Sunday 3 March 2024

Walk C, Howarth, 9th March 2024

Walk lead by Gwyn Jones, 5.5 miles.

Starting from the village centre we work our way slowly up onto moorland at Penistone Hill. We then make our way via moorland and gravel road down to Bronte bridge. From here there is a short climb onto open land with good views over to Lower Laithe reservoir and beyond to Haworth.  We descend from here to the village of Stanbury and continue to our final ascent into Haworth.





Monday 26 February 2024

Walk A, Howarth, 9th March 2024

Walk lead by Peter Hitchcock, 9.5 miles, 700ft of climbing.

For our first outing of the season, we shall venture to the south of Howarth for a change, taking in parts of both the Bronte and Millenium Ways. We climb out of the car park (no toilets that I could see, so maybe check out the coach in good time) and head south straight on to the Bronte Way. It is fairly level until the village of Marsh then down across fields and a stream to an escarpment and on towards an isolated pub on the edge of the moors. Too early to stop, I’m afraid!! Then onto the moor where the fun starts: mushy bog, snow, water, anything goes till we reach an excellent ridgeline from where we gain super views of Yorkshire. Lunch here before we start our return. This section is challenging because of all the wet weather we’ve had but it improves markedly once we’re down off the moor amongst lots of daffodils and snowdrops.

At 9.5 miles and maybe 700ft of climbing it’s a mediocre ease-in to the season but the muddy conditions will make it quite arduous. Make sure you have waterproof boots, and gaiters and sticks would be a bonus. Your legs will definitely tell you its time for a beer when we finish and there are at least three 2-300 year old pubs to choose from. See you there!

 



 

Wednesday 8 November 2023

Walk B, CONWY , 11th November

Walk lead by Pat Guy, 7.5 miles, 1,300ft of climbing.

 

We will start this month's walk by walking down to the quay just to visit the toilets (free). Then we shall walk through the town to pick up the path at the foot of Conwy Mountain and follow this lower path all the way along to the Sychnant Pass. After crossing the road we follow a path passing a small lake on the way to Llechwedd and on to Groesffordd. We will then cut across a holiday park and fields and head into Conwy passing a mast and some woods. After all the recent rain the paths are wet and muddy in parts.






Tuesday 7 November 2023

Walk A, CONWY , 11th November

Walk lead by Brian Thorne, 11 miles, 1800ft of climbing.

 

This is a fine, circular walk which requires a brisk pace to be kept throughout.

Leaving the coach, we begin with a sharp initial climb, up through the woods south of Conwy. Field paths and a little road walking lead us up to and around the Iolyn Park caravan site and on to the village of Henryd.

Climbing up through the woods of Parc Mawr on a steadily increasing gradient, we are rewarded for our efforts with stunning views of the Conwy valley and surrounding mountains, before joining the Pilgrim's Way and reaching our lunch stop at Llangelynnin old church.

A steady walk along high ground on the North Wales Path leads us to the top of Sychnant Pass and then on to the now almost obligatory, "Sting in the tail," our final climb, up Conwy Mountain and then down, to well-earned refreshment.

 


 

Monday 6 November 2023

Walk C, CONWY , 11th November

Walk lead by Gwyn Jones, 5.5 miles

I had planned to take the ‘C’s’ up onto the slopes of Conway mountain to obtain the views across to Anglesey but on the recce there was so much mud and water that I am now keeping, as much as possible, to firmer ground (although there are still some muddy patches on the walk). We start along the riverside as far as we can and then divert onto Mountain Road.  Here we make a steady climb before dropping down to cross the Sychnant Pass road and head up to the old Golf Club House. From here we enter a field  and take  a path up to join a lane which takes us downward to Conwy. There are a number of upward slopes but nothing strenuous and there are no stiles. 




Thursday 12 October 2023

Walk C, GRASMERE , 14th October

Walk lead by Mark Stanford, 6.36 miles, ascent 500ft.

The Coffin Trail, Rydal Hall, St Mary's Church, Rydal Water, Grasmere & St Edmunds Church.

6.36 miles. 500ft of ascent. Terrain: mostly well-made paths and mettled roads, there's one section of rocky path (approx. 200 yards) on the Coffin Trail where we will take care and time.


 A C party favourite, we'll enjoy a coffee in Grasmere before heading off at 11am. Care will be needed as we cross the

A591 before heading up to the ancient Coffin Trail, once we've gained the height, we follow the contours to Rydall.


The path offers spectacular views of Grasmere and Rydall Water with Silver How and Loughrigg forming the backdrop. We'll enjoy walking through the formal garden of Rydal Hall before finding respite under the Yew tree at St Mary's where we stop for lunch, making sure to leave time to explore the Church.

We'll hopefully set of around 1.30pm recrossing the A591 with care again. We cross the River Rothay before heading to the shoreline of Rydall Water and then crossing the shoulder of Loughrigg with great views across the lake towards Nab Scar and the Fellfield Range. The route now heads down through woods to a higher stretch of the Rothay flowing from Grasmere. Crossing the bridge, the path takes us towards a second crossing to the bank just below the weir marking the lake's circumference.

The final section follows the wooded shoreline before heading up to the lane for the final mile into Grasmere, we'll stop to look at St Edmund's Church and Wordsworth's grave. We should be back for 3.30pm leaving time to queue for gingerbread and find refreshments. Grasmere, in my opinion, is rather better served by tea shops than decent purveyors of fine ale, although Gwyn tells he knows a place!



Friday 6 October 2023

Walk B, GRASMERE , 14th October

Walk lead by Pat Guy, approx 8.5 miles, ascent 1400ft.


The objective of this month's walk is a circuit around the bottom of Loughrigg Fell passing Loughrigg Tarn. We start by walking through Grasmere village and taking the road near to Grasmere Lake for about 1 mile before taking a path through Red Bank Wood, shortly after this we walk through an Arboretum for a short while before taking another path to Loughrigg Tarn (one of the many gems of the Lake District). We then follow an undulating path around the bottom of Loughrigg Fell to a quiet road for just over a mile to cross the River Rothay and the A591 then a short climb to Rydal Hall. We then take the Coffin Route all the way back to Grasmere passing Dove Cottage on the way. The walk is about 8.5 miles long with about 1,400ft of ascent.