H T Fell Walking Club: April 2016

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

368 May Walks from Sedbergh

Our next walk will be in the beautiful area of Cumbria [was the Yorkshire Dales] around

Sedbergh

Saturday 14th May 2016

0800hrs prompt from short stay car park

Dehydration can be a serious problem in warmer months leading to loss of energy, loss of alertness, aching joints and being a liability to your fellow walkers. Please ensure that you have a plentiful supply of drinking water [cordial]. 2 litres is recommended.

The attractive old market town of Sedbergh, with its old world atmosphere, is not only set in the magnificent western dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but is also close to the rugged eastern fells of the Lake District. It has developed at the confluence of four rivers, where ancient trade routes merged.

The town is dwarfed by the mighty Howgills, some of Alfred Wainwright's favourite fells. An historic town, Sedbergh has been a thriving community for hundreds of years, with a market dating from the 13th Century. The town was a staging point for commercial routes across the Pennines. Dating from Saxon times, Sedbergh still shows clear evidence of the influence of the subsequent Saxons, Vikings and Normans. The town is full of character from its cobbled streets to its historic houses, some of which show the hallmarks of the old knitting and woollen trades which made the area such a thriving community.

more about Sedbergh here

There will be three walks as normal;

A Walk led by:- Mark Stanford

B Walk led by:- John Adamson
C Walk led by:- John Smith

Details of the walks will be added as they become available, but by Saturday 7th May 2016

Five Day Weather forecast for Sedbergh click here http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/4184?

A Walk from Sedbergh 2016

Walk Leader: Mark Stanford
Total Distance: 10 Miles
Total Ascent/descent: 2800 ft

Starting at the car park in Sedbergh we begin with a stroll of some four miles to Cross Keys with pretty views of the River Rawthey below. The gentle pastoral views might lull you into false sense of security, but Cross Keys will be time for coffee, and then much loin girding as we face the imposing track that ascends beside the magnificent Cautley Spout. First a grass bank and then a well made path of stone steps. Half an hour of sweat and toil will see the task done before we emerge beside the most wonderful sheep pen I’ve ever seen, tis a thing of great beauty. We’ll stop for lunch in its shelter before moving on the summit of the Calf, then taking the easy going ridge path back down to Sedbergh. We should make it down without a rush. I’d like to tell you the views from the ridge were fantastic, but the truth is on the recce we couldn’t see a thing.

B Walk from Sedbergh 2016

Walk Leader: John Adamson
Total Distance: 8+ miles
Total Ascent/descent: 1150 ft

B Route clockwise

The walk from Sedbergh heads south from the village, through Millthrop, and over the Frostrow Fells to the moorland of Long Moor. The path then drops down towards Dentdale for lunch. We then head north and meet up with the Dales Way back to Sedbergh. It is a very scenic walk over both moorland and farmland with lambs in the fields. This is a moderate B Walk with a gentle climb to the highest point being about 950 ft.

C Walk from Sedbergh 2016

Walk Leader: John Smith
Total Distance: 5 Miles
Total Ascent/descent: 440 ft

C Route

This is a 5 mile walk along the River Rawthey for some couple of miles. Easy going but watch out for tree roots on one obvious section. Look on your left any time up to the second bridge for a splendid view of the Howgills (weather permitting, of course). A short walk along a minor road before turning to the left across fields and a lane before more fields towards Millthrop. This path meets a minor road here and we will turn right to cross the Rawthey and head up to Sedbergh and the Information Centre.

Before all this, the C party will follow tradition and take refreshment/fuel at Smatt's Duo, a cafe bar and bistro.