Festive Walk from Ings

Our next walk will be from 

The Watermill Inn

 INGS, Cumbria

The Watermill is situated in the quiet village of Ings which is 2 miles East of Windermere in the Lake District. We are positioned along a peaceful side road just off the A591 (Kendal to Windermere road). We are in the ideal location for touring the Lake District by car, bicycle, foot  or public transport. We are surrounded by pleasant walks, cycle ways and of course the beautiful Lakeland fells. Ambleside, Grasmere, Keswick and Hawkshead are within easy reach.  After a day out in the fabulous Lakes relax in one of our cosy bars, sample some of our Chef's freshly prepared food and our extensive choice of beers, wines and whiskies.

Saturday 11th January 2014

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park

School Knott Tarn November 2012

The Village of Ings from Reston Scar

There will be three walks as normal:

•  A Walk led by: Jenny Matthias
•  B Walk led by: John Smith
•  C Walk led by: Shirley and Joan 

For information about vacancies on this popular walk please contact Gwyn Jones

A Walk from Ings 2014

Walk Leader: Jenny Matthias 
Distance: 6+ Miles  
Total Ascent/descent: 700ft

Awaiting Map details

This walk is mainly on hard paths and minor roads.  It can be extended if we have the time and weather to enable that.  

After crossing the main road we will make our way into Staveley, where there are toilets. Then we will head south under the railway, which runs from Oxenholme to Windermere. Joining the Dales Way we have an undulating road, which will afford good views on a clear day.  Leaving the Dales way we continue on the road towards Borwick Fold before turning onto a gated track, which is downhill, once more under the railway back into Ings.

 

Awaiting Details

B Walk from Ings 2014

Walk Leader: John Smith
Distance:  4 Miles
Total Ascent/descent: app 350ft

 Gwyn and John Smith recced this lovely walk of 4.05 miles in fine, sunny but cold conditions -- ideal for a good walk.  It is a circular walk which starts on a minor road with a gentle slope. After about 1/4 mile we will turn off right on to a bridle path, still gaining height for a further 1/2 mile when the bridle path flattens out.  This is when the splendid views start (given a fine day !) and these continue in almost all directions for the rest of the walk -- a rich reward for the ease of the height gained -- starting at 400ft in Ings and topping 750ft at the furthest point.  At the turn for "home" we take up a path across fields and stone wall stiles into Grassgarth where the trail meets the aforementioned minor road to drop down into Ings -- just in time for a well-earned pre- lunch drink !!

It really is a super 4 miler, not hard work and with no hard uphill work though care is needed on the first section of the bridle path.

John’s mobile   07745996394

C Walk from Ings 2014

Walk Leader: Shirley and Joan
Distance: 
Total Ascent/descent:

Awaiting Details

344 November Walks from Hollingworth

Our next walking will be from the Weighver's Seaport near Rochdale, just an hours drive away, yet with some great walking country around

it is

Hollingworth

and will take place on

Saturday 9th November 2013

0800hrs prompt from short stay car park in the village

Hollingworth Lake in summer

Hollingworth Lake is a 130-acre (53 ha) reservoir at Smithy Bridge, in Littleborough — part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. The lake was originally built as the main water source for the Rochdale Canal, but developed as a tourist resort from the 1860s, and became known as the Weighver's Seaport. Hotels were built around it, at least two of which had outdoor dancing stages with gas lighting. Tourism was helped by the arrival of the railway in 1839, which brought day-trippers and weekend visitors from Manchester, Bradford and Leeds.

The popularity of the lake as a resort declined in the early twentieth century, and the area was used as an army camp during the First World War. The canal company sold the reservoir, with seven others, to the Oldham and Rochdale Corporations for water supply in 1923, by which time the canal was in terminal decline. After the Second World War, boating rights were bought by Rochdale Council, who developed the area into the Hollingworth Lake Country Park in 1974. There has been a steady increase in facilities since, and it is now a thriving centre for water sports and other activities.

The lake was used for training by Captain Matthew Webb, before he became the first man to swim the English Channel in 1875, and was used for the "World Professional Mile Championship", a long-distance swimming event, in the 1880s. It is home to the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club, which has been in continuous existence since 1872. 

There will be three walks;

• A Walk led by: Tony McDonald
• B Walk led by: Beverley Kelly
• C Walk led by: Les Gibson

Details will be added as they become available, but by Saturday 2nd November 

History of Hollingworth here 

A Walk from Hollingworth Visitor Centre 2013

Walk Leader: Tony McDonald
Distance:  10+ miles approx  
Total Ascent/descent: 1650ft

Awaiting details

B Walk from Hollingworth Visitor Centre 2013

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly  
Distance: 8 miles approx
Total Ascent/descent: 1300ft

Aiggin Stone and the Weighvers Way

B Route anticlockwise

This walk is a repeat of the 2010 walk which was so successful because of its variety of terrain and views. We walk through woods, across a golf course, on a Roman Road; discover a 600yr old landmark, rescued animals and a relaxing stroll along the restored Rochdale Canal, the only thing missing from last time may be the beautiful crisp snow but hopefully we will have the brilliant sunshine to make the grasses glow.

Leach Hill and Higher Chelburn Reservoir

We shall be ascending past the Visitor Centre, where I have been assured that the wardens will let us use the toilets when it opens at 9.30am, before traversing the pathway through the trees towards Littleborough. 

At some steps we ascend through more woods towards the golf course and alongside it, not stopping at the 19th hole! to reach the Rochdale Way.

Near the road we pass alongside some delightful old cottages and continue the gentle climb up and as it gets a bit steeper we encounter the Roman road, complete with drainage channel, which climbs to the Aiggin Stone and Blackstone Edge (and beyond). Look for the Latin cross and the letters I & T on the Aiggin Stone 

We now cross moorland towards the White House, crossing the Broad Head Drain just before we meet the Halifax Road, then head towards the Chelburn Reservoirs, down a bleak valley, past a farm looking after rescued animals, which used to have a warning that somebody!!! would be shot if the animals were fed!!! This thankfully has gone.

A short climb to Leach Hill where we have a lovely view of this high valley before descending to Summit and the canal. This may be our lunch spot if we can last out this long? 

From Summit it is then a pleasant 1.5 mile stroll downhill along the Rochdale canal and several locks to Littleborough and a return back via a good pathway which you will recognise towards the visitor centre at Hollingworth

C Walk at Hollingworth Visitor Centre 2013

Walk Leader: Les Gibson
Distance: 6 miles approx  
Total Ascent/descent: 600ft

C Route anticlockwise

The ‘C’ walk starts after coffee etc. at the visitor centre, with a walk around the lake enjoying the lovely views across the lake, and the many different types of aquatic birds. We then make a small climb up and over Benny Hill !! which leads to the Pennine Way, which affords us with some beautiful scenery, weather permitting. After leaving the Pennine Way we make our way to the canal which leads us back ( via a bit of mud! ) to the visitor centre for further refreshments. There are no stiles on this walk.

 

Photographs taken on the walks at Grasmere 2013

343 October walks from Grasmere

Our next walking will be from a charming village right in the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, and was once the home of the famous poet William Wordsworth. Famous for Gingerbread and William Wordsworth, it has been a regular venue for the club because of its wonderful views, variety of walks shops and refreshment venues. It is

Grasmere

and will take place on

Saturday 12th October 2013

0800hrs prompt from short stay car park in the village

Helm Crag in Autumn

The village is on the river Rothay which flows into the lake Grasmere about 0.5 km to the south. The village is overlooked from the NW by the rocky hill of Helm Crag, popularly known as The Lion and the Lamb or the Old Lady at the Piano. These names are derived from the shape of rock formations on its summit, depending on which side you view it from.[2]

A number of popular walks begin near the centre of the village, including the ascent of Helm Crag and a longer route up to Fairfield. The village is also on the route of Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk.[3]

Grasmere Village

The A591 connects Grasmere to the Vale of Keswick over Dunmail Raise to the north, and Ambleside to the south. In other directions, Grasmere is surrounded by high ground. To the west, a long ridge comes down from High Raise and contains the lesser heights of Blea Rigg and Silver How. To the east, Grasmere is bordered by the western ridge of the Fairfield horseshoe.

There will be three walks:

• A Walk led by: Peter Hitchcock
• B Walk led by:Shirley and Joan
• C Walk led by: Heather Sissons

For more details about Grasmere click here

5 day Weather Forecast for Grasmere here.

A Walk Grasmere 2013

Walk Leader: Peter Hitchcock
Distance: 9 miles
Total Ascent/descent: 2300ft

click to enlarge

elevation profile

If the weather is good, this walk will present the very best the area has to offer: beautiful views of Grasmere and Windemere—from a height—the archetypal valley view of Langdale Fell plus several tarns and waterfalls.

We leave Grasmere to the west for a reasonably easy but steady climb up along the flank of Silver How which eventually offers great views of both Grasmere and Windemere lakes.  We then strike north on a gradual climb to the Lang and Castle Hows via Raw Pike.  This section is easy going but could be quite bleak yet at one point there is an outstanding vantage point of the whole length of Langdale Fell towards Scafell Pike.  The path along Blea Rigg is a little ill-defined in places but, time permitting as we need to uphold a good pace, we shall divert westwards down to Stickle Tarn for lunch [halfway]. 

Retracing steps to Blea Rigg, possibly via a roughish climb, we then join a main artery down past Belles Knot, the beautiful Easedale tarn and the spectacular Sour Milk Gill waterfall.  If wet on this stony path, sticks will be invaluable.  The final section into Grasmere is easy-going and very scenic.

The 9-ish mile walk profile lives up to the ‘A’ standard and if a good pace is maintained there will be time to admire the outstanding scenery as well as enjoy the taste of a relaxing drink at the end.

An elevation profile from a min of 67m to 581m will provide you with a good leg-stretch!!!

B Walk Grasmere 2013

Walk Leader: Shirley & Joan
Total Distance: 7+ miles
Total ascent/Descent: 1350ft

Route anticlockwise, click to enlarge

Elevation Profile

A  beautiful walk to Alcock Tarn and then round Lake Grasmere.  Starting from the car and coach park in Grasmere we will walk up the minor road past Dove Cottage and then follow a well defined path to Alcock Tarn – unfortunately from Dove Cottage to the Tarn it is uphill all the way, so a steady climb for the first hour, but taken at your own pace, and with many stops along the way to admire the wonderful view down to Lake Grasmere which is the reason for the climb because, unfortunately, the view of the Tarn itself is not inspiring! 

Lake Grasmere

Alcock Tarn

  After climbing up of course we have to walk down, again at your own pace, and this time soaking up the sights of Grasmere valley.  Once back in Grasmere we will continue with a very picturesque walk round Lake Grasmere firstly on the road, then by the lakeshore. 

 From the head of the lake we continue to White Moss Common and then an undulating minor road back into Grasmere.