Southport Fell Walking Club

  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...

 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...

It was May Bank Holiday weekend and the roads were predictably busy. But once over the Snake Pass the groups got ready for their individual drop off points.   Ian’s group were first off the coach at Hagg Farm with the target of the Roman Road to Winhill Pike, just at the foot of Lady Bower. They then went south to cross the River Derwent at Thornhill and head for Lead Mill Bridge and into Hathersage. Approx 10.5 m Pat and Steph’s group were next off the coach at Lady Bower Bridge. They crossed Yorkshire Bridge to follow the River Derwent to Leadmill Bridge and then along into Hathersage.   6 miles. From the same place Mike’s group inspected the spectacular reservoir features and then headed up the New Road to Bole Hill well below Stanage Edge Ridge and followed it round to descend through the beautiful houses of Camp Green.   7m Meanwhile the Oldhams were doing the whole 14 mile ridge walk from Moscar House to Burbage Moor visiting Robin Hood’s Cave en route. At...

What a day !  Glorious sunshine all day and miles of beautiful Yorkshire paths to follow. Gerry and Ian’s group kindly included Mike’s group since they were going in roughly the same direction and nobody knows Yorkshire better than Gerry. And so, starting from Cracoe they crossed the Thorpe and Langerton fields and down to cross the R Wharf by various precarious means. They then headed up beyond Hebden through the wilderness of mine workings to Grassington – while some continued to Yarnbury Summit. Stuart departed at the same time to follow a route on the west of Wharfdale to visit Kilnsey and return on the east side. At Rylston Geoff’s group set off for Sunmoor Hill on Cracoe Fell. Reaching all the high points they descended to the river to cross it in an imaginative and challenging styles. See the movie. Shortly afterwards Alan and Edwina left the coach heading for Ebolton Cave and Hill at Thorpe – then down to the Wharf. A smaller than usual group of Oldhams sped off from Grassi...

  Weather wise it was probably the coolest day of the last fortnight and for those who ventured on the higher peaks it was very cold and wet. First off the coach at Ambleside were Stuart and John who set off on a 13+ mile route over Black Crag to Tarn Hows, the wooded valley of Tilberthwaite and into the top end of Langdale by Blea Tarn. From Skelwith Bridge Ian's group returned to Black Crag and crossed from the Tarn Hows arae, Yew Tree Farm and Hodge Close to come round through Dale End to Langdale. 10m It was a testing day for the Oldhams who had planned, and mainly completed, a 13 mile circuit of six Wainwrights round the top end of the Langdale valley. And they still had time for a quick drink in the ODG. Paul’s group headed for the Crinkles and found it wet, slippery and cold but achieved their target. Geoff’s large group set off for Pavey Ark. Five members bravely ascended by Jack’s Rake, finding it ‘quite a challenge’, while the others found the alternative route ro...

In glorious sunshine - first off the coach heading for Coniston was Ian’s party. They were starting at Greenod – at a lower level - but Ian was promising a longish walk of 13 miles with three tarns, a reservoir, a beacon a few lower hills, two country halls and a bridge. And he delivered on them all. Four groups set off from Torver.   With a large group of 14, Geoff led across Torver Common to Walna Scar Road. From here they ascended the ridge to Dow Crag and along to the Old Man. After various antics on the summit they followed the Swirl Ridge to Great Cars and then descended by Levers Water. 11 miles and 3400' of ascent. Stuart and John headed for Brown and Buck Pikes before crossing the Scar Road to ascend Dow Crags and then on to Coniston summit. They descended by a little used Boo Tarn path bringing them down to the disused railway path into Coniston. 8.5m and 3200'.  A smaller than usual Oldham group set off for on ‘a tough walk’. (is there some connection there?) ...