H T Fell Walking Club: 2014

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

356 March Walks

Our next full day walks will be be on Saturday March 14th 2015 from Loggerheads,North Wales

355 Festive Walk and Meal 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 10th January 2015

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park

There will be three walks as normal:

A Walk led by: Jenny Matthias
- 7+ miles
  
  Most of this walk is on roads . When I did the recce it was very wet underfoot and the path along The Dales Way was under water.
  
  So we leave the coach and head West on a path along side the road to Windermere. This undulating path should give us good views of the fells on the far side of the Lake. we will take a path across the fields to cross the railway then skirt the houses to join the Dales Way over School Knot from were we can see Morecambe Bay and fell spot! After Hag End we will follow the road to Borwick Fold then take the gated road back to Ings in time for lunch.
B Walk led by: Gwyn Jones (walk as in 2014)

Gwyn and John Smith recced this lovely walk of 4+ 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.
for the map follow the link

C Walk led by: Joan and Shirley

We leave the Watermill after coffee and walk down a quiet lane. Leaving the path we carry on across a grassy area to enter a small woodland (which could be wet underfoot). After exiting the woodland area we take a path which is Part of The Dale’s Way. The path takes us across the lower Fells to Yews and back to the watermill for our lunch at 1pm.
for the map follow the link

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

Some Photographs taken on the November Walk

B Party on Raw Head, the highest point.

Monday, 13 October 2014

Some Photographs taken on the October Walk

B Party early in the walk

B Party climbing Loughrig Fell

Lunch on top of Loughrig Fell

Rydal Water Cave

354 November Walks from Burwardsley

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 8th November

and will be from

Burwardsley, Cheshire

the home of the Candle Factory


Albert leading the way along the Sandstone Trail

Cheshires sandstone edge strikes down the heart of the county like a clenched fist. Great knuckles of rock and steep, wooded slopes rise steeply from the lush pastures of the Cheshire Plain. Here you follow a glorious section of the Sandstone trail, passing the ramparts of Iron Age Maidon Castle. This hillfort crowns Larkton Hill. Raw Head is the highest point and gives vast views that take in part of Wales and seven English counties.

Burwardsley is a small village known for the Candle Factory which has been operating there for some 50 years. It is alsoclose to the Sandstone Trail as it passes over the sandstone hills of Peckforton and Bickerton, raising us over the Cheshire plains and hopefully giving us drier walking for this time of year.

Beeston Castle and Bunbury are nearby and the Cheshire Workshops provide interest and refreshments for after our walks.

We will be in 'winter time' which means it could be getting dark by 4pm and the cafe in the Workshops could close a bit earlier.

There will be three walks;

A Walk led by; Stuart Smith

B Walk led by; Clair McNabb

C Walk led by; Joan and Shirley

Beeston Castle

Sunday, 12 October 2014

A Walk from Burwardsley 2014

Walk Leader: Stuart Smith
Total Distance: 10+ miles app
Total ascent/descent: 1660/1300 ft

A route starting at Tatternhall

The bus will drop us off at Tattenhall. We will head South east towards Harthill mostly through fields. The route takes us easterly towards Bulkeley hill, picking up the Sandstone Trail north along side the Peckforton Hills. Towards the end of the hills there is the stunning Peckforton Castle which is actually a country house built in the style of a medieval castle now used as a luxury hotel. We head North East towards Beeston Castle which is huge and well preserved standing 350 feet above the Cheshire plains. The castle dates from 1226 and forms a good backdrop for the lunch stop. After lunch we head south easterly towards Beeston. Then westerly crossing the Peckforton hills with good views. After crossing the hills and clearing the wooded area we head southerly towards Burwardsley stopping off at the Pheasant pub which it's self is lovely with great views. The total assent is 507 metres decent is 396 and the total distance is 10.23 miles. For an A walk it is relatively easy suitable for all A walkers.

B Walk from Burwardsley 2014

Walk Leader: Clair McNabb
Total Distance: 6 miles app
Total ascent/descent: 1020ft

B Route clockwise

Leaving the Cheshire Workshop the route takes us along country lanes and through fields to join the Sandstone trail. Looking back, the edifices of Beeston and Pickforton castles may be seen. In fact the whole walk provides a succession of superb views across Cheshire for relatively little effort as most of the climbing is steady rather than strenuous.

view from Bickerton Hill

C Party Walk from Burwardsley 2014

Walk Leader: Joan and Shirley
Total Distance: 6 miles (ish)
Total ascent/descent: 900 ft

Raw Head Summit: 746 ft.

We start our morning with coffee at the candle factory, though we may have to wait for them to open if we arrive early. This is an undulating walk with some short inclines punctuated with level stretches through wonderful woods and panoramic views of the Cheshire Plain. The last part of the walk is on a quiet road which unfortunately is uphill, but there is no other way back to the candle factory and our cup of tea.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

353 October Walks from Ambleside

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 11th October

and will be from

Ambleside, Cumbria

the Jewel in Lakelands Crown

There will be three walks;

A Walk led by; Peter Hitchcock

B Walk led by; John Adamson

C Walk led by; Terry Simmons

Walk details will be added as they become available, but by Saturday 4th October

Ambleside, at the head of Windermere and the foot of the
Kirkstone Pass, lies in the very heart of the Lake District,
with easy access to Grasmere, Keswick, Windermere
and the Langdales. A vibrant, busy town, surrounded
by magnificent Lakeland fells, it is the ideal location for
a rural break. Although Ambleside has its roots in the
medieval woollen trade, it is predominantly a Victorian
town, built of dark grey slate.

Ambleside’s history reaches back at least as far as Roman
times. At nearby Waterhead the Romans built a stone fort on
a trade route through South Lakeland (now in Borrans Field).
Medieval Ambleside had a thriving woollen industry centred on
the fast flowing Stock Ghyll which powered the fulling mills
that pounded the newly woven cloth. When the town was
granted a market charter in 1650, the Market Place became the
commercial centre for agriculture and the wool trade. The 17th
and 18th centuries were a major period of rebuilding, initiated by
yeoman farmers and landowners made wealthy by the profits of
the woollen trade. Many houses date from this period, notably
at the pretty village of Troutbeck nearby. One particularly fine
example, Townend 1 , is owned by the National Trust (open
March–October).

The iconic Bridge House 2 is a tiny house over Stock Beck
in the centre of the town and one of the most photographed
buildings in the Lake District. Originally built as an apple store
by the Braithwaites of Ambleside Hall in 1723, the building is
now owned by the National Trust and is open daily from Easter
to October.

As a gateway to the spectacular Langdale Valley, Ambleside is
deservedly popular, both with leisure visitors wanting a relaxing
break and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a challenge. The town
offers easy access to a range of water sports, walks, climbs
and cycle routes, and has plenty of great pubs and cafés. It
also has a wonderful literary and artistic heritage, which can be
explored in the town’s galleries and museum.

Ambleside’s specialist retailers offer everything from outdoor
clothing to interior design. Other shops specialise in unique pieces
inspired by the landscape, including slate ornaments, watercolour
paintings and pottery – look out for the Made in Cumbria logo,

which shows you are supporting local craftspeople.

More information about Ambleside here;

We last visited Ambleside in September 2010

A Party Walk from Ambleside 2014

Walk Leader: Peter Hitchcock
Total Distance: 10 miles app
Total ascent/descent: 3180ft

A Route clockwise

Today, you can enjoy a 10-mile hike up and down beautiful Pikes and Fells, absorb fantastic and rewarding views but this walk is not for the faint-hearted! The route departs Ambleside from the North, passing en-route parts of the University of Cumbria in its glorious setting. Lots of good photo opportunities available on this stretch which is on good paths but with also some crag scrambling here and there.

A stern but steady climb above High Sweden Bridge then alongside Scandale Fell leads to both Low and High Pikes.

A little to the north of High Pike we turn eastwards to lunch by a prominent cairn offering spectacular views.

Descending next to Scandale Pass, we then face a second serious climb up to Red Screes but on firm pathway. The views from the top over the dramatic Kirkstone Pass make the effort very worthwhile

A steep scramble down to the Kirkstone Pass pub (sorry, no drinks) leaves just an hours pastoral walk at a good pace back to town. In all, 2 serious climbs up to about 2200ft and 1 sharp descent but, overall, a fantastic ’A’ group standard hike. Sticks are recommended.

Walking time at my pace is 5hrs which, with affording up to 1hr total rest stops, makes it a 6-hr trip. With this in mind, I should emphasise that volunteers must be able to maintain a positive pace throughout to ensure a timely return to the coach.

B Party Walk from Ambleside 2014

Walk Leader: John Adamson

Total Distance: 7.5 miles

Total Ascent/Descent: 1400ft

click on pictures to enlarge

“B” Level Moderate to Hard 7.5 mile walk

The walk starts from Ambleside and climbs up and over Loughrigg Fell. The return route is via Loughrigg Terrace, Rydal Cave and Under Loughrigg Road. There are some magnificent views of Windermere, Wetherlam, Langdale Pikes, Grasmere and Rydal Water Lakes, and the Fairfield Horseshoe - on a clear day. There are also some steep bits on the walk but we will take our time and they should not cause B Walkers a problem.

C Party Walk from Ambleside 2014

Walk Leader: Terry Simmons
Total Distance: ?
Total Ascent/descent: ?

This C Walk gives us wonderful views of Windermere, Loughrigg Tarn, Grasmere and Rydal Water.

After passing through the Rothay Park, we have an ascent to master, which if taken gradually, should not prove an obstacle. Walking along Loughrigg terrace is a delight to the eye and then an easy walk back to the town.