Southport Fell Walking Club

  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...

 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...