Southport Fell Walking Club

As we headed up the M6 the weather did not look a very promising. But in the event we all enjoyed a mild and dry day with breathtaking autumn colours. Stuart was first off the coach at Ings with a low level route, from Borwick Fold, through Heathwaite to Orrest Head inevitably involving a bit of railway history and garden waterfalls on the way. Then finally Ambleside by Troutbeck, Robin Lane and Skelghyll Wood. Next off the coach was Pat’s group at Windermere heading for Orrest Head – down to Troutbeck and over to Skelghyll Woods and Ambleside. From Ambleside Helen and Graham started their neat circular route: up to Rydal Park and the Hall and back along the other side of the Rothay to Ambleside. Alan and Edwina headed for Wansfell via Skelghyll Wood but then took a much preferred and little known route (thank you Alan!) up to Kelswick Scar and the summit of Wansfell and then on to Troutbeck and Robin Lane. Martin and Richard also went up Wansfell using Stockghyll Force and d...

  Shap this week - and there was frost up there !   and it was beautiful sunshine all day. As usual groups were dropped off at different stages all the way up the A6 from Kendal (which we enjoyed twice !) up to Shap village. At Matclose just short of Borrowdale Bridge the Oldhams were the first to leave the coach. They headed up White Howe just above Bannisdale and Mosedale and then on to Harrop Pike. From there with many more peaks to cross they reached Sleddale and on to Shap. 13m From further up the A6 John G led his group straight up Thorney Bank and over to Sleddall Hall. From there they headed further north over Gambling Crag to Seat Robert through the remote and very wet hills above the Abbey. And then over to Shap. 11m The next three groups went south west from the A6. Ian and Gerry led the group from Hucks Bridge to follow the Breasthigh Road to Bretherdale and up to Salterwath and Shap Hotel. They returned through Shap Granite Works and up Wickers Gill...

Betws y Coed did not let us down. It was dry in the valleys and only wet on the hills. But it was the rivers and waterfalls that stole the show. Pat and Steph’s group were the first to leave the coach – at Llanrwst. They followed forestry roads, tracks and paths beside Llyn Geirionydd to take them over the hills to Llidiart y Gwynt and eventually down to the Miners Bridge and into Betws y Coed. Mike J led his group on a tortuous route to the Conway Falls, Gethin’s Bridge and then up Llyn Elsi. It was a trial of patient map reading and following indistinct paths to bring the group back Betws. Stuart led up the steep path to The Monument overlooking Elsi Reservoir. Then following forest footpaths they reached the forgotten quarrying village of Rhiwddolion to drop down to join the Llugwy at the Ugly House and down to the Miners Bridge. From Plas y Brenin the Oldhams headed for Moel Siabod. The weather was unfavourable and the rocks dangerously slippery. They carefully descended fr...