Southport Fell Walking Club

 Photo: by Darren The days outing began fine as usual with the promise of a great sunny day ahead. But things started to go awry on leaving the motorway and heading west on the A66, when poor Gerry our gallant driver, began experiencing engine problems with the coach unable to exceed 30 mph. The fault appeared to be engine / gearbox management related. So the tried and tested method of stopping the coach, switching everything off and starting it up again, seemed to rectify the problem, only for it to then recur. The first two drop offs, near Mungrisdale and at Threlkeld took place, the coach rejoining the A66 to continue to Keswick, where it completely stopped! Gerry, consulting with Howard Fraser, nursed the coach into Keswick. A replacement coach was driven up by Howard himself, luggage swapped over whilst we were all enjoying our walks, and the vehicle limped to one of Howard's fellow coach operators in Penrith. Howard, bless him then opted to get a train back home! Br...

 Photo: by Geoff This was yet another fabulous walk - a real scorcher, but with a slightly cool northerly breeze which was a Godsend for those who climbed high. There was a bit of mind changing on the journey up, with Martin abandoning his walk with just Jason opting to accompany him, then Mike James also abandoning his private walk with Gerry. All four of them decided to team up with Mike Birkby, so all worked out in the end after Stuart had crossed out and amended the transport sheet (twice)!! Everyone had a fantastic day and there were no signs of heat exhaustion. Mike B’s joined up group which comprised Mike J’s, Martin’s and Gerry’s groups - decided that just one group made sense, and so all set off together for Helm Crag via Green Burn Waterfalls.  After a quick visit to the Falls they climbed Bracken Hause to the col and then up Helm Crag. They then descended by a perilously steep path through waist high bracken down to Stythwaite Step waterfalls in Easedale....

 Photo: by Darren Thirty-three members of SFWC made the trip to Betwys-y-Coed and were rewarded with a fantastic day. The weather was dry, warm and sunny (again) with the wet and miserable walks of the recent past an almost distant memory. And because of the nature of the area, it was decided to try a new strategy in dropping off and picking up. Rather than all groups finishing their walks in Betwys-y-Coed, four of them did so at Bethesda. This required a logistical change and everyone to know exactly where to be and at what time. Thanks to great co-ordination by Stuart this drop off and return journey pick up at Bethesda went well. As Gerry drove up to the bus stop in Bethesda at 5.59, Stu breathed a sigh of relief as he counted all nineteen members of the four groups waiting there! So after a late start at Lyn Ogwen the weather was looking promising and Geoff’s group was looking forward to a great scramble up Tryfan North Face. It didn't disappoint. They all had a go climbing ...

 Photo: by Monika It was another great day on the fells for the members of Southport Fell Walking Club. Great walking, eight led walks on offer, sunny and dry. What more could you ask for! Certainly not another coach air-con drama!!! A few weeks back on the Grassington walk, the coach developed an issue with the air-con unit on the return journey. It was a hot day and the journey back proved uncomfortable. This week although all was well on the way up, Gerry the driver discovered during the afternoon that the air con had failed again!! And on one of the hottest days of the year!!! He took the coach for a run up the A66 and back to test it, to no avail. Still no air-con. So all credit to Don Fraser who decided that the only solution was to send out a replacement coach. The defective coach headed down to Tebay Services with roof hatches tilted open, relieving passengers somewhat of the stifling heat. The rendezvous with the replacement coach was made at Tebay Services whic...

 Photo: by Claire D Steph set off with Lorna and Martin for Firbank Fell in dull and windy conditions. Navigation was fairly straightforward and they were soon on the descent to the well sign posted Dales Way.  Lunch was taken at the Lune Viaduct, where they were able to shelter from a strengthening wind. At Lincoln's Inn Bridge they decided to ignore the 'impassable' post on the net and progressed past Luneside with no problems.  Near Brigflatts they rested next to the calm river in much warmer and less windy conditions. It was here that they saw a Kingfisher. Finally they followed the River Rawthey south of Sedbergh to New Bridge and walked along the road to the coach. Lorna commented on the large number of wild flowers throughout the walk. 12 miles in total. Paul’s group left the coach at junction 37 of the M6 and headed west, an area few of them had been in before, with the wind largely behind them on this section. There was a little bit of a problem finding the st...

There were 19 members of the Southport Fellwalking Club (plus Lola the dog) who went to Borrowdale this year. As they have done since 2012 they stayed in the beautiful Glaramara Hotel in Seatoller, which over the years has evolved from a Youth Guest House operated by the Co-Operative Holiday Association in 1935, to the independent Glaramara Hotel that is so well known today. The accommodation and food as always was second to none. The group was spoiled last year with almost unbroken sunshine over the four days, but weren't so lucky this year even after the recent heatwave. Nevertheless everyone managed to get out and about, completing a variety of walks (both high and low) and even a trip at last to the Keswick Pencil Museum!!! Thanks to Anne for making the necessary arrangements and also for hosting the annual quiz night, which this year was won by the team made up of John G, Pat T, Bob, Lorraine and Anthony. This years photos were taken by Mike K, John G, Pam B & Paul C. Than...