.

Leaving the Civic Hall we make our way to Lords Quarry through Willows Park and along the railway embankment. Next we take in Lords Lane, Chipping Road, Croft Farm, Halfpenny Lane and Green Nook Lane before crossing the track bed of the Longridge-Preston Line to reach Mardale Playing Fields. From there we proceed to Daniels Farm, Preston Road and Pinfold Lane to reach Alston 3 Reservoir (disused, now a nature reserve with viewing areas) before walking between Alston 1 and Alston 2 Reservoirs.

We then pass Higher College Farm to get to Spade Mill 1 and Spade Mill 2 Reservoirs and climb up alongside them to Tootle Heights Quarry. We then drop down to the tunnel under Higher Road which gave rail access to the quarry. From there it is back through Willows Park to the Civic Hall.

15/03/2023 Stroller - Ashton Park

Ashton Park with Bob Tognarelli

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 car park on Pedders Lane (Signed posted), Ashton-on-Ribble (Sat Nav: PR2 1HL), then afterwards at the Ribble Pilot on the docks (Sat Nav: PR2 2YN).

We will walk around the Hall then keeping to the middle of the park, head towards Larches Wood. Now we walk the streets to get to the green fields over looking Riversway. A quick tour around the fields then we retrace our steps back to Ashton Park and the cars. Then it´s on to the Ribble Pilot and lunch.

Some parts of the walk are expected to be muddy, since it March, so good footwear is advised.

09/03/2023 Thursday Car - Goosnargh and Barton

B Walk - Goosnargh and Barton with Tony Ingham

7 miles (11.27km) with very little climbing.

Meet at the Village Hall (parking and toilets), Church Lane, Goosnargh. (Sat Nav: PR3 2BH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the village hall we make our way west along Goosnargh Lane which leads to a bridleway going north to Goosnargh Lodge. We continue north on public footpaths to Park Head then it is south west on a track to Barton Old Hall Farm and onwards south on a bridleway to Barton House. Here we rejoin Goosnargh Lane and head back east partly through fields and partly on the Lane itself to the village hall.

05/03/2023 Coach Walk - Castleton via Peak Forest

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Win Hill and Mam Tor via Ringing Rodger with Dave Colbert

 12½miles (20km) with 2,850ft (870m) Total Ascent

Recent investigations by Professor Bewaldeth from the University of Snittlegarth have cast doubt on the established view that there is a firm topographical explanation behind the name of the rock formation known as ‘Ringing Roger’. Professor Bewaldeth asks us to consider just who was Roger, why did he need ringing and by whom? He has concluded that Roger may actually be an extra-terrestrial long since lost on the wild and lonely moors of Kinder Scout, but you may decide differently if you come on this hike.

We start from the village of Hope with a direct assault on Win Hill (463m) via Twitchill Farm, continuing north-westwards along Hope Bank to Hope Cross, from where we climb across Crookstone Moor and onto the southern escarpment of Kinder to the Druid´s Stone and Ringing Roger (perhaps Roger was a druid?). A steepish descent via The Nab will take us down to Edale and across to Harden Clough for our third major climb to Mam Tor (517m). It´s then down to Castleton via Hollins Cross and Hollowford Road, and hopefully time to debate the truth about Ringing Roger! 

B+ Walk - The Great Ridge with Sue Banister

10 miles (16km) with 1400ft (425m) Total Ascent

We head north from Castleton on Hollowford Road then east past Losehill Hall to Spring House Farm. The climb then begins to the summit of Lose Hill (1561ft / 476m) and a walk along the tops past Hollins Cross and on to the summit of Mam Tor (1696ft / 517m) which is our highest point today.

We drop down and head south to Windy Knoll, past Oxlow House and Conies Dale to arrive at Conies Farm. A beautiful woodland track takes us up along Oxlow Rake and north to join the Limestone Way through Cave Dale back to Castleton (parts of Cavedale are a bit tricky underfoot).

B Walk - Castleton & Mam Tor with Chris Cook

7½ miles (12km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

We leave Castleton past Cave Dale and onto to Limestone Way passing the disused mines and Rowter Farm. We cross the road to Windy Knoll and on to Mam Tor. From there we carry on to Hollins Cross ( on a well paved path ). From there to Lose Hill ( time permitting ). If we don´t have time to get to Lose Hill the distance will be 6 miles.

HAPPY DAYS.

C Walk - Hope for the best! with Dorothy Dobson

6¼ miles (10km) with 450ft (137m) Total Ascent

Todays walk is in the shape of a figure eight.

Starting from the visitor centre (toilets), we follow the main street to eventually turn east, past an old mill to the river - Peakshole Water. We walk by the river for half a mile then we go over a railway crossing to reach Pirdale Road and Hope village. From here we begin climbing towards Losehill and at this point should have excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Passing along paths we pass by Losehill Hall, where the remains of a Medieval hospital have recently been excavated. We now head back to Castleton to cross the town to take a footpath to Goosehill Road and climb gradually towards Speedwell Tavern. From here we head north to Dunscar Farm and walk along a path flanked by walls, to follow a rough track to reach Castleton.

19/02/2023 Sunday Car - Brinscall

B Walk - Brinscall with Chris Cook

7 miles (11km) with ?ft (?m) Total Ascent

Meet at Brinscall Baths, Chorley (Sat Nav:PR6 8QU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We set off from Brinscall Baths, along the Goit to head west, over the disused railway to Brinscall Hall, then onto a lake before taking the road to Longwood Mill and onto Heapey. Still on the road we take a style to cross two fields to join the disused railway line for ¾ of a mile to T junction. Going straight ahead for 100yds we turn left to go past the reservoirs before reaching White Coppice. After passing the cricket ground rejoin the Goit and back to Brinscall.

HAPPY DAYS.

15/02/2023 Stroller - Lytham Hall

Snowdrop Walk with Trudy Kirkham

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.

Note change of meal venue

Meet at Lytham Hall, Ballam Road, Lytham (Sat Nav: FY8 4JX), then afterwards at The Blossoms, 1-3 Woodlands Road, Ansdell, FY8 4EP.

09/02/2023 Thursday Car - Chipping

B Walk - Chipping with Chris Cook

7 miles (11km) with ?ft (?m) Total Ascent

Meet at Chipping car park (Sat Nav: PR3 2QH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From Chipping car park head down Green Lane to pass Dairy Barn Farm then head for Townley Moss Wood. From there onto Knott Barn and Lickers Farm, continuing on to Leagram Hall then back to Chipping car park ( It's a lovely part of the country ).

HAPPY DAYS.

05/02/2023 Coach Walk - Hawkshead

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Loughrigg Fell and Hodge Close with Graham Hogg

11 miles (17.5 km) with 2300ft (700m) Total Ascent

From Ambleside Rugby Club (A5075) we cross the River Rothay and head on a quiet lane to Brow Head Farm before making towards the summit of Loughrigg Fell 1099ft (335m).

From the summit we´ll descend steeply to Loughrigg Tarn and then head on back roads to Skelwith Bridge to pick up the Cumbria Way footpath, following this until reaching Stang End.

Heading south towards Hodge Close there is a little known but interesting diversion that we can take into Parrock Quarry. Taking a careful line of descent down to the quarry floor we are suddenly confronted by two huge openings in the quarry face ahead of us. These lead through into the neighbouring Hodge Close quarry and present us with the opportunity to explore the industrial archaeology and the grandeur of Hodge Close from a different perspective than usual.

We retrace our steps through and out of Parrock quarry and head east over High Oxen Fell to the A593. From here we head to Tarn Hows and then quiet lanes to Hawkshead and the coach.

B+ Walk - Hodge Close & High Arnside with Val Walmsley

10 miles (16km) with 900ft (274m) Total Ascent

From Skelwith Bridge we take the Cumbria Way west to High Park, Stang End and then turn south to Hodge Close Quarry which now has flooded workings with a depth 300feet, so no diving please. We now turn East to High Arnside for views of the nearby fells before returning to the Cumbria Way to resume our walk to Tarn Hows circuit, we then head south east to Knipe Fold to follow paths to Hawkshead Hill, Keen Ground and Walker Ground on our way back into Hawkshead.

B Walk - Far Sawrey via the Heald with Stuart Arnold

9 miles (15km) with 1,150ft (351m) Total Ascent

From Hawkshead we cross fields to Loanthwaite Lane and on to climb Latterbarrow with fine views of the area. We then head easterly towards Belle Grange but turn southerly before the descent to go over the Heald to Far Sawrey. From here we take the path passed Moss Eccles Tarn and Wise Een Tarn and on to Guide Post 10 before making our way back to Hawkshead via Colthouse.

If conditions are bad an alternative walk will have to be implemented.

C Walk - Tarn Hows with Judith Kirby

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

This is a circular valley walk through woods and open countryside with some stunning views of the central fells with the added attraction of the beautiful area around Tarn Hows.