12/04/2024 A Grand Night Out

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

Madness and mayhem as Peter Stevens and Stephen Watson host yet another Grand Night Out. The evening kicks off with a slide show of photographs taken by club walkers from the previous year followed by a fun quiz and raffle.

Hotpot supper and a choice of deserts included with a vegetarian option at the time of ordering tickets. Tea, coffee and alcohol can be purchased on the night.

Tickets are £10 and are available from committee members on the outings or by contacting the secretary via email (see contact tab for address).

11/04/2024 Thursday Car - Scorton

Meet at The Barn car park, Scorton (Sat Nav: PR3 1AU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Round about Nicky Nook with Barbara & Alan Gilbert
6 miles / 9.7km with ft / m Total Ascent

This is an easy - moderate walk mainly on quiet lanes but with some climbing involved.

20/03/2024 Stroller - Astley Park, Chorley

Meet at the car park off Hallgate (Sat Nav: PR7 1XA), then afterwards at the Astley Village Inn public house (Sat Nav: PR7 1XA).

Astley Park with Jan & Barbara
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.

Astley Park refreshments will be held across the car park (from where the Stroll will start and finish) at the Astley Village Inn public house.

17/03/2024 Coach Walk - Coniston via Ambleside

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Wetherlam to The Old Man with Dave Colbert

8.5 miles / 14km with 3,450ft / 1,050m Total Ascent

The Coniston Fells form a distinct and separate group, being almost entirely severed from adjacent ranges by the Duddon and Brathay valleys, with the Wrynose Pass providing the only link with other fells. These fells are characteristically Lakeland with lofty ridges, steep and craggy declivities, waterfalls and tarns.

We start from Shepherd´s Bridge in Yewdale, following the minor road northwards to the parking area at Tilberthwaite before climbing through Tilberthwaite Gill to emerge at Dry Cove Bottom, which can typically be very wet! If conditions are fair, our route to Wetherlam (763m/2,502ft) will be by the little known Steel Edge, a steep but easy scramble onto the Lad Stones ridge, or alternatively, we will continue to Birk Fell Hause and up Wetherlam Edge. We then head down to Swirl Hause and up Prison Band to Swirl How (802m/2,633ft, although some now think it might be higher than the Old Man), continuing along the ridge to Brim Fell and the Old Man, at 803m/2,635ft the highest point in real Lancashire. It´s then steeply down to Low Water, from where we head to Coniston via Crowberry Haws and Miners Bridge.

Note that in the event of bad weather (heavy rain / strong winds etc) or if the fells are in full winter condition requiring ice axe and crampons, we will do a linear hike from Skelwith Bridge to Coniston taking in Black Fell, Tarn Hows and Holme Fell. 

B+ Walk - Cumbria Way & Tarn Hows with Val Walmsley

9.5 miles / 15.3km with 1,200ft / 366m Ascent.

Starting from Skelwith Bridge follow Cumbria Way through Elterwater to Quarry Hotel & take left to travel south west to Little Langdale. East to Stang End & South to Hodge Close from where path via Oxen Fell rejoins Cumbria Way.

Follow Cumbria Way via Tarn How´s passing Tom Heights, Tarn Hows Wood, Low Yewdale & High Guards wood into Coniston at Sheperds Brodge.

Happy Days.

B Walk - Walma Scar with Stuart Arnold

8 miles / 12.9km with 1,150ft / 350m Total Ascent

From the car park we make a slow leisurely ascent up Church Beck towards Crowberry Haws. We will take our time as this is most of the climbing and we have plenty of time to take in all the magnificent views.

We then take the path between Stubthwaite Crag and the Bell to Walna Scar road. We follow the track westward to a lovely bridge across torver beck which we follow downstream passing some very impressive disused quarries down to Crook.

After crossing the A593 we walk towards Brackenbarrow Farm and then through Torver Common Wood to Hoathwaite Landing to join the Cumbria Way and make our way back to Coniston along the side of the lake.

C Walk - Coniston Circular with Barbara Gilbert & Jan Atkins

5 to 6 miles / 8 to 9.7km with negligible height gain

We leave the car park and walk away from the village heading up towards what was once the railway line. We then head south towards Torver for the 1st section of the walk before crossing the road and taking a path which will then takes us to a bridge at which point we turn left our return journey to reach the shoreline of Coniston Water (taking in the views).

It was here in 1967 that Donald Campbell attempted to break the water speed record going at 300mph in his vessel Bluebird K7, unfortunately a disaster occurred and he was killed. From here we follow a path all the way back to Coniston.

07/03/2024 Thursday Car - Brock Bottom

Meet at Brock Valley Picnic Site, Brock Mill Lane, Caughton on Brock. (Sat Nav: PR3 0PD), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Brock Bottom with Stuart Arnold
7 miles / 11km with 970ft / 295m Total Ascent

We start our walk by climbing out of Brock valley through fields to Middle Lickhurst and on across more fields towards Heatherways Farm complex. Just before we reach the farm we turn south and head to the top of Beacon Fell for the lovely views across Bleasdale as far as the Lakeland hills.

We then walk down to the visitors center we´re the cafe and toilets may be welcome. Further downhill we reach Crombleholme Farm and on down to church road in Whitechapel. We pass the Cross Keys pub the venue for our annual dinner but we will not be stopping for beer.

We then pass Great Plane Tree Farm and on to Lower Trotter Hill Farm before joining a minor road at Trostle Nest.

Negotiating a tricky downhill path we reach the river own and back to our starting point.

03/03/2024 Coach Walk - Ravenstonedale (Pennines & Dales)

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Green Bell and Kensgriff with Graham Hogg

10½ miles / 17km with 2,362ft / 720m Total Ascent

Today we have the opportunity to visit some of the less frequented north eastern Howgill fells.

From the village of Ravenstonedale, we head in a south westerly direction following the course of Wyegarth Gill before ascending Knott (465m) on route to the summit of Knoutberry (529m). A further short steep climb brings us the summit of Green Bell (605m). On a clear day, the views from the top are fairly extensive – Ingleborough, Skiddaw, Blencathra and Cross Fell, to name a few, are all visible.

We continue by descending slightly to Spengill Head (568m). At this point, if the conditions and weather are favourable, we will head for Kensgriff (574m). Kensgriff is a rather shapely fell situated between two of the higher tops in the area, Yarlside and Randygill Top. It is possible on a longer summers day to descend from Kensgriff to the connecting saddle and climb Yarlside but the ascent is nothing short of brutal and the return descent back to the saddle requires strong nerves, good knees and great deal of care!

Instead, today we´ll only view Yarlside and after a break on Kensgriff, we´ll retrace our steps for a short distance before climbing steeply to reach the summit of Randygill Top (624m).

From Randygill Top our route descends north to ensure we reach the high and narrow saddle of Leathgill Bridge. From here, there is a final steep climb to reach the un-named point at 586m before a straight forward path takes us to Hooksey and a descent off the fells to Cow Bank at Weasdale. Return to Ravenstonedale is made via minor roads and field paths. 

B+ Walk - Smartdale Circuit with Meriel Nutter

10.5 miles / 16.9km with 100ft / 305m Ascent.

North out of Ravenstonedale taking a path to Smardale bridge. Climb north easterly over the flanks of Smardale Fell descending north to Smardale Bridge. West onto Beck Lane then north on a path to Smardale Mill and west into Crosby Garrett.

South now onto a path contouring round Beacon Hill and Begin Hill to join the path south westerly on the dismantled railway. Leave it at Badger Badger Hill, crossing the A685 near Newbiggin taking the field path to a minor road and the footpath alongside the main road into Ravenstonedale

B Walk - Nettle Hill without the nettles with Stuart Arnold

9 miles / 15km with 1,100ft / 335m Total Ascent

We depart the coach at Newbiggin and cross the A 685 to reach the Hamlet of Browner. After walking through a few fields we head for the hills. First of all we walk onto Ewe Fell and start our climb over Crosby Garret Fell. After 2 miles skirting Nettle Hill we drop down to the lovely village of Crosby Garret.

Here we take a minor road South East to access the disused railway line which leads us to the very impressive Smardale viaduct. We then take a lower path down Smardale Gill which gives us superb views of the viaduct. When we reach Smardale Bridge we follow Scandal Beck back down into Ravenstonedale.

The scenery and the wild flowers on a nice day are beautiful.

C Walk - Brownber but no bears with Judith Kirby

5 miles / 8km with 120ft / 37m Total Ascent

We leave the coach in Ravenstonedale and after a very short walk on the road we head across fields to Greenside then Higher Greenside and eventually Newbiggin on Lune. Here we have to cross the A685 to meet a track leading into Brownber and up to the hall where we turn east to join the disused railway line which leads us to the quarries.

We walk back a little way to the railway bridge where we follow the path down to Smardale bridge. We climb through fields via Todwray, Hawking Scar past Park House Farm back into Ravenstonedale.

21/02/2024 Stroller - Goosnargh

Meet at the Goosnargh village hall Church Lane, Goosnargh (Sat Nav: PR3 2BH) free parking and toilets, then afterwards at either the Grapes or the Stag´s Head.

Goosnargh with Tony Ingham
2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing 

The reason I say either/or is because the Grapes, which I would prefer, is currently temporarily closed.

The walk will be 2.75 miles long.

18/02/2024 Sunday Car - Penwortham

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

B Walk - Penwortham & Park Wonder with Dorothy Dobson
5.5 miles / 8.9km mostly flat

Walking through Miller & Avenham Park and other paths around the Penwortham area.

08/02/2024 Thursday Car - Fulwood

Meet at the junction between Longsands Lane and Waterford Close, Fulwood (Sat Nav: PR2 9PY), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Woodland around Fulwood with katie Clenshaw
7 miles / 11.4km with 380ft / 120m Total Ascent

Parking is usually available on the north side of Longsands Lane between Waterford Close and The Lodgings.

We set off across Preston Golf Course to walk through Mason´s Wood. From here we head through the playing fields behind The Sherwood to the site of Broughton Tower, then on to Moss Leach Wood and Cromwell´s Mound, where Cromwell´s men dug in during the Civil War to fire on the tower (some imagination is required here!). At this point we pass some of the uglier buildings in Fulwood (sorry - it does get better). We continue along Midgery Lane towards Midgery Wood, then through Squire Anderton´s Wood to Cow Hill. From Cow Hill we return via Little Rough Hey Farm and the Guild Wheel, which firstly goes through a wood with no name. This wood has a very nice, little-used path if anyone fancies clambouring through blackthorn and sliding on their bottom! Perhaps I´ll keep that to myself and we´ll just stick with the Guild Wheel, which continues through Fernyhalgh Wood.

Shortly before reaching Midgery Lane, we take a wooded path on the left back to Longsands Lane.

The route is undulating, with two short, steep climbs. Most of the paths are good, but there are some muddy parts. There are no stiles.

04/02/2024 Coach - Grassington (Yorkshire Dales)

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Grassington & Mossdale with Stuart Drysdale

12.5 miles / 20km with 1850ft / 563m Total Ascent

From the coach we walk up through Grassington to High Lane and then to Edge Lane and along Tinkers Lane to Hebden Beck. We now go to the Dukes New Road which we follow to Mossdale and go up the valley before heading off towards Cappleston Gate and down Conistone Turf Road to Bycliffe Road, from which we pick up the Dales Way back to Grassington for refreshments and the coach home.

B+ Walk - Cracoe Fell with Sue Bannister

9.5 miles / 15.3km with 1200ft / 365m Ascent.

 We get off the coach at Rylstone and follow a bridleway south and then east to start a steady climb up Sun Moor Hill to High Bark. Our route then heads north along the tops of Rylstone and Cracoe Fells. We pass the cross, obelisk and crags which stand out against the skyline when viewed from below on the road to Grassington.

The war memorial on the top of Cracoe Fell is the highest point on the walk at 1667ft (508m). We continue along the tops and wind eastwards skirting Burnsall and Thorpe Fell before dropping down to the lovely little village of Thorpe. A quiet lane and fields then take us down to the River Wharfe where we join the Dales Way for a mile and a half to Linton Falls and up to Grassington.

B Walk - All Walks Great and Small with Christine Davis and Barbara Gilbert

7.5 miles / 12km with 876ft / 267m Total Ascent

We leave the village via Main Street, Chapel Street and then onto Bank Lane to reach a squeezer stile. We then cross several fields and stiles before passing two ruined barns to reach Downs Pasture with a sheepfold on our right to eventually reach a cairn at Bycliffe Lane but there was no obvious path to follow. The descent back to Grassington should have been straightforward.

Unfortunately due to adverse weather conditions which was very concerning so we were unable to complete the walk, and a decision was taken to return back via the outward route to Grassington as we could not see a clear path due to the deep snow.

We may be able to undertake the completed walk on the day but it would depend on whether the conditions are favourable.

C Walk - Grassington & Linton with Dorothy Dobson

5.5 miles / 8.9km with 400ft / 122m Ascent.

From the coach park ( toilets ) we walk down the hill to cross the bridge over the River Wharfe before making our way to the village of Linton via footpaths and minor roads. Linton has some interesting old buildings and houses, so we will spend a little time there prior to taking the wooded footpath by a stream. The path leads into a field where we cross a dismantled railway via a stepped bridge.

We then descend through fields to Threshfield, another village with old buildings. Making our way back to Grassington, we cross the River Wharfe again and join another path into the town for refreshments.