24/07/2022 Coach - Caldbeck

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Back o´ Skidda with John Parkinson

12.34 miles (19.86km) with 2363ft (720m) Total Ascent

Today´s gentle route takes us on a round of the green and undulating Northern Fells.

Taking the Cumbria Way out of the tourist metropole that is Caldbeck, we head onto Caldbeck Common where mineral mining started in the 13th century. From the top of High Pike we wind down past the Lingy Hut bothy before squelching up Knott and over Great Sca Fell onto the final peak of Brae Fell. From there the decent takes us past that favourite of adolescent boys, Willy Knott and over Dale Beck before beginning the long walk-in to Caldeck where a refreshing cup of tea, cooling ice cream or foaming beer awaits. 

B+ Walk - High Pike with Sue Banister

9½ miles (15km) with 1903ft (580m) Total Ascent

We will leave the coach at Caldbeck and head south through fields to Townhead, Crook Bank and Potts Gill, then start the long steady climb to the summit of High Pike at 2159ft (658m).

We will hopefully have good views of the Solway Firth and Scottish Border hills to the north and to the south the Lakeland hills of Skiddaw and Blencathra.

Our descent takes us past the disused mine at Birket then down to Wood Hall and Hesket Newmarket.

From here we drop down to a footbridge over Cald Beck and follow the Cumbria Way back to Caldbeck village.

B Walk - Caldbeck & The Cumbria Way with Dorothy Dobson

8 miles (12.9km) with 1100ft (335m) Total Ascent

Caldbeck is a picturesque village and the churchyard is the burial place of the famous John Peel.

From the church we join the Cumbria Way, and after a short climb, descend to a woodland path for a while before reaching the village of Hesket Newmarket. Passing through fields, which include two natural meadows, full of wild flowers, (a sight to behold!) we reach Wood Hall. Here we change direction and climbing open hillside, we traverse westwards to rejoin the Cumbria Way, through Nether Row to Caldbeck.

C Walk - Caldbeck circular with Bill Manning

5½ miles (8.8km) with 328ft (100m) Total Ascent

Starting our walk from Caldbeck, we make our way to the main streets or the toilet stop. Continuing, we head for Welpo Beck to follow the tree lined path to the Howk Bobbin Mill. Leaving here by the way of two sets of steps we continue along field paths to the Hamlet of Welpo.

After crossing the road bridge we turn right before passing through a farm yard. We now climb up grassy paths before joining a short walk the road. We now reach further field paths taking us to Moorhouse and Little Fellside to reach the Cumbrian Way, leading to Potts Hill, Crook Bank, Nether Row, we carry on through fields and tracks to Street head, Town Head back to Caldbeck for the cafe and shops, John Peels grave and the Priests Mill.

20/07/2022 - Stroller - Haslam Park

Haslam Park with 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.

Meet at the car park Bristow Avenue, Ashton, Preston. (Sat Nav: PR2 1JE), then afterwards to be advised.

14/07/2022 - Thursday Car - Ribchester

B Walk - Walk of the Angels with Stuart & Judith

7 miles (11km) with 700ft (213m) Total Ascent

The starting point has been changed to the main car park in Ribchester (Sat Nav: PR3 3YH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We start by walking through Parsonage Farm and then onto Lord´s Farm. Now we will cross over the B6245 road at the corner by the Angel´s restaurant. We then follow the minor track to Spring´s Farm. We cross Green Moor Lane and then Stoneygate Lane before descending through Davies Gate Wood and into Duddle Wood via Duddle Hill. We then drop down to Gallows Lane and return to the start via Little Stydd wood to come out by the Ribchester Arms and our return through Ribchester to the car park.

10/07/2022 Sunday Car - Calder Vale

B Walk - Calder Vale with Stuart & Judith

7½ miles (12km) and not too strenuous with about 400ft (122m) of climbing.

Meet at Calder Vale (Sat Nav: PR3 1SD - Nearest Post Code), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We will start our walk in Calder Vale. Parking may be limited in the bottom and we might have to park on the roadside.

This is a very pleasant walk in a beautiful area of Bowland with lots of long views to the coast with the fells of Parlick, Fairsnape and Bleasdale as our backdrop.

We will walk up the valley to the church and then across the fields to Stang Yule. Here we will follow the track past Bleasdale Tower where we will turn right and cross fields to High Moor farm, Huds Brook farm and Butt Hill farm before turning up the track to Cobble Hey and Landskill farms before dropping back down into Calder Vale.

26/06/2022 Coach Walk - Loggerheads & Rhuthun

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Moel Arthur & Moel Famau with Stuart Drysdale

13¼ miles (21.3km) with 2900ft (884m) Total Ascent

We leave Loggerheads following the River Alyn north, and then head for Cilcain. Taking field paths we head north-west past Tre-lan to Firwood Farm, from where we head south-west to Moel Arthur, the site of an Iron Age hill fort. Here we pick up the Offa´s Dyke Path to the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau. Building began on the tower in 1812 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of George III, but it was never completed and was destroyed by a storm in 1862. We then head down north-east, then over Ffrith Mountain to Loggerheads for refreshments and the coach home. 

B+ Walk - A Traverse Of Moel Famau with Dave Colbert

10½ miles (17km) with 2000ft (620m) Total Ascent

This walk takes in the highest summit in Bryniau Clwyd and a section of the Offa´s Dyke National Trail (Llwybr Clawdd Offa).

From Loggerheads, we follow the Afon Alun northward for a short distance before crossing it to contour round the slopes of Ffrith Mountain. There is then a short descent to Cae Newydd before a lengthy but gradual climb takes us to a col on the ridge of Bryniau Clwyd, where we meet the Offa´s Dyke National Trail. Here we turn south, following the ridge for some distance over Moel Dywyll before reaching the summit of Moel Famau, at 555m/1,820ft the high point of Bryniau Clwyd with views extending from Snowdonia across to the Pennines on a clear day. We then descend gradually to Bwlch Penbarra, where we leave the Offa´s Dyke National Trail to continue down to Rhuthun (Ruthin) by way of Teiran and field tracks and paths. Mwynhau!!

B Walk - Loggerheads and Maeshafn with Barbara & Alan

7¾ miles (12.75km) with 1000ft (304.8m) Total Ascent

From Loggerheads car park we turn left on to the A494 for a few yards then crossing the road we turn right towards Cholomendy Outdoor Centre (this was used by children from inner cities such as Liverpool) to experience the outdoors. We then enter woods and continue for approx ½ mile emerging onto a lane where we turn left towards the edge of Maeshafn. We then turn sharp right signed posted Pentre Cerrig and follow this into woods.

Further on we reach Maeshafyn where we find the Miners Arms. Following the road to a junction we turn left here to enter on our right Moel Findeg Nature Reserve which then takes us to the summit of Moel Findeg which has extensive views considering the modest hill.

We then make our way downhill and after passing quarries and several fields we reach the road at Gwernymynydd, crossing the road we follow a track for little over ½ mile. We then emerge on to the road again and crossing to the opposite side to find “Deborahs Well” where there is a plaque engraved. Deborah lived nearby and when Cholera came to the area she arranged for those affected to move to higher ground but did not understand that Cholera was a water born disease. A hospital was built and all was well until the cholera spread and Deborah was accused of cursing those affected and thus was sentenced to burning by the villagers and so the hospital with all those inside including Deborah were killed when the building was set on fire. We then carry on further through woods where we follow a footpath back to a T junction and here turn left to retrace our steps back to the road and a short walk back to the car park.

Alternatively we could turn right and continue down some steep steps back to the tea garden.

C Walk - Ruthin Circular with Sylvia Rymer & Barbara Malloy

7 miles (11.2km) with 164ft (50m) Total Ascent

The walk starts from Ruthin Craft Centre/Coach Park. Toilets are available.

After leaving Ruthin, we climb to Ty´n y ceau and then down to the River Clywedog. Alongside the river is a footpath known as Lady Bagot´s Drive which leads us to the head of the gorge. Then we follow an upper path to Rhewl village and return to Ruthin by fields and the River Clwyd. 

15/06/2022 Stroller - Glasson Dock

Glasson Dock with Trudy Kirkham

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 Conder Green picnic site (Sat Nav: LA2 0AN), then afterwards Stork hotel, Carricks Lane, Conder green (LA2 0AN).

Turn left coming from Preston at the Stork hotel down a single track road to get to the picnic site carpark.

A circular walk, fairly level, with no stiles on tracks and grass, with a small amount on the road., Plus a chance to visit the smokehouse at Glasson. There are free toilets at Conder Green, but a parking charge of £1 a day, paid by card at the machine. There are more loos at Glasson they are 20p. We finish with lunch at the Stork hotel carricks lane Conder green LA2 0AN.

09/06/2022 Thursday Car - Newton Easington Fell circular

B Walk - Newton Easington Fell circular with Susan Douglass 

7 miles (11km) with 790ft (232m) Total Ascent

Meet at Newton in Bowland Car Park (on the left as you leave the village on the road to Slaidburn) (Sat Nav: Nearest BB7 3EB), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

No details available.

29/05/2022 Coach Walk - Pateley Bridge

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Nidderdale Way with Stuart Drysdale

13½ miles (22km) with 1700ft (518m) Total Ascent

From the coach we follow the Nidderdale Way past the old lead mines at Ashfold Side Beck and on though Heathfield down to Gouthwaite Reservoir. Unfortunately we have a long road walk alongside the reservoir to Ramsgill, from where we head to Longside Farm to we pick up the Nidderdale Way again all the way back to Pateley Bridge for refreshments and the coach home. 

B+ Walk - Nidderdale Way with Val Walmsley

10.4 miles (16.5km) with 676ft (205m) Total Ascent

Join Nidderdale Way west uphill passing Eagle Hall, Riggs House to cross disused quarry to Moss Bottom. North to Heathfield then alongside Gouthwaite Reservoir for about 2 miles to Ramsgill. Here cross Nidd bridge to Bouthwaite & rejoin way on east side of reservoir passing Coville House Farm thro´ Spring Wood to Old Norse village of Wath & returning alongside the river Nidd to Pateley Bridge to view its attractions.

B Walk - Brimham Rocks with Stuart Arnold

8½ miles (13.6km) with 985ft (300m) Total Ascent

We begin our walk today on the car park at Pateley Bridge. From here we cross the bridge and walk up the main street to take the panorama walk which is fairly steep at the beginning. We are now on the Nidderdale way which we follow for much of the way to Brimham rocks going through the nice little Hamlet of Blazefield.

After passing white houses we leave the Nidderdale way to walk near High North Pasture Farm. We follow a good path to the National Trust boundary notice and turn right to begin our walk through the wierdly shaped rocks which have been eroded by glaciation and weathering. If we get a move on on this first part of the walk we should be able to spend some time walking around the rocks to view the “Idol” the “Eagle” the “Lovers´ Leap” and many more. At the visitor centre we can purchase drinks and have a toilet stop. From here we drop down to the river Nidd which we will follow back to our starting point.

This is a beautiful walk in a lovely area of the countryside with the culmination of the spectacular rock formations which are truly impressive.

C Walk - Nidderdale Circular with Sylvia Rymer & Barbara Malloy

6 miles (9.7km) with 577ft (176m) Total Ascent

Most of the walk is on good paths, mainly small lanes and tracks. There is only one stone stile!

We climb steadily out of Pateley Bridge towards Eagle Hall where we join the Nidderdale Way. Walking westwards with panoramic views, we pass Riggs House and Hillend to Brandstone Dub Bridge. From there we follow the path up to the old lead mines and round the spoil heaps, down to the bridge over Ashford Side Beck. It´s all downhill from now on, along the beck and through caravan parks to Corn Close.

We return to Pateley Bridge alongside the River Nidd.

18/05/2022 Stroller - Stanley Park, Blackpool

Stanley Park with Roy Smith

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 West Park Drive, Blackpool (Sat Nav:FY3 9HU), then afterwards at the Art Deco Cafè on the park.

15/05/2022 Sunday Car - Brinscall

B Walk - Brinscall with Dorothy Dobson

7¾ miles (12.5km) with mainly flat walking.

Meet at Brinscall Baths (Sat Nav: PR6 8QU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Fingers crossed, I am hoping that the bluebells will be in bloom when I lead this walk.

From Brinscall we take a path for about a mile through a nature reserve to eventually cross the A675 north of Abbey Village. Staying straight ahead we then turn south to follow an undulating path through the wood and alongside the reservoir. We then pass over fields before reaching a lane to come out by Hare and Hounds. Here we take a good wide path to walk all the way round Roddlesworth reservoir, back by Abbey Village to retrace our steps to Brinscall.

Apart from two short inclines the walk is mainly flat and should be enjoyable.