Southport Fell Walking Club

                                                          First off the coach at Ambleside  RUFC was Pat and Steph's party, who followed their planned route to Lily Tarn and Loughrigg Tarn, but due to the very strong gusty wind they omitted Silver How. Paul M led his private group, also from the RUFC stop, to Scandale Bridge, Rydal Hall  and  Loughrigg Terrace, before descending via Red Bank into Grasmere.    Next to leave the coach were Geoff and Mike C on a private mission up to do Fairfield via the anti clockwise route (Dove Crag) to descend via Great Rigg with enough time and energy to spare to warrant a visit to Alcock Tarn before descending into Grasmere.   Alan W 's solo venture and Anne and Helen's walk began next at Rydal. Alan headed for Great Rigg via Nab Sc...

  STAVELEY  5 th Feb  2023 Sunday was a glorious ‘spring’ day and the walks spread far and wide. Once again Stuart’s party was first off the coach – heading for Scout Scar and Underbarrow. They needed a good pace but they managed it, and had time for a quick drink in The Black Labrador. All other parties departed from Staveley heading in every direction. The Oldhams travelled the western ridge of Long Sleddale – 13 miles and were back in Staveley by dinner time. Paul led his party up Brunt Knott, along the ridge and descended by Sleddale Forest to Ulthwaite Bridge and back down the valley. John’s group headed up Hall Lane to Brunt Knott and turned to Nether House Farm – returning by Gurnal Dubs. Pat and Steph led over to Brunt Knott Farm to Tenter Howe and over to Gurnal Dubs and returned by Frost Hole. On the other side of the valley Mike’s party headed up Reston Scar to visit the Williamson Memorial on Hugill Fell. They then followed a delightful high l...

There were eight walks ready to go as we approached Ambleside; four walking from the Rugby Club and four from Elterwater. Stuart’s group headed south from Clappersgate, down to Pullscar Plantation and up the back of Black Crag. From there they descended to Tarn Hows across to Hodge close, down to the Cathedral Cavern and across to Wilson Place and Elterwater. A neat round of 10.5 miles. The three other groups headed northwest from Ambleside for a steep climb up to Loughrigg Fell. The Oldham eight continued the ridge walk over Silver How, Blea Rigg and along to descend by Stickle Ghyll steps. Howie said he felt every painful slippery step! Paul took his group up Loughrigg Fell - a different place in Winter but they managed some views and good photographs. Alan too went up Loughrigg and was up there early enough to catch some views before the cloud closed in and all was wet. The other four groups started from Skelwith Bridge heading roughly in the Little Langdale direction. ...

 Happy New Year The rain started as soon as we appoached Colwyn Bay and looked as though it was in for the day. But by 10.30 it was gone and all enjoyed sunshine and glorious coastal and mountain views – and even a glimpse of snow. First off the coach were the Oldhams who headed for a day at the seaside – doing all the sights and sounds of Llandudno : the Great and the Little Ormes and all in between. 15m Pat and Steph’s group and Mike’s group were next off the coach at a conveniently covered drive-in garage at Dwygyfylchi. A quick walk through the village and they were on to the ‘short steep ascent’ of Foel Lus – not too short but certainly steep. By different routes the parties crossed the valley by Ty’n y Frith and followed the path along the spectacular Conway Mountain ridge. 8m Standing in for Paul, Mike and Bob led their group from Llanfairfechan, to pick up the North Wales Path at the highest point of Moelfre and to follow it to Waen Gyrach, down to the Sychnant road a...

    There was an attractive fall of snow and some precarious ice, but all returned more or less in one piece. The first departures were at the Clitheroe MacDonald’s on the A59. Pat and Steph led off to start their winding route along the Ribble Way as they traced its way up through Clitheroe and Chatburn. Happily the ground was not as wet as it might have been but still beautiful to follow to Worston. Anne and Helen and Graham’s group departed for Little Moor and on to Clitheroe intending to ‘do the town’ including the High Street, and eventually cross to Worston. From the same convenient stop Paul led his group across the road to Wiswell, heading for Wymondhouses. They ascended Pendle from Black Hill and Ogden Clough. It was very cold on the top and they wasted no time in descending to Worston. The Oldhams headed south from Gisburn going round Pendle and aiming for Barley where they had an ‘appointment’. They set of for Worston giving Pendle summit a  wide bert...

The new Walk Programme for 2023-24 is now available and there is a copy at the end of this publication.    There was snow on some of the higher fells where it was perilously cold - but most enjoyed a relatively winter mild and dry day. A much reduced Oldham Team consisting of Keith and his Deputy Leader, Howie - set off from Ambleside to follow the Kirkstone ridge to Fairfield. They braved severe conditions on the summit and wasted no time descending by Stone Arthur. Paul Cutner’s group were in the same area, and facing that fierce icy wind on Great Rigg. They withdrew to Stone Arthur and the calm of Grasmere. A wise decision.  In marginally less fierce winds on the other side of Grasmere John Gartside took his group up Sergeant Man and descended by the East Ridge to Easedale Tarn and a peaceful Grasmere village. From Grasmere Mike James led his group up to Alcock Tarn and then followed the traditional Coffin Route to Rydal, returning along the Terrace past the Cave...

  A reminder from Paul C that he needs to be contacted by 25th November by anyone else who would like to go on the weekend to Dolgellau next October (as per details previously circulated by email).   Sunday 18 th  December 2022 - Gisburn - meal at Worston 4.30 p.m. departure   Northbound to Preston, on to the M65, M65 eastbound to junction 7, via A6185/A678 to the A680, A671 to roundabout N of Whalley, A59 to Gisburn. Park in Gisburn. No morning coffee stop. The coach will leave Gisburn at 4.30 pm to drive to the Calf’s Head for the Christmas meal at 5 pm. If you wish to join us for this Christmas Walk and Meal get in touch with Mike Birkby as soon as you can - before the 5th December 2022 The Oldhams were first off the coach at the Tebay Service station looking as though they were ready to walk up the motorway. They sped up the Roman road instead, to a vast quarry lake at Hardendale Nab. They returned via the Butchers Arms in Crosby Ravensworth. A speedy 16 miles. ...