Southport Fell Walking Club

  The journey across to Derbyshire looked very promising, with blue skies & sunshine all the way. Robbie drove expertly up the Cat & Fiddle road, stopping at that famous ' highest pub in Britain', which is no longer such. It has in recent years, after a long closure, been transformed into Britain's highest whisky & gin distillery and visitor attraction, at 1,689 feet above sea level!   At this highest point on the pass, Paul, Stu and Steph's three parties each began their day's walking.   Mike J began his first 'test' private walk here too, after absence due to injury.   Steph Hoggett’s party left the coach the Cat & Fiddle summit with the objective being  Errwood Reservoir, then to follow path along Goyt Valley to Derbyshire Bridge, then on to Buxton via the Turret and Buxton Country Park.   Keith Oldham’s o bjective for his party was Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill. Then following the ridges from Axe Edge Moor, Dove Head...

  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...

  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 t...