18/09/2024 Stroller - Conder Green to Glasson Dock

 

Conder Green to Glasson Dock (and back) with Eric & Barry.

2.94 miles with Little Climbing

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a walk and venue for drinks / snacks or  meal and starts at 10:30am

Meet at the Stork Hotel car park, Corricks Lane, Conder Green (Sat Nav: LA2 0AN).

The first part of our Stroll is on a road with NO footpath, so single file please, it’s just for a few hundred yards. Where we turn off to join up with the Glasson branch of the Lancaster Canal which takes us to Glasson Dock .
A short incline takes up to Tithebarn Hill view point, which affords us some extensive views across the Lune and Wyre estuaries to Morecambe Bay and ALL the hills around (weather permitting), also keeping a lookout across the marshes for wading and sea birds (tides permitting) .
Heading back to docks and marina we pick up the Lancashire Coastal Path (again looking out for any wading birds) which takes back to Conder Green and refreshments.

15/09/2024 Sunday Car - Haigh Hall, Wigan

 

Haigh Hall with Bob Tognarelli

6½ to 7 Miles / 10.5 to 11km with some noted ascent and descent.

Meet at Haigh Hall Car Park, (Sat Nav: WN2 1PE), ready for the usual start time 10:30am.
Note: Parking will cost £3.50

Toilets are available.

Once we are all gathered together we start the walk by going along School Lane and turning into Pendlebury lane. We will be heading downhill to the River Douglas where we will follow the river to Leyland Mill Brow. From here a short climb is needed to reach the main road.
A quick walk along the road takes us to the path going through Bottling Woods and downhill to the old railway track. We now follow the path towards the canal locks and lunch.
After lunch we walk the towpath alongside the locks to reach the canal which leads us back to Haigh Hall Park.
Finally we will walk through the grounds of the hall back to the cars.

Refreshments can be had at the hall should one like to partake.

10/09/2024 Announcement - 2025 Programme

 

2025 Programme

The 2025 programme is now available to view, click the programme tab and select 2025.

The programme will be filled in as destination dates are received and leaders are selected for each destination and walk grade.

05/09/2024 Thursday Car - Bleasdale

 

Bleasdale with Stuart Arnold
8 Miles / 12.9km with 500ft / 152m Total Ascent

Meet at Beacon Fell main car park (Sat Nav: PR3 2NL), ready for the usual start time 10:30am.

We will start by walking to the top of the fell to take in the lovely views across the Fylde and on a clear day all the way to the Lakeland hills. From here we drop down to Rigg Lane and then across the fields to Watery Gate Farm and eventually Lower Core Farm. Here we cross the road and proceed up the track to Blind Hurst Farm where they are now selling Gelato ice cream made on the farm (Whose buying?).

After our treats we pass through the farmyard across fields to Higher Fairsnape Farm. Through the farmyard we walk on to Holme House and then Hazelhurst Farm. We follow the farm road to the junction close to Bleasdale Tower at Clough Head cottages which was once a reform school.

We then follow the estate road down to Higher Brock Mill. We then traverse the fields and tracks past Wickens Barn up to Hatherways and onto the fell back to the cars.

02/09/2024 Committee Meeting

 

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.

01/09/2024 Coach - Glenridding via Kirkstone Pass (Lake District)

 

8:00am start with 17:30 return

Helvellyn by Striding Edge with Dave Colbert
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

              

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.

Boredale Hause with Stuart Arnold
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.

Glenridding Valley and Lanty's with Jan Atkins & Barbara Gilbert
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

 

Lytham with Bill & Marie

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

 

Brock with Stuart Arnold
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.

              

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

 

Ribchester / Dinckley Bridge with Katie Clenshaw

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

A Walk - Moor House Nature Reserve with John Parkinson

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!

B+ Walk - Backstone Edge & High Cup Nick with Dave Colbert
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.

B Walk - Down the Nick with Stuart Arnold
 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.

C Walk - Dufton Circular with Chris Cook
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.