Southport Fell Walking Club

June 2020                                     Keeping in Touch  I hope you are all keeping well and fit and rearing to go.... Mike Kirby has kindly made his videos available to brighten up your days and remind you of some of the walks you may have enjoyed over the past couple of years. Browse through them but don’t miss the Langdale and Crib Goch ones. He has reattached the links to walks below. You can watch them without getting your feet wet... Thank you Mike K. https://youtu.be/MtVxA-YqGP4 Ambleside to Windermere Feb 2020 https://youtu.be/rF8FsLS22YM Sedbergh November 2019 https://youtu.be/ThZ5z4yGbI0 Hawes August 2019 https://youtu.be/GqB-nzBPU-M Langdale August 2019 https://youtu.be/wcuuvs_dnlA Seatoller June 2019 https://youtu.be/6O7Zg2Jnyvc Cracoe to Grassington May 2019 https://youtu.be/7OcyouC0zxQ Pillar May 2019 https:/...

I hope you are keeping well and safe. If you have been for your walk, have finished the gardening and decorating and the cleaning the house and you are fed up sitting by yourself with nothing to do, have a look at this album. There’s a selection to browse from – ‘a random 2018 best’. There are so many beautiful photos on file it was difficult to choose. I hope I have not missed anyone out. Let me know if I have and I will rectify the omission! They are not in chronological order but they are all from late 2018. It will remind you of how many good walks and such good company we have shared in the Club. I know there are a number of members who are doing essential work at this time. We thank you for your generous and indispensable service. The Fells will still be there whenever it is safe to travel and safe to walk on them. Until then – keep well and enjoy the Album. Click here Mike

The Coniston walk had been planned many months ago and members could never have anticipated the present conditions and uncertainty.  However, the walks went ahead and members enjoyed a good day’s walking in somewhat damp conditions. There were five led walks and three private groups.  Pat’s and Stuart’s groups left the coach at Ambleside. Pat set out for Loughrigg Tarn and crossed to Skelwith Bridge. From there they worked their way over Black Crag and down to Tarn Hows. A classic Lakeland route. Stuart started from Clappersgate and Blelham Tarn, to cross the Hawkshead Fells to Tarn Hows. They seem to have been distracted the Cat Cafe. John G’s group left the coach at Oxen Fell and descended to Stang End and up Greenburn. From here he led over Hawk Rigg and Dry Cove warning his colleagues not ‘to expect either Hawks or a Dry Coves.’ Shortly afterwards Helen and Graham's party left the coach at Hollin Bank to cross Arnside Bank and make their s...

What an interesting venue - more often used as an end-point for walks from Garnett Bridge. But it was well explored by nine groups heading in each direction. Marcia and Stuart led their parties west, into the teeth of gale-force wind heading for the mushroom shelter on the summit of Scout Scar. It was a long wet trail across flooded fields and paths. From the ‘shelter’ on the Scar both groups headed north to Cunswick Scar and to East Plumgarths and then to Burnside.  Here the routes diverged. Marcia’s group followed the Dales Way along the river to return to Staveley, while Stuart’s group headed off north east to Potter Fell and Gurnal Dubs. A final round of 14 miles. Steph and Frances followed a similar route to the Scars and they returned by the more direct routes of Rather Heath and Ashes Lane. The rest of the groups commenced from Staveley. Paul's group headed for Grasgarth on the slopes of Hugill Fell. They crossed fell over M...

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,...