Committee meetings are held on Mondays 7:00pm-9:00pm and all members are welcome.
We meet at the Over 60s Club, Priory Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0AR.
We are based in Lancashire in the North West of England but our walks take us round the UK's National Parks & National Landscapes, the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District & North Wales. *** To view the next walk - Please scroll to the bottom ***
01/09/2024 Coach - Glenridding via Kirkstone Pass (Lake District)
8:00am start with 17:30 return
10 miles / 16km with 3,350ft / 1,020m Total Ascent
At 950m/3,116ft, 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 and Glenridding.
We start from Patterdale and follow the minor road from Grisedale Bridge into Grisedale for a short distance, crossing Grisedale Beck to take the path that climbs steadily across Grisedale Brow to reach the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall, basically a gate. The traverse of Striding Edge is rocky and very exposed in places and includes an easy down climb of some 15 metres at its far end before the final steep climb to Helvellyn´s summit plateau. It’s then northwards along the broad ridge from Lower Man over White Side and Raise to the Sticks Pass, from where we descend alongside Sticks Gill to the Greenside lead mines and Glenridding.
If weather conditions are poor (heavy rain/strong winds), we have the option of an alternative route to Helvellyn via Grisedale Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike, descending from White Side to the Greenside lead mines. This is slightly longer and involves an additional 90m/300ft of climbing.
The Knott & Angle Tarn with Val Walmsley
8miles / 12.9km with 2,000ft / 610m Total Ascent
Boredale Hause with Stuart Arnold
9 miles / 15km with 1350ft / 411m Total Ascent
Glenridding Valley and Lanty's with Jan Atkins & Barbara Gilbert
4½ to 5½ miles / 7.2 to 8.85km with 650ft / 198m Total Ascent
8miles / 12.9km with 2,000ft / 610m Total Ascent
Starting from Horseman Bridge we take a path east through Hartsop to past a series of small waterfalls. The path leads steadily upwards crossing a noisy beck under Gray Crag before crossing a footbridge by Hayeswater.
A dog leg path leads us to the base of The Knott which needs to be walked round to reach the northern flank for an easy push to summit where their are great views.
We descend below Rest Todd to Angle Tarn & continue down to Boredale Hause from where the path goes down to Side Farm, Patterdale and on into Glenridding.
9 miles / 15km with 1350ft / 411m Total Ascent
We leave the coach in Patterdale and cross over the fields to the path which leads us round the east side of Ullswater to the small community of Sandwich. We then walk on some minor roads and enter the Boredale valley.
We climb steadily up the valley up to the Hause where we have to do a little scrambling to reach the top. This is a tricky bit but one day I watched a man carry his mountain bike up so it's not too difficult.
We then drop down to Side farm and back down the road into Glenridding.
4½ to 5½ miles / 7.2 to 8.85km with 650ft / 198m Total Ascent
Whilst this is a C walk the climbing is slightly above the norm.
From the car park (toilets) we walk along the southern side of Glenridding Beck before crossing Rattlebeck Bridge and make our way to Greenside Road from here we walk uphill with Glenridding Screes to our right passing the Y.H.A hostel and mountain rescue post before arriving at the disused lead mine.
We then cross Glenridding Beck via a footbridge and traverse the lower slopes of Birkhouse Moor on the south side of the valley. On our way down there is a diversion to visit Lanty 's Tarn (for those who wish to do so) before making our way back to Glenridding for refreshments.
Just a note to say there is one slightly rocky patch to get over, where we will need to take care.
21/08/2024 Stroller - Lytham
Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc and starts at 10:30am.
Meet at the Lytham station car park off Station Square (Sat Nav: FY8 5NQ), afterwards refreshments available next to the car park at the Railway Café and Grill .
No details available.
18/08/2024 Sunday Car - Brock
6½ miles / 10.5km with 200ft / 61m Total Ascent
Meet at Old Nells, St Michael's Road, Bilsborrow (Sat Nav: PR3 0RS).
Ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
Ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
We will park away from the pub towards the bowling green.
We set off north along the canal to the first bridge where we leave to cross the A6 and enter the path which leads us under the railway and the M6. Proceeding along the river we pass through Matshead and Brookside on our way to Walmesley Bridge. Here we leave the river and do a circuit through Higher Barn and Lower House back to Brookside.
We leave the river and return via Bilsborrow Hall Farm. After a short field walk we join the canal at the same bridge to return to the start.
08/08/2024 Thursday Car - Ribchester / Dinckley Bridge
7½ miles / 12km with 460ft / 140m Max Total Ascent
Meet at the main car park in Ribchester (Sat Nav: PR3 3ZH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
From Ribchester we walk to Dinckley Bridge on the northern side of the River Ribble, via Stydd Manor, the lovely Duddel Wood, Lower Dutton and the Ribble Way. After crossing Dinckley Bridge, we return along the south bank of the river, through Marles Wood, then the road from Salesbury Hall to Ribchester Bridge and back to Ribchester.
We can have refreshments afterwards at the Potters Barn cafe or one of the pubs in Ribchester if anyone is interested.
04/08/2024 Coach Walk - Dufton
8:00 start with 17:30 return
11.9 miles / 19km with 2572ft / 784m Total Ascent
Leaving the picturesque village of Dufton we head north along the Pennine Way. With Dufton Pike and Brownber Hill on our right, we ascend gradually towards the National Nature Reserve of Moor House - Upper Teasdale, some 88 square kilometer's and one of the leading sites for research into the impact of climate change on the natural environment.
At Knock Old Man we follow the trail towards Great Dun Fell but head back southwards towards Knock. The option to up and back to the listening station on Great Dun is available if needed. From the hamlet of Knock we follow paths through a churchyard and crossing fields we return to our starting point in Dufton. Here the Stags Head and the Post Box Pantry (whose owner assures me he will open till 5pm on the day) will await us.
No excuses!
10½ miles / 17km with 1,980ft / 600m Total Ascent
The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now National Landscape) became the first British Geopark in June 2003. Its most famous geological feature is the spectacular glacial canyon of High Cup Gill that eats into the hillside above Dufton, the product of an intrusion of dolerite otherwise known as the Whin Sill into the limestone bedrock. This huge chasm would not be out of place in more mountainous areas such as the Cairngorms.
Starting from Dufton, we follow the track around the southern flank of Dufton Pike, climbing gradually up the narrowing valley of Threlkeld Side with its relics of industry past to eventually reach Great Rundale Tarn. The next bit is off-piste as we head generally south along Backstone Edge from its 692m/2,270ft trig point to Narrowgate Beacon and the great cleft of High Cup Gill. From High Cup Nick, which lies just to the west of the main Pennine watershed between the Rivers Tees and Eden, we return to Dufton along the Pennine Way.
9½ miles / 15.3km with 1400ft / 427m Total Ascent
We walk through Dufton to Town Head where we join the Pennine way which takes up past Bow Hall round the edge of Dod Hill and on upward to High Cup Nick.
We the drop down High Cup Scar over the boulder fields down High Cup Gill all the way down to Harbour Flatt and High Cup House.
We then walk on the road for about 1/4ml to the farm track from Keisley House. Just opposite we drop down two fields to join a path called "A Pennine Journey" which we follow and eventually drop into Dufton Ghyll wood. After about 1/4 ml we cross the footbridge go up the steps and exit onto the main street in Dufton.
6 miles / 9.7km with ft / m Total Ascent
From Dufton we head for Wood Lane then onto Mill Hill, from there to Esplandhill continuing along Frith Lane Track to Flakebridge.
Entering Flakebridge Wood we make our way to the footbridge. Crossing it we continue to KelseyHouse. We then head up to Bow Hall and from there along the Penine Way back to Dufton.
HAPPY DAYS.
21/07/2024 Sunday Car - Mawdesley
7 to 8miles / 11 to 12.9km with very flat walking.
Meet at Mawdesley village hall, Hurst Green (L40 2QT), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
This trail was designed to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II´s Golden Jubilee and follows a level ‘figure of eight´ route within the boundaries of Mawdesley, but with views of distant fells and lowland Lancashire.
The walk will commence at 10.30am and will venture out, cross-country, to Mawdesley Moss. The route takes a circular sweep along tracks and field boundaries, passing Wood Lane Farm and then veering back, via fields and Rectory Wood, to meet the road at the reputedly haunted, but derelict Black Bull pub. A short walk will take us back to the village hall.
The second half of the trail crosses Mawdesley Millennium Green before reaching Smithy Lane and a cross-field route to St Peter´s CE Church. With Harrock Hill in view we will cross fields and lanes to reach Cedar Farm Gallery and pass through its car park to a boundary track and Back Lane, from where a varied route of paths, fields and roads bring us to some old quarries and Mawdesley´s war memorial with a short road walk back to the car park.
17/07/2024 Stroller - Stanley Park, Blackpool
Stanley Park with Barbara & Trudy
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 Sports Centre Car Park, West Park Drive, Blackpool (Sat Nav: FY3 9HQ), then afterwards at the Art Deco Café.
11/07/2024 - Thursday Car - St. Michael's on Wyre
7½miles / 12km with Negligible Ascent
Meet at the car park near the church in St Michael's. (Sat Nav: PR3 0UA ), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am. Note. I am giving the post code for the village hall which is on Blackpool Road.
The walk is by field paths and tracks.
07/07/2024 Coach Walk - Sedbergh
11miles / 18km with 3,300ft / 1,000m Total Ascent
Situated between the rugged mountains of the Lake District to the west and the rolling expanse of the Pennines to the east, the Howgill Fells form a compact group of steep-sided rounded hills. The highest summits lie towards the centre of an extensive upland plateau from which ridges radiate in all directions.
We start from Lincoln’s Inn Bridge on the A684 just west of Sedbergh and follow the Dales Way northwards up the Lune Valley as far as Hole House, from where we head north-eastwards to Castley. A short climb takes us to Castley Knotts, from where a broad ridge leads over Brown Moor to the col below Fell Head. A steepish climb, not taken direct, is necessary to gain the narrow summit ridge at 640m/2,100ft, beyond which there is a steep drop into Windscarth Wyke and a further climb up to the knobbly ridge leading from Bush How to The Calf, at 676m/2,219ft the highest summit in the Howgills. We the follow the ridge to Calders, continuing over Arant Haw to Winder before dropping steeply to Lockbank Farm and road to Sedbergh.
10 to 11 miles / 16 to 17.7km with 400 to 700ft / 122 to 213m Total Ascent
From Sedbergh footpath northerly past Underbank, Ellerthwaite and eventually the bridge over Cautley Beck. Cross this and the footbridge over the river Rawthey. South along A683 a short way, path east past High House to join track southerly past Bluecaster Side and a minor road before re-joining A683 briefly then taking a path to Birks and down to A683 again briefly before taking a path past Cross Hall to Hebblethwaite Hall and Ghyllas.
If time allows we can do the higher mileage and ascent by turning east
up to Blake Rigg before descending to Hebblethwaite Hall and Ghyllas.
Continue on A683 to cross Straight Bridge and take the riverside path
into Sedbergh.
8 miles / 12.9km with 700ft / 213m Total Ascent
This walk takes in the lovely Rawthey and Dee river valleys. We head south west out of Sedbergh, crossing the Rawthey at Birks and then following the Dee from Abbott Holme to Rash Bridge. We cross the Dee here and face a short but very steep climb up Moser Hill.
We join the Dales Way as far as the small village of Millthrop where we pick up the Rawthey again and proceed eastwards along the riverbank as far as Buckbank, crossing from the south to the north bank at New Bridge. We then go westwards back towards Sedbergh through fields and farmyards, stopping off to look at Castle Haw, an 11th century motte and bailey castle. It is then not very far into the town center for refreshments and the coach.
6 miles / 9.7km with 500ft / 152m Total Ascent
Leaving the coach park (toilets) we immediately turn right on to Joss Lane to climb gradually and slowly up this lane for quarter of a mile until it peters out to a footpath. From here we cross a field and a stream to reach Castleshaw. Going along a lane we pass Underbank, then through field paths to Stone Hall (this is an unusual style of farmhouse) and eventually going over a footbridge to Hollin Hall and Ellerthwaite.
We now change direction to head southwest along a path to reach the River Rawthey and follow this path, passing two weirs on the way, to reach Birks. Leaving the river at this point we go through the park and back to the Main Street in Sedbergh.
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