Posts

KESWICK 13th October 2024

Image
  This was certainly a walk to remember - it started at 8.30 am instead of 7.30 am. The driver made a mistake and we were an hour behind for the rest of the day! The air conditioning in the coach was faulty – freezing going out and boiling coming back – and we still had a good day’s walking! And with an additional half hour’s walking, most groups continued with their planned routes. Three groups left the coach at Wythburn heading in a similar direction. Ian and Stuart’s groups crossed the Central Fells by the Harrop Tarn and Blea Tarn paths and dropped down into Borrowdale by Watendlath and Ashness Bridge. Just as Stuart’s group reached the shore of Derwentwater – there was the Launch! Just too good to miss.    Both groups did 11.0 miles and over 2000’ The Oldhams followed down the full length of the Central Fells ridge from Greenup Edge, over the Saddles and Grange Fell all the way up to Shepherds Crag and Keswick.   15 miles and 3000’ From Bridge End further down the valley, P
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  It was a very pleasant day for walking made all the more enjoyable by the comparison with the previous and subsequent days of continuous rain. Steph’s party were the first to leave the coach at Ings, to follow the Dubbs Road over the ridge to the Troutbeck Valley. They followed the path on eastern sides of the river up to Hagg Bridge and returned on the western side to the Old Post Office Tea Rooms and eventually Limefitt Park.   11m   1200’ Alan and Edwina started their walk by going over Orrest Head then using the Dubbs Road and Garburn Road to Troutbeck. From here followed the river using both the Ing and Hagg bridges and eventually back to Limefitt Park. 10m 1500’ The Oldhams set off on a mission. Keith wanted to do the Kentmere Round. It involved crossing the Garburn ridge, down Kentmere Reservoir and up the Nam Bield Pass and back along High Street and Thornthwaite and down Hagg Gill. 16 miles and 4000’   Mike and Gerry led their group up the valley to ascend to the Ton
Post a Comment
Read more

LEEK & THE ROACHES 14th September 2024

Image
  Stuart has kindly drafted the following account – Thank you Stuart   All five walks followed much of the routes sent out to members, however there were a few small diversions, owing to the persistent drizzle during most of the day. Rushton Spencer - Dane Bridge – Luds Church chasm – the Roaches - Rock Hall – Churnet Way and Leek. Views from the Roaches across Staffordshire for the two groups who did climb them, were non-existent. In fact the valleys on either side of the Roaches were not even visible for most of the time. Neither did those groups who stayed on lower routes get any sighting of the top of Roaches Four out of five groups left the coach at Rushton Spencer to begin walking, whilst Martin began from just north of Leek. John and Debbie followed the Coombs and Churnet Valleys and returned to Leek. Pat and Steph led their group along the Stafford Way beside the Rudyard Reservoir and then over to the Tittersworth and so to Leek. Everyone finished walking (gratefully!) in Leek
Post a Comment
Read more

GLENRIDDING via the KIRKSTONE 1st September 2025

Image
It was a different walking day. Accompanied by members of the Fraser Family, Mark’s ashes were scattered on the slopes of the Kirkstone Pass. It was a sad yet happy occasion and we were sure Mark would have appreciated our acknowledgement of his cheerful and professional contribution to our Club. And the walks started from the top of the Pass. Stuart led straight up Pike How with the target of six Wainwrights and a total ascent of 3000 feet. They crossed the Threshwaite and Thornthwaite divide, along High Street, Kidsty Pike and down by Angle Tarn and Boredale Hause. 11 miles and 3000’. Martin also led his small group up Raven’s Edge and on to Stonycove Pike to descend steeply into Haweswater Gill and down to Hartsop and Patterdale. 8m and 1700’. From the Inn Mike and Gerry led their group down the Pass (through a group of very black cows!) across to Sykeside and along the Hartsop – Beckstones path to Glenridding. 8m Steph and Pat followed a very similar route tracing Kirks
Post a Comment
Read more

BETWS Y COED 18th AUGUST 2024

Image
  It was a summer holiday weekend and Betws was very busy. But four groups had already left the coach before the final stop. First off was Geoff’s group at a remote Pont Dalgarrog Station (a former quarry stop) a mile or so before Llanrwst but it gave easier access to the Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir Dam. From the dam they headed south through the Hendre Forest to Capel Curig and picked up the Slate Trail to Betws y Coed. 14 m and 2,400’. Alan and Edwina started from Llanrwst, crossing the river to follow the Gwydr Forest Path heading for Lyn y Parc down to Diosgydd – uchaf and then the Miners’ Bridge and into Betws.7m Stuart also started from Llanrwst heading across to Llyn Geirionydd, Cors Bodgynydd Nature Reserve, south to Lyn Bodgynydd, on to Llidiart y Gwynt and so to the Miners’ Bridge. 10m 2,000. Finally three groups left from a busy Betws car park. Mike and Huw headed up the path to Lyn Elsi, shortly overtaken by a speedy Paul Cutner group. From the Reservoir they took a path south fo
Post a Comment
Read more

THRELKELD via St Johns 2nd AUG 2024

Image
  Threlkeld - always and interesting route - as the coach speeds through the centre of the Lakes offering a wide range walks in different directions. At Wythburn Stuart’s and the Oldhams were first off the coach. Stuart followed the Forest Path along the length of the eastern side of Thirlmere. They continued   through Great How Wood   and then along St John’s in the Vale to the Chapel and then across the fells to the Old Railway track and so to Threlkeld. 11.5 The Oldhams set off on the other side of the valley along the less well known and notoriously wet ridge of Birk Crag, Long Moss, Shivery Knott, High Tove (the clue is in the names) heading for the more familiar Bleaberry Fell. They descended by Castlerigg and Low Moss to the disused railway and so to Thrlkeld. 14m  The next three groups departed at Swirls – led by Paul, Steph and Pat and Mike. Paul headed east up to the Dodds and followed the ‘ridge ‘ north to Raise and Clough Head to descend to the Old Coach Road, acr
Post a Comment
Read more

CONISTON via TORVER 21st July 2024

Image
   Stuart’s group was first to leave the coach during the marathon drive up the valley. They headed up the east side of Coniston over High and Low Bethcar, and Parkamore to reach the Water Head path and into Coniston. 12.5 m At Water Yeat Paul’s group was next off the coach, heading for Carron Grag and following a similar route to Stuart’s. With time to spare at the end of the Lake they explored Hollin Bank Farm. 11m Shortly afterwards John and Debbie also slipped off the coach to follow the Lawson Park tracks and paths on the same side of the Lake. At Torver village the Oldham’s, Martin’s, and Pat and Steph’s group all left the coach. Pat and Steph headed up to Ash Gill and the Quarry, over Torver Bridge and up to Goat’s Water. They returned to the Walna Scar Road and down to Coniston. 8m. Geoff and Mike and The Oldhams led over Walna Scar Road and up the Old Man to commence the circuit of the ridge to Swirl How. It was colder up there than they expected. Martin’s group
Post a Comment
Read more