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GLENRIDDING - 31st August 2025

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Well it was another day of extreme weather for those members of Southport Fell Walking Club who chose to take on the challenge! Simons solo walk took in Birkett Fell and Hart Side from Dockray and through Glencoyne Head to Glenridding. The wind was so strong and dangerously gusty that he turned off below Birkett Fell. He tried the approach to Glencoyne Head but it was like a wind-tunnel.  On his own, he turned around fully to descend to Spying How and Groove Gill and then to the lakeside via Ullswater Way. Bright sun and warmth made it feel like a different world. Total distance and height in the end was 8 miles distance, and 1,600 feet of ascent. After much discussion, the Oldham’s decided to stick to the original route with a range of options to change plans if the weather became too severe.  After leaving the coach in Grasmere, they made their way to Alcock Tarn before heading up to Nab Scar. With the wind behind them and stunning views in all directions, they continu...
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ILKLEY 17th August 2025

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  What a wonderful sunny day for fell walking. Great weather was forecast and it didn’t disappoint the 37 walkers who made the trip along the M65 and across to Ilkley. There were five led walks and a variety of routes ranging from a mega 15 mile trek to a more relaxing 7 miles. Intermittent walk leader John Gartside discovered to his astonishment that he had fifteen followers for his broad traverse of Ilkley Moor! As this included half of the club committee John was thankful he had come armed with a newly updated OS Explorer map of Lower Wharfedale. Ably assisted by the very experienced Gerry as back-marker, John herded his group on a panoramic route linking the manmade Ilkley Tarn to the popular Cow and Calf Rocks. A good track was then followed, in glorious weather, across heather-clad Burley Moor as far as Horncliffe Well, at this point joining the Dales High Way. After lunch a gentle ascent led to the Twelve Apostles stone circle and on to the trig point.   Progress c...
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CONISTON 3rd August 2025

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 After an ominous start on the M6 with a band of rain following them for the entire journey, all members of the Club were relieved when the promised sunshine duly arrived. The weathermen had indeed got it spot on. Martin’s group got off the coach in Coniston at just after 10.30 in warm, dry weather with a brightening sky. They made their way up Yewdale with a brief stop for a snack so that they weren’t starving by the time they got to the planned lunch stop at High Arnside Tarn. There they ate lunch with a pleasant view and the added interest of several species of mayfly and dragonfly darting around below their feet.  After lunch they were soon walking round Tarn Hows, taking the high path with great views over the Coniston and Langdale Fells. Gerry spotted a small knoll from where the views were even more spectacular. They finished the walk descending through the woods to Monk Coniston and its walled garden and on to Coniston and the pub! One of the group had a tracker whi...
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SHAP 20th July 2025

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  The Club enjoyed a wonderful day out in Shap exploring the scenic trails and miles of bracken and ferns. The weather was pretty kind considering the forecast with T-shirts and shorts the order of the day. It was only in the late afternoon when the rain came in that the walkers had to quicken the pace and tried in vain to beat the showers. There were seven walks in total that set off. Darren’s walk started off with an unplanned tour of the housing areas of Shap before continuing past Shap Avenue & onwards to Shap Abbey. Continuing onwards they followed a path to the side of the River Lowther before stopping for lunch next to a waterfall after around 2 hours walking. The next section of the walk took an eerie turn as bones and skulls adorned the forest trail which served as the starting point of their main ascent up to Hugh's Laithes Pike. Once they got to the top they found 5ft high bracken in places with wet bogs and heather concealing 2ft holes. Some very aggress...
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THRELKELD 6th July 2025

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The weather forecast for the day was certainly mixed, and on the way up the motorway it looked even more grim at times. As the last of the groups got off the coach light rain fell and the waterproofs went on for the first and not the last time. After leaving the coach at Troutbeck, the Oldham’s group made their way across a series of fields to Mungrisdale. This was meant to be the ideal warm-up before the climb up Souther Fell. However the overgrown fields and the continuous stream of broken stiles created an obstacle course which no one expected. Thankfully the paths on the fells were much more favourable and the climb up Souther Fell went without a hitch.   The views from the top were stunning, reminding everyone of why they love fell walking so much! At the base of Sharp Edge, three of the party decided they were going to tackle the ridge whilst the other five opted for the easier path up the valley. Unfortunately as height was gained, the cloud set in and the rain came ...
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LLANBERIS 22nd June 2025

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  It was an eventful return to Wales for the walkers from SFWC. Thoughts of an exhilerating challenge for some taking on Crib Goch were quickly banished. Due to the deteriorating weather forecast en route to Wales, the walk leaders were forced to re-assess the routes that they would take. This resulted in all the groups resorting to plan ‘B’ and two of them avoiding the impressive but difficult ridge walk of Crib Goch. Unfortunately as Geoff led his group of five up to the Y  Lliwedd ridge, as they reached the start along the top Barry suffered a heavy fall in which he hit his head, cut his right hand and bruised both legs and his hip. The wind and rain had by then set in and, assisted by Geoff and all his party, Barry was helped along the ridge. They had passed the point where turning back was not a safe or wise option. From then on they nursed him round very slowly, until just before the summit when he was struggling badly with a painful hip. The whole party became thoroughl...
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GLENRIDDING 8th June 2025

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 It was a pretty good day for a walk in the Lakes....well at least at low level. Up higher the temperature dropped and coats, hats and gloves were the order of the day for a short while. There were five led walks and three private ones. Mike and Martin’s group followed Grisedale Beck all the way up the stunningly beautiful valley to Grisedale Tarn – achieved by all except Mike and Martin who stood guard at the Ruthwaite Lodge!  A very satisfied party returned down the valley, and from Lanty’s Tarn descended the 250 steps to the Travellers’ Rest for a well-earned drink. Good company and beautiful scenery. 9/10 miles and 1800 ft.  Paul took his group 10 miles and 2,500 ft (with a descent of 3,500 ft)!! But an excellent walk was enjoyed by all of the group , with the weather so much better than expected. They completed all of their planned walk with their objective being High Street. The Oldham's had a slight change of plan, altering their starting point. Following the c...
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