29/07/2018 Coach Walk - Hadrian's Wall & Housesteads

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Greenhead to Housesteads with Graham Hogg

10½ miles (17km) with 2133ft (650m) Total Ascent

For those of you who may be familiar with the bestselling Game of Thrones books, and the subsequent TV series, the author, George RR Martin has admitted that Hadrian´s Wall planted the seeds of inspiration for his popular fantasy tale, when he visited Northumberland back in the 1980s.

So, if you are on the A walk today, be sure to look out north from the wall; you may well see a ginger wildling or two, definitely some white walkers and you will know for certain that it will not be long before winter is coming (......or is that INDYREF2 ?)

Hadrian's Wall stretches coast to coast in the narrowest part of Northern England; from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. The distance is 120 kilometres (seventy three miles), or eighty Roman miles. It is named after the emperor who ordered its construction in 122AD. Originally it was three metres (nine feet) wide and up to six metres (twenty feet) high. At every Roman Mile along its length there is a milecastle, which was used as a guard post with turrets at every third of a mile serving as lookout posts. The wall was the North Western frontier of the Roman Empire until the final withdrawal of the legions from Britain in 410AD.

Today we shall walk along the best preserved section of the wall from Greenhead to Housesteads Roman Fort. Navigation isn't difficult although there are a lot of ups and downs which makes for a significant amount of ascent on what you might think would be a relatively flat walk.

Togas and sandals are optional (but not recommended !!).

B+ Walk - Hadrian's Wall and the Pennine Way with Allan Benson

10 miles (16km) with 1200ft (366m) Total Ascent.

It may take about 5½ hours to complete the walk but one thing is certain the views overall are quite spectacular (weather permitting).

We start our walk today from Housesteads and quickly join Hadrian's Wall. After about ½ mile we leave the wall and head north, along the Pennine Way to the edge of the Northumberland National Park. We now head west passing Greenlee Lough National Nature Reserve via East/West Stonefolds and Greenlee Plantations. We now head back to Hadrian's Wall via Gibbs Hill and Hound Hill. We reach the Wall at Turret 39b. We now walk approximately 3 miles along the wall back to Housesteads in time, I hope, for a cup of tea.

B Walk - Milecastle to Housesteads with Dorothy Dobson

7 miles (11km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

Up the Wall! Yes that is where we may end up as I confess to not having reccied this walk. However I have taken the write up from one done previously.

We alight the coach at the Milecastle Inn on the B6318 and head north to a disused quarry at Cawfield Crags (toilets available). We now turn east to join the Hadrians Wall Path and Pennine Way. This undulating path takes us to Caw Gap and on to the highest part of the walk, Windshield Crags (1132 ft). Here we have a lunch stop for around 30 minutes. We descend to Peel to join the Roman Military way, a good field path to Hotbank Crags and from here it is an easy walk to Housesteads and the coach.

C Walk - A minor walk around Hadrian´s Wall with Bob Tognarelli

5½ miles (8.8km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

The walk starts from the coach park with a short but robust climb to the Housesteads Fort, where we follow the wall going west and it is here we can walk on the wall for a short distance. We continue west until we get to “Turret 37A” and the Pennine Way, where we then follow the Pennine Way for a short distance going north to reach the path on the ridge. Joining the path we again head west, while having had excellent views of the GreenLee Lough Nature Reserve and Crag Lough, before we arrive at Hotbank / Milecastle 38 back at the wall. We continue to follow the wall westward passing Crag Lough and to reach the famous “Sycamore tree” (View the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and it all will become clear) at Milecastle 38. From here we retrace our steps to Hotbank and after a short but sharp climb we join the “Roman Military Way” a slight easier path back to Housesteads Fort. Before going downhill back to the Car park and refreshments, there is the opportunely to view the Fort and other points of interest around the Fort.

Lunch will happen sometime during the walk, with an abundance of places to stop.

The walk offers good views of the surrounding countryside, be aware that there are many short but steep ascents and descends when walking on and alongside the wall. Footing can also be uneven at times.

18/07/2018 Stroller - Waddington, near Clitheroe

Waddington with Roy
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 Higher Buck pub in Waddington, then after at the pub. Post code BB7 3HZ (park in the pub car park).

Please Note...

Unfortunately the B6478 into Waddington, from Clitheroe, will be partially closed due to road improvement works. I have been advised that the best access road into Waddington will be the minor road from the small village of West Bradford, one mile to the east of Waddington.

15/07/2018 Sunday Car - Whalley

B Walk - Whalley with Judith Kirby 

7½ miles (12km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

Meet at Spring Wood car park (Sat Nav: BB7 9TD), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk starts at Springwood car park just above Whalley. It immediately walks through the edge of the golf course and up onto Clerk Hill. We the drop down to Wiswell Moor farm down across Whalley road and then down across Sabden brook. We then pass through Read Park past the converted hall and then cross the Padiham road and the Great Hardwood road at Cock Bridge. We then follow the river onto Whalley Banks and then into Whalley prior to our river return to the Springwood car park.

12/07/2018 Thursday Car - Leyland

B Walk - Leyland with Barry Hayhurst 

8½ miles (13.6km) with mainly flat terrain.

Meet at Leyland Rugby Club (Sat Nav PR26 7XU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

A circular—ish 8½ mile walk from Leyland (Moss Side) to Croston, along some under used, and in parts, over grown footpaths. Via Ulnes Walton and Wymott on a level—ish terrain. Crossing 11 styles (some rickety), 15 Kissing and field gates (some creaky), 10 Footbridges (some missing — but we will avoid those .... bloomin´ Trolls).

Leaving the rugby club car park we make our way to the River Lostock and cross over the footbridge passing the water treatment works, almost following the course of the river crossing fields to Ulnes Walton. From here we make a short change of direction to the sprawling down town metropolis of Croston (Which has 5 pubs).

After a quick visit to the village we wander through the village streets making our way back to the course of the River Lostock. We branch off where it meets up with Wymott Brook and attempt to walk along the top of the flood defences along planted fields until we arrive at one of Her Majesty´s hotels.

From here we leave the field walking and walk along what used to be the railway tracks through to the old munitions storage bunkers (Try to seek them out ­ and count them). From here we have a short walk through woodland before heading back along some well defined footpaths to where we started.

The wearing of shorts is NOT advised, but a machete or strimmer could be helpful.

01/07/2018 Coach Walk - Coniston via Ambleside

July

8:00 Start with 17:30 (5:30pm) Return

A Walk - The Old Man with Sandra Robinson

13 miles (20.9km) with 4200ft (1280m) Total Ascent

We leave coniston via the coppermines road and then ascend wetherlam, going over swirl how, great carrs, grey friar, brim fell, coniston old man, dow crag, buck pike and brown pike, before descending back to Coniston along the walna scar road.

This walk can be shortened if we run out of time.

B+ Walk - Avoiding the Old Man with Kevin Poole

6.51 miles (10.5km) with 2400ft (732m) Total Ascent

Leaving Coniston we follow the track up to and past the YMCA. From here we gain height quickly as we walk alongside the falls and enter the magical world of Levers Water.

With our batteries restored we head up to the ridge called the Prison Band. From here we turn right and continue until coming to the summit of Wetherlam the highest point of today´s walk.

The return to Coniston is via the most obvious route leading over Above Beck Fells and to the Old disused mine track.

Weather permitting expect excellent views.

B Walk - Levers Water with Barry Mather

7 miles (11km) with 1500ft (457m) Total Ascent

From Coniston we follow Church Beck to the Miner's Bridge, from here we start climbing and after leaving the track we ascend Red Dell Beck passing derelict mine workings on the way. On reaching the track we had left earlier we follow it to Levers Water. After crossing the weir we pass some medieval mine workings and descend Boulder Valley to the Pudding stone. We then make a short ascent to The Bell for a view of Coniston Water, then head back to Coniston via Bowmanstead.

C Walk - Coniston Circular with Alison & Lesley

5¾ miles (9.25km) with 490ft (150m) Total Ascent

Today we begin our walk from the centre of Coniston. If the free toilets are closed there are others, but there is a charge. Heading South West we follow the A593 until we reach Bowmanstead. Taking a path on our right we begin a long slow climb through fields passing Spoon Hall on the way to Little Arrow Intake. (Please note there is a high and difficult stone stile on this part of the route).

Our climbing done, we then turn South and descend to Little Arrow. Crossing the A593 we have a short road walk, then we head South along the cycle path. Before reaching Torver we veer North East passing Hoathwaite Farm on the way to Hoathwaite Landing and the lakeside. From here we follow the Cumbria Way North into Coniston. From Little Arrow the paths are flat and very easy.

20/06/2018 Stroller - Ainsdale/Birkdale

Walk with Geoffrey and Roy
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 Fisherman´s Rest pub, 2 Weld Road, Birkdale, Southport. (Sat Nav: PR8 2AZ), then afterwards at the pub (Fisherman´s Rest).

Directions :- Turn left at the roundabout that is 1 mile further on from the pier, along the coast road. The pub is on the right just over the brow of the hill. 

17/06/2018 Sunday Car - Downham / Scorton

B Walk - Downham with Dorothy Dobson 

7½ miles (12km) undulating walk.

Meet car park at the bottom of the hill (Sat Nav: BB7 4BS), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Today we walk through four lovely villages in the Ribble Valley.

Starting at Downham we head uphill to the church and Assheton Arms before taking a path leading to pastureland. At this point we have a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. We eventually walk across more fields, cross the A59 and follow a tree lined path which passes the remains of Sawley Abbey as we descend into Sawley itself. Crossing the River Ribble, we follow a road for a while before taking a track to Hill House Barn, on our way to Grindleton. We cross the river again and climb a steep slope as we approach Chatburn. We then go along more leafy paths, cross the A59 again to climb a steep limestone escarpment before reaching Downham.

A delightful walk !!

C Walk - Circling Nicky Nook with Bob Tognarelli 

5½ miles (8.8km) with 300ft (91m) Total Ascent

Meet at the picnic area north of Scorton, near Cleveleys Bridge (Sat Nav: PR3 1BU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Leaving the picnic area we return to the lane and turn left to go over the M6 and then left at the T junction taking the road to Clifton Farm. From here we across fields (could be muddy) in the direction of Harrison Fell, to get to Skye´s Farm. We then turn right to follow the narrow road to the rough track leading to Holme Wood. Here we join the Grize Dale trail to Higher Lane. Then cross fields to Tithe Barn Lane, going through Ghyll Woods to Snowhill Lane and the descent into Scorton.

There is the opportunity for refreshment, before we leave Scorton and take the Wyre trail back to the car park.

14/06/2018 Thursday Car - Arnside

B Walk - Arnside with Allan Benson 

8½ miles (13.6km) with 600ft (183m) Total Ascent

Meet on promenade - Free Parking (Sat Nav: LA5 0BY), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We start our walk today, from the promenade and make our way to the summit of Arnside Knott 516ft (159m). From the summit we make our way to Silverdale via Arnside Tower, and Eaves Wood Nature Reserve.

From Silverdale we make our way back to Arnside via Far Arnside and Arnside Park, and the spectacular coastal path.

03/06/2018 Coach Walk - Llanberis via pass of Llanberis

8:00 start with 18:00 return

A Walk - Y Lliwedd & Yr Wyddfa with Graham Hogg

10½ miles (17km) with 3608ft (1100m) Total Ascent

Today´s A walk route offers a hugely enjoyable ascent of Y Lliwedd (easy grade 1 scrambling) and then onto Wales´ highest mountain – Yr Wddfa (aka Snowdon).

Y Lliwedd is one of Wales´ iconic rock faces and although largely ignored by the climbing fraternity today, it was the birthplace of British rock climbing. The noted British climber George Mallory undertook many of his early climbs here and it was also the site of considerable training activity for the 1953 British Everest Expedition.

Avoiding the V Diff and VS climbs today, our route begins at the Pen-y-Pass car park and follows the Miners Track southwards past Llyn Teyrn to the causeway that crosses Llyn Llydaw. Here we deviate southwards from the Miners Track crossing a metal footbridge and gently begin to ascend the eastern slopes of Y Lliwedd.

The East Ridge gradually becomes steeper and rockier, eventually turning the path into a grade 1 scramble. The route closely follows the crest of the ridge to Y Lliwedd´s east peak (893m) before traversing to the west peak (898m) and then descending some 160m into Bwlch Ciliau where the Watkin Path joins from Cwm Llan.

From Bwlch y Saethau the route zig zags up to the summit of Yr Wddfa (1085m) via its south face. The summit is sure to be busy and not a place for quiet contemplation.

Our descent route will avoid the busy path beside the railway and strike off west down the Snowdon Rangers Path until reaching Bwlch Cwm Brwynog. From here we have a 170m ascent to the summit of Moel Cynghorion (674m) offering great views back onto the vast cliffs of Clogwyn Coch.

We´ll descend to Bwlch Maesgwm then head north through Maesgwm and out to Llanberis.

B+ Walk - Snowdon via the Pyg Track with Kevin Poole

8½ miles (13.7km) with 2350ft (716m) Total Ascent.

This is one of the few times that a mountain over 3000ft can be climbed within the B+ guide lines. The reason for this is that we start the walk from the top of the Llanberis Pass (coach drop off point), at 1210ft / 369m. The first part of the walk is spent climbing to the summit of Snowdon, which is steady rather than steep, the second part descending back to Llanberis.

After a toilet stop at the coach drop off point we start our ascent to the summit following the Pyg Track over the ridge and into the Snowdon Horseshoe just before the ridge develops into the awesome Crib Goch. Snowdon and Crib-y-ddysgl now come into view along with a number of small lakes used by miners in the past. The track continues up the left hand side, zigzagging until we reach a large marker stone at Bwlch Glas (Green Pass) where we meet the Llanberis track and the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The summit station is about 15 minutes walk up from here and the actual summit marker (trig point), 3560ft / 1085m, a short distance further up to the left. The views on a clear day are truly paneramic, with Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cumbria visible. We descend on the opposite side of Snowdon via the Llanberis track (good going), virtually following the railway all the way down to Llanberis.

B Walk - Dinorwig and Clwt-y-bont with Stuart Arnold

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

Our walk will start at the Nant Peris car park from where we will make our long ascent to the disused slate quarries above lake Peris. From the road the start looks unappetising but is on a very substantial road full of very interesting features with piles of slate to the right and the left. For the next mile and a half we make our way through the quarries these are absolutely spectacular with cliffs of slate rising above you. We can look down on the Dinorwic hydro power station for which this area is well known. The water from the top reservoir flows through the power station at high demand times and during the evening and low demand times the power is used to pump the water back up to the top reservoir. Upon our exit from the quarries we are afforded superb views of the lakes of Peris and Padarn and of Llanberis.

Moving on, we then walk up the road to the edge of Dinorwig and then drop down to a smaller quarry at Fferam Fachwen and then back up to the road. After a short distance on the road we drop down further via a tricky path eroded by a stream to the small hamlet of Clwt-y-bont. We turn out of the village to follow the tracks down to the village of Brynrefail where outside the post office there is a superb display of tubs with spring flowers. We then cross the river Afon Rhythallt to the opposite shore of the lake Padarn. We pick up the disused railway line on which there is a superb cast iron bridge, reminding us of Iron Bridge. It is an ideal photo opportunity. We follow the lake through Padarn country park back to Llanberis where we will hopefully have time for a beer or a cup of tea before catching the bus back home.

This is a superb walk for those not wanting the busy slog up Snowden.

C Walk - Lake Padarn with Peter Stevens

6 miles (9.7km) with 525ft (160m) Total Ascent

Our walk today is a complete circumnavigation of Llyn (lake) Padarn and starts in Llanberis. There is some climbing in the first half but flat for the second half with good paths throughout.

The walk starts at the Lake side Railway Station to follow a pathway up to a viewpoint just below the Quarry Hospital Visitor Centre. From this point we can see the ruins of the thirteenth century Dolbadarn Castle and on a clear day, the summit of Snowdon. Climbing some steps we find ourselves in the grounds of the old Quarry Hospital used for the quarry employees.

As we leave the Hospital grounds, we pass the old mortuary and enter a wooded path which climbs steadily for a while before descending to an old bridge which crosses the river Fachwen (pronounced Vackwen in Welsh). Crossing the bridge we leave the country park boundary following a track which leads us to the west end of the lake at Pen-y-Llyn.

Crossing the old road bridge at the end of the lake, we follow the road round for a short while until we find a hole in the wall which leads us down onto the old Llanberis to Caernarfon railway line. This line now takes us back into Llanberis and the awaiting coach.

20/05/2018 Sunday Car - Claughton on Brock

B Walk - Claughton on Brock with Stuart Arnold 

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

Meet at St Mary's catholic primary school in Smithy lane Claughton on Brock (Sat Nav PR3 0PN), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We will set off and walk through to Clarkson's farm then up the hill and across the fields to High House farm, Foggs farm, Butt Hill farm, Huds Brook farm and on towards High Moor farm were will will walk down the Delph road and eventually into the valley of the river Brock at the bottom of Snape rake lane.We will then follow the river all the way back to Walmsley bridge. We will then leave the river and via the fields we will come back to Smithy lane and our starting point.