29/03/2026 Coach Walk - Malham

8:00 start with 17:00 return

A Walk - Hanlith Moor, Weets Top & Great Close Hill with Graham Hogg

12 miles / 19.3 km with 1700 ft / 520 m Total Ascent

We leave the coach today at Kirkby Malham (The Victoria Inn) and proceed down Green Gate Lane, crossing the infant River Aire, before walking through the village of Hanlith.

Windy Pike Lane takes us up onto Hanlith Moor and later to Weets Top summit at 414 metres.

Our onward route from Weets Top is north towards and through the site of the Malham Roman Camp. During the Roman occupation, this was a temporary camp with low earth perimeter walls (still faintly visible today) and possibly topped with a wooden pallisade fence for added security. There were no permanent buildings, just large field tents. The camp was used as an overnight stop-over for army units moving north from the great military camp at York.

From the camp, we head towards and climb over Great Close Hill (465m) before descending and contouring the northern reaches of Malham Tarn.

After rounding the tarn, we aim straight for the Malham Moor Smelt Mill (Chimney) which was used to process lead and zinc ores from the mines on the nearby Pikedaw Hill.

Continuing across the moor, we soon reach Lang Scar and Dean Moor Hill before descending into the confines of the Watlowes dry valley.

At Malham Cove, instead of gingerly crossing the weathered limestone blocks atop the Cove, today we follow the eastern flank on the Dales High Way footpath, over Sheriff Hill, and then finally descending via Malham Rakes back to the village and the awaiting coach.

B+ Walk - Langcliffe Loop / Attermire Scar with Sue Banister
10.5 miles / 16.9 km with 1509 ft / 460 m Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Malham we head north west on a gradual climb via Hoober Edge and Hanber Side on Kirkby Fell to join the Dales High Way.

We follow the Dales High Way for a few miles to reach the spectacular sight of Attermire Scar and probably stop for lunch here.

It’s then north under the scar passing Victoria and Jubilee caves.

We now join the Pennine Bridleway heading east over the moors. There are splendid views of Ingleborough and Pen-y- ghent from this section.

When we reach Langscar Gate we turn south and drop back down into Malham.

B Walk - Malham circular taking in Malham Cove and Malham Tarn with Bob Evans
8.5 miles / 13.7 km with 1050 ft / 320 m Total Ascent

From the car park at Malham we head north on the eastern side of Malham Beck to Malham Cove. From here we head north along the Dales High Way avoiding Comb Hill and reaching Malham Tarn. We head around the Tarn and then south along the Cove Road back into Malham.

C Walk - A Trek to the Fairy with Chris Cook
6.5 miles / 10.5 km with 300 ft / 90 m Ascent Undulating.

On leaving the car park we turn R at the FP sign and head for Plousey Barn and onto Accrplate Farm. Bearing L from here to the FB. Then up to Grains Lane which takes us down to Kirkby Malham and the Cathedral of the Dales. From here  heading to Hanlith where we pick up Malham Beck passing alongside Scalegill Mill. Continuing along we skirt Malham and onto Janet’s Fosse( the fairy appears here from the cave @1pm but has been seen at other times). Then returning to Malham. Lovely walk. HAPPY DAYS.

18/03/2026 Stroller - Preston Marina

March

Start: 10:30am

Preston Marina with Barbara Malloy and Trudy Kirkham
2.5 to 3 miles with no stiles and little climbing  

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc.

Meet at 10.30am at B&M Bargains Car Park, Ashton-on-Ribble, PR2 2YN.

Call at Morrisons nearby for the toilets.

Lunch is at The Ribble Pilot, 35 Mariners Way, PR2 2YN

15/03/2026 Sunday Car - Longridge

March

Start 10:30am

C Walk - Longridge with Tony Ingham

5.5 miles (8.9 km) with 500 ft (150 m) Total Ascent

Meet at Longridge Civic Hall Car Park, 1 Calder Avenue (Sat Nav: PR3 3HT), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We leave the car park and walk south through the town to reach the two Alston Reservoirs. We continue south through several fields to Hothersall Lane where we switch direction north to Lower College Farm, then on to Higher College Farm, past the two Spade Mill Reservoirs and up to the disused Tootle Height and Greenbank Quarries. We then go south west past the two Dilworth Reservoirs and through Willows Park along the line of the old mineral railway back to the car park.

12/03/2026 Thursday Car - Arnside

March

Start: 10:30am 

B Walk - Arnside with Lynne Rowett
7.5 miles / 12.5 km with 880 ft / 270 m Total Ascent

Meet on Arnside Pier (Sat Nav: LA5 0HA), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the pier we set off along the promenade, passing through Grubbins Wood to reach New Barns bay. Dependant on the tide we will either continue along the coast and through Frith Wood or go via the caravan park to reach White Sands Bay. We then go along the coast to Far Arnside on to Elmslack, Eaves Wood, Middlebarrow Plain and eventually to Arnside Tower. From here we head over the Knot with lovely views of the surrounding area and back down to Arnside via Red Hills for well deserved refreshments.

Fingers crossed for a nice day

02/03/2026 Committee Meeting

March

Start: 7:00pm until 9:00pm

Committee Meetings are held on Mondays

Start at 7:00pm and finish at 9:00pm.

All members are welcome.

We meet at the Over 60s Club, Priory Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0AR.

01/03/2026 Coach Walk - Grasmere

March

8:00 start with 17:00 return

A Walk - Dove Crag & Fairfield with Dave Colbert

9.25 miles / 15 km with 3250 ft / 990 m Total Ascent

The ‘Fairfield Horseshoe’ is one of the Lake District’s classic fell walks and rightly so, and today we will hike around three quarters of it, taking in six of the eight ‘Wainwright’ tops on the round.  Starting from the Rydal Road car park just north of Ambleside town centre, we take the lane to Low Sweden Bridge before climbing onto the eastern arm of said horseshoe.  Our route is along the broad ridge taking in Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag and Hart Crag before reaching Fairfield itself, at 873m/2,865ft the highest point on the walk.  We then head for Great Rigg, leaving the horseshoe here to descend to Grasmere, grabbing a bonus ‘Wainwright’ Stone Arthur on the way.

Please note that weather and/or fell conditions on the day may necessitate an alternative, lower-level hike.  The weather thwarted us last year and may well do so again, particularly if the weather pattern at the time of writing persists.  Various options are available but unless it’s really bad, we will follow a linear route from Brockhole to Grasmere taking in Wansfell ridge and Loughrigg Fell.  This is 18km in length with 960m of ascent.

B+ Walk - Helm Crag and Far Easedale with Stuart Arnold
8.5 miles / 13.7 km with 2000 ft / 600 m Total Ascent

We walk out of Grasmere to Lancrigg where we start our climb of Helm Crag. Locally this is known as the "Lion and the Lamb." As you turn your head you can see another stone outcrop which is known locally as "The Howitzer".

We then continue our walk along the ridge to Gibson Knott and Calf Crag. Shortly after here we start our drop down off the ridge into Easedale Gill which we follow all the way back into Grasmere.

I can imagine on a fine clear day this is a lovely walk with excellent views of the Cumbria Fells. Unfortunately last year the mist was down and we saw nothing!!. I have looked at alternative walks for a poor day but all involve going high. So let's pray for a good day or I will have to stay low.

B Walk - Grasmere & Rydal with Lynne Rowett
7 miles / 11 km with 1030 ft / 314 m Total Ascent

Alighting the coach in Grasmere we go up Red Bank Road to join the track down to Grasmere lake. We follow the lake side path and then go on to the lower levels of Loughrigg Terrace eventually passing the caves created by quarrying. Dropping down to the Badger Bar and through the grounds of Rydal Hall (toilets) we then take the Coffin route to Town End branching off along the path that leads to Forest Side. Passing St Mary's Church we cross over the main road and take a track that leads us to the bridge over the river and back into Grasmere for refreshments. A lovely walk, lets hope the weather is kind to us.

C Walk - Grasmere Circular with Alan and Barbara Gilbert
6 miles / 9.7 km with 400 ft / 274 m Total Ascent

We leave car park (toilets available) making our way past Dove Cottage (home of William Wordsworth) towards the Coffin Trail which we walk along briefly to leave at White Moss which takes us to the A591 crossing the road to a footbridge on the edge of Grasmere Water, crossing the bridge continuing along the waters edge before a short climb to Red Bank Road which leads back to Grasmere. In reaching the village we turn left into Langdale Road then left down a track to Allan Bank. We pass Allan Bank down a track to Low Scorecrag and then downhill through fields to Goody Bridge, turning left into Easedale Road picking up a stone track leading to Lancrigg woodland walk. From here we take the road to Butharlyp Howe before turning left through the wood and continue to reach the A591. We then cross to take the lane at the side of the Swan Hotel which leads us to the grounds of Forest Side Hotel and back to A591 crossing again to follow field path back to the coach park and time for refreshments in Grasmere.

Colin Hunt

Many of you will already know that Colin Hunt passed away suddenly on Tuesday 17 February.

Colin had been a member of the club for many years and was President of the club from 1993 to 1997. He was also a prolific walk leader.

Colin set up the Thursday Walks programme in 2000, which many of us are still enjoying today, and was Thursday Walks Secretary until 2013.

Colin’s funeral will be held at 2pm on Thursday 19th March at Midge Hall Methodist Church, PR26 6TD, with refreshments in the church hall after the service.

18/02/2026 Stroller - Longridge

February

Start: 10:30am

Longridge with Tony Ingham
3 miles with little climbing  

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc.

Meet at 10.30am at the Civic Hall Car Park, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, PR3 3HT.

The walk will pass 4 of the 7 reservoirs in Longridge, 3 of the many quarries and also follow the lines of 2 of the old mineral railways. Lunch at Old Station Cafe.

NOTE : The Old Station Cafe would like us to choose our lunch options before we start the walk. Therefore please choose from the menu below and let Tony know when you arrive.

15/02/2026 Sunday Car - Calder Vale

February

Start 10:30am

C Walk - "Up the Valley to Bleasdale" with Stuart Arnold
5.5 miles (9 km) with 500 ft (150 m) Total Ascent

Meet at the bottom of Calder Vale opposite the mill, ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We will start our walk from opposite the mill at the bottom of Calder Vale and we will then walk up the valley past the mill pond to the church and school. Here we will then cross two fields to access the estate road down past Bleasdale tower. We then pass across fields to the Delph road which we walk up to the quarry and then back across fields and tracks to the start.

12/02/2026 Thursday Car - Hurst Green and Longridge Fell

February

Start: 10:30am 

B Walk - Hurst Green and Longridge Fell with Katie Clenshaw
8.5 miles /13.5 km with 1010 ft / 310 m Total Ascent

Meet outside the Memorial Hall, Avenue Road, Hurst Green (Sat Nav: BB7 9QB), ready for the usual start time 10:30am. There is street parking in Hurst Green. The hall has a car park costing £3, which I think we can use, unless there is an event on.

We start by following a lovely section of the Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail north west until we reach the road, where we follow a forest track, eventually reaching the trig point on Longridge Fell. We continue in an easterly direction towards Hare Hill, avoiding an area of large, fallen trees by taking a path slightly further south through smaller trees. This leads to another forest track, which we follow to the road near Bleak House. We then head south across fields, past the front of Stonyhurst College and back to Hurst Green.

Most of the paths are good, although there are some muddy parts, and rocks and tree roots on Longridge Fell. The climbing isn’t as steep or slippery as for my Nicky Nook walk in November.

01/02/2026 Coach Walk - Kettlewell

8:00 start with 17:00 return

A Walk - Conistone Moor & Great Whernside with Graham Hogg

12 miles / 19.3 km with 2000 ft / 610 m Total Ascent

Our walk today commences at Conistone Bridge, just south of Kilnsey, in upper Wharfedale.

We cross the River Wharfe and make our way through Conistone village before entering the “Dib”, a dry limestone valley which provides us with a scenic and entertaining 100 metres or so ascent to the Bycliffe Road.

Once on the “Road”, navigation is easy going and we soon enter the Mossdale Valley. 

At Mossdale Scar we will pause for a while to look for the memorial plaque and remember the six young students who tragically died in Britain’s worst ever caving accident after becoming caught in a flash flood within the Mossdale Cave system.

From here, the track continues through Mossdale and up onto Conistone Moor. Aiming for Hill End, we have a final steep pull up Sweet Hill before reaching the plateau where the trig pillar and summit cairn of Great Whernside (704m) are just a short distance away.

Depending upon the weather and time at this point, descent to Kettlewell will be either via Black Dike and Cam Head or alternatively a more direct route via Hag Dyke.

B+ Walk - Starbotton Out Moor with Sue Banister
9.5 miles /15 km with 1509ft / 460m Total Ascent

Starting at Kettlewell we walk east through the village then head north on Top Mere track. This takes us up Cam Head and over Starbotton Peat Ground to reach our high point of the walk on Starbotton Out Moor at 2060ft/628m.

We continue north to join the Walden Moor bridleway at which point we turn in a southerly direction to descend into the village of Starbotton.

It’s then back to Kettlewell along the River Wharfe on the Dales Way.

B Walk - The Dales Way to Kettlewell with Stuart Arnold
9 miles / 14.5 km with 900 ft / 275 m Total Ascent

This is a linear walk and we will get off the coach at Threshfield. We will then cross the main road and take a path down to the river to cross it at the Linton Falls. These are a very impressive site when the river is in full flood and really good at any time. After crossing the river we walk into Grassington and eventually find the Dales Way path which we will follow all the way to Kettlewell. On the way we will look down on Conistone and look across the valley to the very impressive Kilnsey crag.

C Walk - A circuit of the River Wharfe with Barbara Malloy and Sylvia Rymer
5 miles / 8 km with 164 ft / 50 m Total Ascent

The pleasant walk from Kettlewell to Starbotton follows a mainly level limestone terrace, slightly elevated above the River Wharfe. There are extensive views across Wharfedale, several sturdy stiles and sheep with unusual faces. The river is crossed at Starbotton which was almost destroyed by flood in 1686!

Having experienced the strenuous route back to Kettlewell via Moor End Fell, we decided the Dales Way path was more appropriate today, following the meandering River Wharfe.

The friendly Racehorses Hotel WILL definitely be open for refreshment and warm fires!.