Southport Fell Walking Club

Photo from Geoff There were severe weather warnings for the weekend but as it turned out, there were very strong winds but no rain and just a little sun. The evidence of the recent storms was all around with flooded fields, demolished walls and raging rivers. Inevitably many of the walks had been planned, revised, revised again and even abandoned. Photo from Marcia There were many flooded fields visible, particularly in the Vale of St John, so Marcia led her group north for the higher ground. At Gategill the streams coming off Blencathra were in full spate and made for dramatic pictures. From there the group turned towards Blease Fell and found a very accommodating cafe in the Blencathra Centre. After a brief break they followed the paths down past Westco to view the bridge restoration on the Railway Paths to Keswick. Photo from Alan Alan and Edwina explored a similar area finding Kilnhow Beck in spate and then round the fell to  Roughten Gill spilling over into th...

There were 10 different walking routes planned for this Ambleside trip and the first two parties left the coach at Ings: Stuart’s party headed south to join the Dales Way to Windermere, before striking north over Orrest Head and Dubbs Reservoir to Troutbeck. From here they joined Robin’s Lane - just as many other members did during the day. Mike’s party crossed from Ings to Borrans Reservoir and up Applethwaite Common. Here they explored Sour Howe and Cappel Howe summits in total cloud. Dropping down to Troutbeck they followed Stuart’s party along Robin’s Lane past Jenkins Crag and Skelghyll Wood. At Windermere five parties departed from the coach: Steve J and Huw headed for Orrest Head, Dubbs Reservoir, and over to Ambleside via Robin’s Lane. Marcia varied her route from Orrest Head with an exploration of a ‘new’ exit path from Nanny Lane, past a beautiful waterfall and down to Robins Lane. The highlight of the day was a Brazilian Cake made with Maize flour and ...

Remember - the next walk 2nd February 2020 is AMBLESIDE The sun shone all day with a low temperature and plenty of frost.   Unfortunately the ice was nor always as solid as it appeared and there were some domestic casualties on the way:    Karen completely losing her boot, Leslie thigh deep in mud and many other near misses. All groups left the coach at Crowden and were able to see the reservoirs at their best. The Oldhams went north over Featherbed Moss, Whetstone Edge and Hollingworth to trace a modest round of 1800 feet but still 14 miles. At one stage they had to brave the persistent and inconvenient friendship of a Shetland pony and a donkey. There’s a suspicion is that the animals chose the wrong competitors. Stuart and John took off up Torside Clough like greyhounds. They crossed the Bleaklow Summit, down to Dr’s Gate and down the Roman Road and home.... Geoff’s group went north to approach Bleaklow Summit from Black Clough,...

  Important Calendar Change - check below for the venues and routes for the next two walks  On Sunday the ‘Conwy Peninsula’ was criss-crossed by a web of nine complicated walks ranging from seven to fourteen miles. With a brisk westerly wind behind them five groups: the Oldhams, the Stuarts, Geoff’s, Steve’s and Mike’s groups all walked up the well known North Wales track from Aber up to Bwlch y Ddweufaen following the Pylon Power lines.  The Oldhams quickly branched off for Foel Lwyd to add a few hundred feet to their walk, while the rest continued up the Roman Road. At Ddweufaen the parties split again.  Stuart took to Tal-y-Fan ridge and followed the paths over Cefni Maen Amor to eventually reach the Synchnant and then descend by Conwy Mountain.  Steve and Mike’s groups continued over the ridge down past the ancient burial chamber Maen y Bardd to Rhiw from where they headed north on a maze of paths and lanes parallel to the riv...

                 Happy Christmas to you all and an enjoyable year's walking in 2020 The very small hamlet of Little Asby in the Orton Fells had in influx of visitors on Sunday. At least three groups of Fell Walkers trailed through the courtyard and used the recently installed memorial bench, much to the delight of the residents. From the stop at Newbiggin, Gerry’s group crossed Ewe and Crosby Garrett Fells, down to Potts Bridge and up to Little Asby. And from there they trailed over the vast Sunbiggin Common to Orton. Stuart’s group crossed the same fell and after passing through Little Asby they continued on to Asby Grange heading for a refreshment stop in Great Asby and a return over Great Asby Scar. Mike’s group continued along the Fell Road to Mazon Wath in order to follow the delightful  Potts Beck  down the valley to the bridge and Little Asby Farm. They lunched on the bench and ascended ...

The weather was every bit as bad as we were warned and there was a general groan about the depth of the mud. But there were seven groups out, many walking in a variety of seasonal regalia. The Leeds Liverpool Canal and the Pennine Way were the mainstays of five of the walks and the two others headed for the Flashby Fells. At Colne the Oldhams were first off the coach. The next groups were Geoff’s and Stuart’s who   joined the canal at Foulridge. This section of the canal includes several miles of the summit level before descending by many locks to the lower meanders towards Skipton. Along the way there are many interesting features: the Boundary Stone, the wooden roller used to assist the horse drawn barges as they went through the bridges, and of course the Anchor Inn with its historic cellar full of stalagmites and stalactites. At Thornton in Craven the next three groups left the coach. Marcia’s group,   Frances and Steff’s   group and Anne a...