25/06/2023 Coach Walk - Pooley Bridge & Glenridding

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Pooley Bridge to Glenridding Gallop with John Parkinson

13.7 miles (22km) with 3,222ft (982m) Total Ascent

We start in Pooley Bridge where the last sign of the flooding caused by Storm Desmond is the new stainless steel, single carriageway bridge which replaces the former bridge originally built in 1764. It being June and the likelihood of flooding being reduced, we will walk briskly rather than wade out of the village to join the High Street Roman Road leading through Moor Divock and its Bronze Age remains in terrain where lived the Brigantes, the Celtic tribe who populated the area before the Roman arrival. The most notable of the remains include the Cockpit Stone Circle.

The long ascent leads us to Loadpot Hill, from where we can enjoy dramatic vistas across Ullswater to Helvellyn and its edges - visibility permitting. At the rear side of Loadpot we descend steeply to Martindale Common via Brownthwaite and Nettlehowe Crags. Passing St Martins church, believed to be originally founded in 1220, we turn back on ourselves to follow the valley road to Dale Head. Heading upwards to Bedafell Knott and then onto Boredale Hause from where we start the descent to Patterdale and the road back to Glenridding where the coach awaits us. 

B+ Walk - Boredale with Stuart Arnold

9½ miles (15.3km) with 2,300ft (701m) Total Ascent

From Glenridding we walk along the road to Patterdale and turn off to Side Farm. Here we turn south east and climb up to Boredale Hause. From here we climb Place Fell for hopefully beautiful views of the Lake District countryside. Over the top we drop down to Garth Heads. Here we touch a minor road which we follow as we walk up the Boredale valley. After climbing Hause Crag we get back to Boredale Hause and retrace our steps back to Glenridding.

B Walk - Glenridding Circular with Barbara & Alan Gilbert

7 miles (11.2km) with 800-1,000ft (244-305m) Total Ascent

This is a substitute walk than previously shown on website.

We leave Glenridding passing the entrance to Ullswater Streamer Company before reaching St Patrick´s Well then on until we reach the edge of Patterdale before entering Grisedale, now on an ancient route connecting Goldwater to Grasmere. On approaching Elmhow Farm we see the towering presence of Dollywagon Pike and the steep sides of St Sunday Crag.

There maybe time to visit Grisedale Tarn. On returning back to Grisedale below Striding Edge before reaching Lantys Farm and a track taking us to Keldas before making our way back to Glenridding.

C Walk - Lanty´s Tarn with Margaret Oliver

6 miles (9.7km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

This walk was last lead by Derek Lowe in May 2006.

From the car park in Glenridding (toilets available - card only) we commence the walk up the valley following the Glenridding Beck until we reach Eagle Farm. Then the climb up on a stone pitched path to Lanty´s tarn begins. The views down to Ullswater and the surrounding fells given good weather are wonderful. We continue downhill to cross Grisedale Beck and across fields and up through woodland to Patterdale (toilet stop). We then cross Goldrill Bridge to the other side of Ullswater picking up the footpath towards Side Farm and the final field path and pavement back to Glenridding.

There are two opportunities to reduce the mileage on this walk if needs be.

The paths are mostly stony, rocky and stone pitched paths with no stiles.

21/06/2023 Stroller - Longton Brickcroft

Longton Brickcroft with Bill & Marie

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 Car park off Liverpool Road, Longton (Sat Nav: PR4 5YY).

After walk - A meal / refreshments at the Arches restaurant in Embleys nurseries, Liverpool Road, Much Hoole (Sat Nav: PR4 4RL). 

08/06/2023 - Thursday Car - Dunsop Bridge and Newton Round

B Walk - Dunsop Bridge and Newton Round with Susan Douglass

7.2 miles (11.7km) with 699ft (213m) Total Ascent

Meet at Dunsop Bridge Car Park (Sat Nav: BB7 3BB - Pay and display), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From Dunsop Bridge we walk up Beatrix fell and across to Newton via Rough Syke Barn and Bull Lane. After lunch in Newton, we follow the Hodder back to the start on the ‘Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail’ via Foulscales, Giddy Bridge and Knowlmere Manor.

28/05/2023 Coach Walk - Hawes

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Great Shunner Fell & Lovely Seat with Stuart Drysdale

13½ miles (22km) with 2,300ft (701m) Total Ascent

From Hawes we head to Hardraw to pick up the Pennine Way to the top of Gt Shunner Fell, at 2,349 ft Yorkshires third highest peak, then follow the fence down to the Butter Tubs road, from where we have a climb up onto Lovely Seat (2,215 ft). We now head back to the road and go down it to the Simonstone Hotel where we take a path across fields to Sedbusk and back down to Hawes for refreshments and the coach home.

B+ Walk - An Uredale Ramble with Meriel Nutter

12 miles (19km) with 1,600ft (488m) Total Ascent

Leave the coach at Hawes. Climb southwards steadily on paths and tracks to reach Beggarmans Road. Continue climbing south to reach the Cam High Road which we follow all the way to Bainbridge for a late lunch on the green. After crossing the River Ure we head back towards Hawes partly along a disused railway then farm tracks, paths and minor roads.

Happy rambling.

B Walk - Hawes, Hardraw & Pike Hill with Alan & Barbara Gilbert

8½ miles (13.5km) with 1,030ft (314m) Total Ascent

We leave Hawes to make our way to Hardraw and then branch off towards Simonstone, eventually entering Shaw Gill Wood with many waterfalls.

We then make a steady climb up the road before turning right just beyond Shivery Gill towards Pike Hill with many spectacular views. Finally we descend to Shutt Lane passing through Sedbusk down to Haylands Bridge (which is a packhorse bridge) before retracing our steps back to Hawes for some much needed refreshments.

C Walk - Here there and everywhere with Joe Brennand

6¼ miles (10km) with 550ft (167m) Total Ascent

We will go clockwise from Hawes towards hayland bridge to find the Pennine way which we follow to Hardraw, we continue up to the Simonstone hotel and onto sedbusk. From here we go back to hayland bridge and then follow Widdale beck to Spillian green, onto Cross rigg and then back to Hawes for a brew and cakes.

17/05/2023 Stroller - Astley Park, Chorley

Astley Park with Barry Hayhurst

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 Evaders” memorial garden adjacent to the car park on Hallgate, Chorley (Sat Nav: PR7 1XA), then afterwards at “The Astley” public house, just across the road from the car park on Hallgate.

From the Evaders garden we make our way to Dog Trap Wood, continuing along the perimeter of the park to the Park road gates before heading to the Sensory Gardens and War memorials.

From here we take a little detour and pay a visit to Pets Corner a social enterprise scheme run by The Brothers of Charity, where they have “fluffy animals”, tortoise, reptiles ect; (a small donation to the upkeep maybe required).

We now retrace our steps back to Great Wood following the course of the River Chor. On leaving the woods we make our way to the newly re-stored Grade 1, 17th century Astley Hall, its lake, Walled (Victorian) garden and coach house.

Throughout our stroll look out for many various varieties of flora and fauna eg: Bluebells, Wood Anemone, Marsh Marigold and more along with Mistle Thrush, Tree Creeper, Jay, Goosander. Or catch a fleeting glance of a Kingfisher or Sparrow Hawk.

Just a reminder that the woodland paths could muddy, so remember to wear the appropriate footwear.

After our Jolly jaunt around the park all are invited to retire to The Astley Village Inn (across the car park) for a little refreshments, if you wish.

14/05/2023 Sunday Car - Rivington & The Wellington Crash Memorial

B Walk - Rivington with Roy Smith

5½ miles (8.9km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

Meet at the lower barn i.e. The Great House Barn, Rivington (Sat Nav BL6 7SB), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the lower barn we head northwards along the side of Lower Rivington Reservoir. At Rivington we enter field paths and make our way to and walk along the eastern side of Yarrow Reservoir. From the northern end of the reservoir we head uphill winding our way until we reach the War Memorial.

After a short break here we head northwest to Jepson´s Gate, where we meet a minor road and follow it downhill to a recognised viewpoint overlooking Anglezarke Reservoir. Some more road walking takes us to woodland and country tracks, which lead us back to the village of Rivington. From here we retrace our steps back to our starting point.

11/05/2023 Thursday Car - Tarleton

B Walk - Tarleton with Barbara Gilbert

6½ miles (10.5km) with flat walking

Meet at Car Park back of Spa (Sat Nav: PR4 6TU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

No details available.

30/04/2023 Coach Walk - Llangollen

April

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

A Walk - Eglwyseg & Moel y Gamelin with Dave Colbert

13½miles (22km) with 3,450ft (1,050m) Total Ascent

Starting from the centre of Llangollen, we cross the Afon Dyfrdwy and storm the hill fort of Castell Dinas Bran. A trail that purports to follow the dyke built by some ancient bloke called Offa (although Professor Bewaldeth from the University of Snittlegarth begs to differ) will then take us north below the tremendous limestone ramparts of Creigiau Eglwyseg (the Dales has nothing on this scale) to Plas yn Eglwyseg, where the long climb to Bwlch Oernant (Horseshoe Pass) begins; beware of bikers at the summit.

At 577m / 1,893ft Moel y Gamelin is the highest point on Maesyrychen Mountain, itself the highest of the Bryniau Clwyd. The leisurely descent to Rhewl precedes a short climb to Llandynan to avoid too much tarmac bashing. We then return to Llangollen along the canal towpath from Berwyn, although for a fee you could catch a steam train. Mwynhau!! 

B+ Walk - Castle & Canal with Stuart Arnold

13 miles (20.9km) with 1070ft (326m) Total Ascent

We leave Llangollen along the canal and by the river Dee as far as Valle Crucis abbey (Valley of the cross), near to Eliseg´s Pillar, a 9th century medieval cross. We then join the Clwydian Way southwards to Castle Dina´s Bran. This medieval castle sits on the site of an Iron Age hill fort with great views from the top.

We then press onwards to Offah´s Dyke path in a south easterly direction on a panoramic walk through Trevor Hall Wood to Trevor where we cross the river Dee with a view of the aqueduct above and to the left. When we reach Froncysyllte we cross the canal and return on the dramatic aqueduct 1000ft long and 226ft above the river Dee. We join the Llangollen canal back to our starting point.

The aqueduct is one I have long wanted to see and walk across and I hope you will all enjoy the experience.

B Walk - Canal, Abbey & Castle. with Alan & Barbara Gilbert

8 miles (12.87km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

Leaving Llangollen we cross the bridge spanning the river Dee heading towards the Llangollen Canal. Here we turn left making our way to Horseshoe Falls. We then take a path to Llantysilio Church (with an option to have a look inside the church). We then make our way signposted to Velvet Hill, which we skirt before dropping to the road and Vale Crucis Abbey where we can stop for lunch (there are toilets here). Passing through a Caravan Park by the Abbey to cross a bridge and up a flight of steps to continue along a track before climbing up to the 13th Century ruin of Castell Dinas Bran with spectacular views. After descending back to a signpost which takes us back into Llangollen for some well earned refreshments.

C Walk - Meet the boys Hercules, Harley & Tobias with Joe Brennand

6 miles (9.7km) with 475ft (145m) Total Ascent

From the coach we walk to the wharf then take the canal tow path to Pentrefelin, then onto the remains of valle Cruise abbey and onwards to abbey cottage. Following the historic trail to Bryn Hyfryd we join the Offa´s dyke path pasting Tan-y-Castell before going round the hill of Castell Dinas and back to the wharf were we will meet the boys?

There is a cafè and a nice cream tea is available, also teas and coffees, or just a walk round the shops - approx 6 Miles

19/04/2023 Stroller - Rivington

Rivington and Yarrow Reservoir 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 Rivington Café car park (Sat Nav: BL6 7SE), then afterwards at at the Café, Horrobin Ln, Rivington, Bolton. Map grid reference: SD625144 .

Please Note: This is NOT the Great House Barn café but the Rivinton Café opposite the school in Rivington village.

Walk distance: 3 miles with very little climbing.

Starting our walk from the café we walk along a track at the easterly side of the Upper Rivington Reservoir. The track eventually leads us to the Yarrow Reservoir and a minor road which we now take downhill to Anglezarke Reservoir. From here we now take the track along the westerly side of the Upper Rivington Reservoir back to Horrobin Lane. A short walk along the lane gets us back to our start point.

16/04/2023 Sunday var - Brinscall

B Walk - Brinscall with Dorothy Dobson

6½ to 7 miles (10.5 to 11km) with mainly flat walking

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

Apart from two short steepish climbs it is relatively flat and an enyoyable walk!

From Brinscall we walk for about a mile through a nature reserve before eventually reaching the A675 north of Abbey Village. Still in the same direction we follow the path to then head south into a wood which I hope will be covered in bluebells! Then through fields and a good track to reach Hare and Hounds where we have splendid tracks to the reservoir. Depending on the weather the walk can be cut short here otherwise we go round the reservoir and back through Abbey Village to retrace our steps to Brinscall.