14/12/2023 Thursday Car - Garstang

Meet at Garstang car park (Sat Nav: PR3 1WZ), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Garstang with Chris Cook
7 miles (11km) with slight undulations

Leaving the car by the river, under the bridge, following the River Wyre over the ford to Woodacre Hall. Going over the M6 down to Parkhead Farm, later back over M6 then onto the canal path under the aqueduct and back to where we started.

Happy Days.

10/12/2023 Coach Walk - Ambleside & Grasmere

December

8:00 Start with 16:30 (4:30pm) Return

A Walk - The Lion and the Lamb with John Parkinson

9.1 miles / 14.6km with 1,650ft / 503m Total Ascent

After chatting to A walk colleagues on Sunday I reccied today what I thought would be a slightly shorter walk with less altitude reflecting the likely December conditions and walk time available. The conditions were atrocious with flooding and overflowing streams requiring diversions and considerable care on descents.

Given the time available on the December walk and the reasonable probability of continuing conditions in this area, I´m therefore proposing a shorter walk with less altitude:

Leave Grasmere towards Lancrigg, we´ll ascend sharply via White Crag and High Raven Crag to Helm Crag. Following the ridge line through Bracken Hause to Gibson Knott, Moment Crag, Pike of Carrs and on to Calf Crag. Descending via Brownrigg Moss we´ll turn back over Grasmere Common and Far Easedale before heading back via Stenners Crag and Cockly Crag to Easdale tarn. Turning sharply, we´ll start the descent of Easdale and back into Grasmere. 

B+ Walk - Easedale Tarn & Silver How OR  Around Loughrigg with Katie Clenshaw

7 or 8 miles / 11.12 or 12.45km with 1800ft / 550m Ascent.

The route taken will depend on the weather on the day. The Loughrigg option, which is lower, is the backup option. Both routes start and finish at Grasmere and total ascent for each is the same. However the Loughrigg route is about a mile longer.

Easedale Tarn and Silver How route: We start by walking through the village towards Allen Bank and Goody Bridge, then take the path along Easedale Beck, past the waterfalls on Sour Milk Gill, to Easedale Tarn. From the Tarn we take a path heading south west to reach the ridge just east of Blea Crag. At 1600ft, this is the highest point of the walk. We continue east along the ridge, past Great Castle How, Little Castle How, Swinscar Pike and Lang How to Silver How. From here we can descend to Grasmere via Wray Gill and Allen Bank. Alternatively, if we have made good progress we can continue roughly SSW along the grassy top of Silver How then down towards Spedding Crag to descend via Kelbarrow.

Note - this walk has some steep sections on the descent, but these are short and not difficult and we should have plenty of time if we need it. Some parts are boggy, and there are streams to cross (or paddle through).

Around Loughrigg route: We head out of the village, past Dove Cottage to take the Coffin Route as far as Rydal. After a short distance on the main road, we turn right to take the road alongside the River Rothay before taking the path up hill alongside Fox Ghyll. We continue past Ivy Crag and Loughrigg Tarn then take the upper path at The How. As this is a B+ walk, I´ve included a climb to the top of Loughrigg. Just before a stream and a wood, we take a steep path to the top where we should have views of the higher fells all around.

We descend Loughrigg to Loughrigg Terrace, then skirt round the hill to the road. From here we take the path through Red Bank Wood, which eventually rejoins the road back to Grasmere.

B Walk - Coffing Trail & Loughrigg Terrace with Margaret Oliver

8 miles (12.9km) with 750ft (229m) Total Ascent

From Grasmere village car park we head towards and past Dove Cottage and climb steeply up following the Coffin trail to Rydal Hall and the main road where we cross over Pelter Bridge.

Another climb leads us to footpaths with views of Rydal Water and onto Loughrigg Terrace which we follow to Redbank Woods and down to the shores of Grasmere. A short road walk takes us to the centre of Grasmere for refreshments and the coach.

C Walk - Ambleside to Grasmere with Dorothy Dobson

5.5 miles (8.9km) with 400ft (122m) Ascent.

The walk is a linear from the centre of Ambleside to the centre of Grasmere. It passes through some beautiful countryside with magnificent views over the two lakes to the fells beyond.

We pass initially through St Mary´s church grounds and then through Rothay park. Following a very minor road we reach Pelter bridge. Here we follow the track which leads us around the shores of Rydal water and then Grasmere. We then leave the lake shore and walk into Grasmere via Red Bank road. We hope you all enjoy this lovely walk.

06/12/2023 Stroller Walk - Christmas Lunch

The Travellers Rest, Dawbers Lane, Euxton.(Sat Nav: PR7 6GE). 

Meet 12:15am for 12:30pm. 

Christmas Meal
To book contact Bary Hayhurst Email: strollers @pdwc.org

A £10 deposit per person is required. Christmas sweaters , Ties , tinsel and other adornments optional.

26/11/2023 Sunday Car - Fulwood Circular

Meet at Moor Park car park opp Preston North End (Sat Nav:PR1 6RU)
ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Fulwood Circular (by popular demand) with Chris Airey
8 miles / 12.9km with mainly flat walking

Fulwood circular walk. 

15/11/2023 Stroller - Moss Side, Leyland

Moss Side 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 Leyland Warriors rugby league club car park, at the end of Moss Side Way (Sat Nav: PR26 7XU), then afterwards at the Midge Hall Pub, Midge Hall Lane (next to the level crossing. Sat Nav: PR26 6TN).

A circular stroll taking in some fields (appropriate footwear), part of a nature reserve ( ? ), and some well laid footpaths / bridleways. May catch a glimpse of a Kingfisher, Jay, Wagtails, Heron or a Buzzard (maybe ?).

12/11/2023 Coach Walk - Malham (North Yorkshire)

8:00 start with 16:30 return

A Walk - Black Hill and Great Close Hill with Graham Hogg

10½ miles (17km) with 1550ft (475m) Total Ascent

From the Visitor Centre Car park we make our way to Malham Cove and ascend steeply to the limestone pavement for views out over Malham and beyond.

Heading north along Watlowes Dry Valley we emerge at Langscar Gate and join the Dales High Way and head for Black Hill (468m). There is no trig point or cairn but its the highest point on our walk today.

Descending north we exit the open access land near Capon Hall and then have some road walking before we join the Malham Tarn Estate path near Tarn Moss. For a change, we´ll take the boardwalk path around the nature reserve at the northern edge of the tarn before heading to the bird hide for a brew stop.

From here, we proceed to climb Great Close Hill (465m) with its expansive views on a clear day. A careful descent to avoid the steep crags brings us to Great Close Mire and a well graded path which we´ll follow to Street Gate near Seaty Hill.

Our route now takes us to the head of Gordale Scar. It is too risky to attempt a reverse descent down the waterfall so instead we follow a path which hugs the high western flank of the gorge. There are plenty of vantage points for dramatic views down into the confines of the gorge and at one point the waterfall is fully visible.

The disadvantage of staying high along the gorge edge is inevitably a steep descent down to Goredale Bridge. (Walking poles may prove useful here). There´s no rush, so we´ll take care on the descent and once in the valley it is a straight forward return to the village by way of Janet´s Foss waterfall.

B+ Walk - Langcliffe Loop with Sue Banister

10½ miles (16.9km) with 1400ft (427m) Total Ascent

We head up through Malham village towards the cove but continue on the road to join a footpath climbing up towards Langscar Gate. We then head west on the Pennine Bridleway over the moors to Langcliffe. The views up here are superb on a good day including Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.

At Jubilee Caves we go south along Brent Scar and Attermire Scar then join the Dales High Way heading east past Rye Loaf Hill and Kirkby Fell. It´s then downhill to Malham via Hanber Side and Hoober Edge.

B Walk - Malham Circular with Stuart Arnold

8 miles (12.9km) with 1150ft (350m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach we cross the footbridge at the Smithy and go downstream to follow the path to Janet´s Fosse and on to Gordale Scar for a look only.

Back at Gordale Bridge we go up a gentle slope which takes us to the fell top at New Close Knotts. Here we take a good grassy path going north westwards on to Malham Tarn. On our return we join the Pennine way for a short way and then take the path to Dean Moor Hill. This allows us to avoid the rocky path around Comb Hill, Comb Scar and the dry valley which in bad weather can be hazardous. So we turn south to take field paths for just over a mile to Cove Road.

Here we turn left and then right onto Long Lane to arrive back at the start and a well deserved brew.

C Walk - A whispering to the faries with Joe Brennand

5 miles (8km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

We set off fron the coach park south towards mires barn on to Janets cave Gordale bridge then we trek up to gordale scar retrace our steps back to Gordale bridge take the path to climb slowely to malham cove and follow path back into malham and the pub or tea house for refreshments there is ONLY one stile, but there is 420 steps coming down from Malham cove.

09/11/2023 Thursday Car - Yealand Conyers and Leighton Moss

Meet at Yealand Conyers. Park on the roadside near St. Mary’s Catholic church (Sat Nav: LA5 9SF), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Yealand Conyers and Leighton Moss with Susan Douglass

7.2 miles (11.6km) with 849ft (259m) Total Ascent

This circular walk starts in Yealand Conyers, heads west to Silverdale then back across Leighton Moss and past Leighton Hall.

The route uses fields, farm tracks, bridleways and some short road stretches. Limestone outcrops are a beautiful feature of the landscape and if the weather is clear there are great views of Morecambe bay. There is only one stile; otherwise it´s mainly stone gaps and kissing gates. There are two steep climbs: a short one in the middle and a longer one at the end (with lots of stops to admire the view!).

18/10/2023 Stoller - Much Hoole

Meet at St Michael´s CE Church - Liverpool Old Rd, Much Hoole 

(Postcode: PR4 5JQ / Grid reference: SD46292 22319)

Much Hoole with Jean Gabbatt

2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing 

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks, snacks or meals etc. and starts at 10:30am.

The walk follows the river Douglas, passing Tarleton Lock, on a well-defined and relatively dry track. On leaving the river the route first continues along a country lane and then returns to the church via a field.

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

15/10/2023 Coach Walk - Great Langdale

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Pike o'Blisco and Crinkle Crags with Dave Colbert

8½ miles (14km) with 3,500ft (1,060m) Total Ascent

Crinkle Crags dominates the rugged mountain range separating Great Langdale from Upper Eskdale, a formidable array of crags, buttresses and gullies creating a tremendous backdrop to the wild glacial hollow of Oxendale. Pike o’Blisco’s steep and rocky northern flank forms the massive south wall, and The Band, a lengthy shoulder rising from Stool End at the head of Great Langdale to the col at Three Tarns, the north.

On this walk we will traverse the Oxendale skyline, beginning with an ascent of the pyramid of Pike o’Blisco (705m/2,313ft) before confronting Crinkle Crags. A succession of rocky tors project abruptly from the latter’s serrated crest, requiring easy scrambling in places, including Wainwright’s ‘Bad Step’, an optional three metre rock wall below the highest Crinkle, Long Top (859m/2,817ft). The Band then provides a lengthy but straightforward means of descent.

Note that in the event of bad weather (heavy rain / strong winds etc), we will do a linear hike from Ambleside taking in Loughrigg Fell and Lingmoor Fell. This hike is approximately 10 miles in length with 3,250 feet of ascent.

B+ Walk - Great Langdale & Little Langdale with Stuart Arnold

10 miles (16km) with 750ft (229m) Total Ascent

From Elterwater go South West to Little Langdale passing Tarn at Slater Bridge and could do Cathedral Cave from here. Move on to Fell Foot Bridge now passing Ting Mound ancient monument, Castle Howe opposite and pick up path to Blea Tarn via Blea Moss bog.. Climb Side Pike for views of Langdale Pikes then down past camping site to pick up Cumbria Way at Middle Fell Farm. Continue to New Dungeon Gill and take bridleway south thro´ Great Langdale rejoining Cumbria Way thro´ Chapel Stile back to Elterwater. A very scenic and mainly easy route.

B Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Hotel via Cathedral Cave with Margaret Oliver

7½ miles (12km) with 1100ft (335m) Total Ascent

Leaving Skelwith Bridge we pass Skelwith Force and after crossing the footbridge over the River Rothay we join the Cumbria Way to Park Farm. Continuing on the Cumbria Way we head for Stang End then visit the spectacular Cathedral Cave. After crossing Slater Bridge we have a gradual ascent passing Dale End on the way to Baysbrown Wood and onto Oak house. Crossing Great Langdale Beck we head to the New Dungeon Hotel for some well deserved refreshments!

NOTE: There are no toilet facilities at the start of this walk. Also, at Dale End Farm there is usually a stall selling homemade cake (which is very good) at £1.50 a portion, paid by cash.

C Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll with Dorothy Dobson

6 miles (9.7km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Skelwith Bridge we follow the Cumbria Way via the waterfall to Elterwater (Toilets 30p). After a short climb out of the village we drop down to a path through some woods before arriving at Chapel Style (More toilets!). Here we leave the road immediately after the Wainwright Hotel to walk by the Langdale Beck. Crossing the Beck we go along field paths, (some can be a bit rough underfoot) to eventually reach Side House. From here we cross a bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll for refreshments and the coach.

12/10/2023 Thursday Car - Denham Hill & Brindle

Meet School Car Park on A6 Opposite Chemist Whittle-le-woods (Sat Nav: PR6 7HW), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

B Walk - Denham hill and Brindle with Dorothy Dobson
7 miles (11km) with undulating ascent

We cross the A6, climb many steps and various paths before going over the M61 to reach Birchin Lane. From here we take a footpath across fields to climb Denham Hill and pass through the quarry. We have now reached the highest point of the walk. A little road walking takes us to Top o´th Lane where there is a plaque on a wall which depicts the site of an orphanage over 100 years ago. Then we pass through more fields to reach the canal towpath. Following the path for a mile or so, we leave it at Lower Copthurst to retrace our steps to the car park.