27/01/2019 Sunday Car - Ribchester / Haslam Park, Ashton

B Walk - Ribchester with Chris Cook

7½ miles (12km) Undulating

Meet at Ribchester main car park (Sat Nav PR3 3ZH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Leave the car park past the Ribchester Arms, and Almes Houses, into Duddel Wood then across the fields to Panstones Farm. We follow the road for a short spell to Head of Lee, then onto Goodshaw House from there to Hougher Fall Farm, down New Row to Seed Farm and Kellets Farm then straight (through fields) to Ribchester.

Lovely walk - HAPPY DAYS.

C Walk - Haslam Park & The Lancaster Canal with Bob Tognarelli

6½ miles (10.5km) with no hills to climb.

Meet at Haslam Park Car Park, on Bristow Ave, Ashton (Sat Nav PR2 1JE), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We start the walk by going pass the duck pond (or it may be an ice rink) to find the path to the Lancaster canal. We will follow the canal towpath to Lea lane. Leaving the canal it’s a short walk along the Lea Lane to Lea Town. From here we walk along Darkinson Lane to find the footpath which will take us across fields to the Golf Course and the Guild Wheel. We now walk the path along side the Ribble Link back to Haslam Park.

It being January there is high good chance the walk will be muddy or icy or both in places.

16/01/2019 Stroller - Maple Leaf Café

Maple Leaf Café, Whitestake

No walk this month but a meal at The Maple Leaf Café, Duxburys Garden Centre, Whitestake (Sat Nav: PR4 4LB).

12.15pm for 12.30pm start.

13/01/2019 Coach Walk - Horton In Ribblesdale

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Horton Humoresque with Sandra Robinson

13½ miles (22km) with 3000ft (915m) Total Ascent

Starting at stainforth we walk to catrigg force then on to fountains fell and penyghent, before heading back to Horton. 

B+ Walk - Ribblesdale Riot with Val Walmsley

10 miles (16km) with 1650ft (503m) Total Ascent

From Horton we follow paths to backbarrow before ascending penyghent. From here we make our way onto plover hill then descend to foxup moor and onto the pennine way, following it back to Horton.

B Walk - Brackenbottom Scar and Ribbleway with Chris Cook

8½ miles (13.6km) with 700ft (213m) Total Ascent

Leaving Horton we pass Brackenbottom as we head towards Pen-Y-Ghent. We then turn south to Mean Moss and Moor Head Lane where we change direction to head North West to Helwith Bridge to join the Ribble Way heading back to Horton.

HAPPY DAYS.

C Walk - Along the Ribble to Settle with Bob Tognarelli

This is a linear walk starting from Horton in Ribblesdale and ending in Settle. We will be walking along the banks of the Ribble where possible.

From the coach drop off (toilets available) we walk down the main road to St Oswald Church (built in around 1100). From here we cross fields to join the Ribbleway to Cragg Hill Farm and then on to Helwith Bridge (Lunch maybe). We now leave the Ribbleway, and a short easy climb gets us onto the Pennine Bridleway which leads to Little Stainforth. Taking a descending narrow road passed a caravan site we cross the Ribble and take a short climb to the charming village of Stainforth (toilets available). We now have to follow the main road (all downhill) for a short distance, before going across fields to Dog Hill Brow. We again cross over the Ribble and walk up a walled track to Stackhouse. Turning left onto the Pennine bridleway, we soon pick up the Ribbleway for the rest of the way into Settle and the bright lights of the Shops, Cafes and Pubs.

10/01/2019 Thursday Car - Great Eccleston

B Walk - Great Eccleston with Chris Airey

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

Meet at St. Mary's Catholic chuch (Sat Nav: PR3 0XN), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

No Details Available.

16/12/2018 Coach Walk - Grange-Over-Sands

8:00 start with 16:30 return

A Walk - Whitbarrow & Hampsfell with Dave Colbert

11¾ miles (19km) with 2070ft (360m) Total Ascent

This walk is dedicated to the memory of Ken Brooks WCFA, who first led it way back in January 1998. It traverses two distinctive limestone hills of similar height and separated by the broad strath of the River Winster.

We start from Mill Side on the A590 west of Levens and seek out the meandering track through woodland to gain the plateau above Whitbarrow Scar, traversing this north-westward to the large summit cairn at Lord´s Seat (215m/706ft), the highest point on Whitbarrow with magnificent views all round. It´s then down to Witherslack Hall and the track leading through the wooded escarpment of Yewbarrow to the village of Witherslack. Our route continues across the Winster Valley to Lindale and an ascent of the slightly higher Hampsfell (222m/727ft), with its characteristic ‘Hospice’ view finder close to the summit. We finally descend to Grange and the coach by way of Spring Bank.

B+ Walk - Walks with Wolves with Kevin Poole

11½ miles (18.5km) with 1000ft (305m) Total Ascent

Starting at Grange-Over-Sands we head through Eggerslack Wood to Hampsfell. We then follow the Cistercian Way to and through Cartmel near Cark.

Next we head east to Allithwaite and south to Humphrey Head; 15th Century legend states this was the dwelling place of the last wolf in England. After soaking in the atmosphere, we stroll back to Grange-Over-Sands via the Cumbria Coastal Way.

B Walk - Grange-over-Sands and Cartmel with Chris Cook

8 miles (12.9km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

From Grange we head up Windermere Road to find the path to Hampsfield Fell, from there through the woods to Hampsfield Farm. We then progress along the top of the ridge overlooking Morecambe Bay and surrounding country side with its panoramic views. We then continue to the Hospice and onto Cartmel where we re-trace our way back to Grange for a well earned glass of mulled wine or whatever refreshment you require.

HAPPY DAYS.

C Walk - Grange Grand Circular with Roy Smith

5¾ miles (9.2km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

Starting from the ornamental lake we go promenading along Grange front. Once past the old Lido building we walk along the shore line until we are able to cross the railway line. We then follow the side of the railway to Kents Bank. From here we have a combination of green lanes, field track and road walking, until we get to the foot of Fell End. We now have a gradual climb (200 feet) towards Hampsfell. Weather permitting, after our climb we should have excellent views of the lakeland hills and Morecambe Bay. We now head eastwards and downhill, mainly via farm track, back to our start point and refreshments..

13/12/2018 Thursday Car - Garstang

B Walk - Flatliner with Chris Cook 

9½ miles (15.3km) with No Ascent

Meet at St Helen's church Car Park, Churchtown, Nr Garstang (Sat Nav: PR3 0HY), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

I'm calling this walk the Flatliner because there's not a hill in site, it´s mostly firm underfoot and unavoidably a little on the road.

From the car park we head south over the River Wyre to Myerscouth through the college and on to Bilsborrow where we join the canal. From there to Catterall where we cross the A6 and follow the River Wyre back to the car park.

HAPPY DAYS.

05/12/2018 Stroller - Christmas Meal

No walk this month.

Christmas meal at The Ley Inn, Back Lane, Clayton-le-Woods (Sat Nav: PR6 7EU).

Meet 12:15am for 12:30pm.

To book contact Roy Smith (Telephone number on programme).

02/12/2018 Sunday Car - Penwortham

B Walk - Penwortham and Beyond with Dorothy Dobson 

7½ miles (12km) with no climbing

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

From the Cemetery car park we make our way to the River Ribble path, crossing Liverpool Road and passing the golf course on the way. We stay on this path for another two miles before leaving the river. Changing direction we head south through the fields to Hutton. There is a little road walking before reaching Penwortham and back to the car park.

21/11/2018 Stroller - Cuerden Valley Park

Walk 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 car park for Cuerden Valley, that lies behind the Sue Ryder Centre. Drive down Shady Lane, past the entrance to the Sue Ryder Centre, then turn left down Berkeley Lane (car park on right at the end, parking charges apply: £2.20 for us on the day). Afterwards we will eat at the new visitor centre café. Car park and café referenced as PR5 6BY.

18/11/2018 Coach Walk - Sedbergh

8:00 start with 16:30 return

A Walk - Yarlside and The Calf with Dave Colbert

11 miles (18km) with 3450ft (1050m) 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.

From Sedbergh, we head in a north-easterly direction up the increasingly wild glen of the River Rawthey to Cautley Holme, where the steep slopes of Ben End await. The ridge walk to Yarlside (639m/2,096ft) is short and then it´s straight down into the deep trench of Bowderdale before a further climb takes us up to The Calf (676m/2,219ft). We return to Sedbergh by way of Calders and Arant Haw.

B+ Walk - Cautley Spout and The Calf with Susan Banister

10 miles (16km) with 2300ft (701m) Total Ascent

Todays walk is a strenuous B+ but worth it for the fell top views.

Starting in Sedbergh we head for Cautley passing Hollin Hill, Thursgill and Fawcett Bank with the River Rawthey below on our right. After crossing the footbridge over Cautley Beck we head up towards Cautley Spout waterfall. The path becomes increasingly steep and there are good views of the falls especially after rain.

At the top of the falls we follow Red Gill Beck and pass a sheep fold which has been renovated by the artist Andy Goldsworthy. Continuing to climb we now follow Force Gill Beck until we meet the main fell top path. If time and weather conditions permit we can turn right and walk the short distance up to The Calf which at 676m is the highest point in the Howgill Fells with superb panoramic views.

We then return down the path and continue over Bram Rigg Top to Calders and down Rowantree Grains before joining the Dales High Way dropping back down into Sedbergh.

B Walk - The Rawthey and Dee River Valleys with Tony Ingham

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

Leaving the town we immediately climb up to Castle Haw, an 11th century motte and bailey castle. Having inspected the mound, we descend and pick up a path heading east past Underbank, Stone Hall, Hollin Hall, Ellerthwaite and Buckbank. From there we proceed to the banks of the River Rawthey, which we follow south west via Straight Bridge and New Bridge to the hamlet of Millthrop.

At this point we join the Dales Way and climb up to the top of Moser Hill. We then leave the Dales Way and descend to Rash Bridge which spans the River Dee. Following the Dee north westwards we eventually come to Abbot Holme Bridge. We cross this and a golf course to reach Birks, near the confluence of the Dee and Rawthey. We then follow the Rawthey again before leaving it to head north east , past the Sedbergh School buildings and playing fields, back into Sedbergh.

C Walk - Sedbergh Circular with Joyce Bradbury

6.4 miles (10.8km) with 550ft (168m) Total Ascent

Setting off from the coach park in Sedbergh (toilets available) we have a road walk along Howgill Lane to begin. We then drop down, on field paths, to Underwinder then up to Ash-Hining. That is most of our climbing for the day over with. We walk down to Low Braithwaite and along to the River Lune where we join the Dales Way. We follow the Lune southwards before gradually turning eastwards along the River Rawthey, eventually leaving the river to climb back into Sedbergh through Sedbergh School grounds.