Welcome to the Holy Trinity Fell Walking Club in the village of Formby!
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Walking on the Second Saturday March to November
Three Graded and Tested Walks - Coach Transport from Formby Village
Leader: Heather Sissons Distance: 6 miles approx Total ascent/descent:1180ft
After coffee at the Britannia Inn, we walk across the common, up through the grounds of High Close YH and along Loughrigg Terrace to view Grasmere and Rydal waters. We then retrace our steps along the path and follow the road down to the picturesque Loughrigg Tarn. Dropping down to Skelwith Bridge we walk alongside the Falls and then alongside Elterwater with the magnificent views of the Langdales, before returning to Elterwater village and more refreshment. A pleasant walk along well defined paths and roads, taking in 4 waters a waterfall and much more.
Although often described by local people as a village, Grassington was granted a Royal Charter for a market and fair in 1282 giving it market town status. The market was held regularly until about 1860. A change in land use from the early 17th century, when lead mining began to assume more importance, brought some prosperity, but Grassington's heyday arrived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The opening of the Yorkshire Dales Railway to Threshfield in 1901 brought new visitors, many of whom settled, some finding work in Skipton or in the developing limestone quarries.
Today Grassington is the main residential and tourist centre in Upper Wharfedale. Centred around its small cobbled square is a selection of shops offering food, clothing and gifts, alongside small cafes, restaurants and hotels.
The walking in this area can be spectacular and easy to walk in with gentle climbs, wide open spaces and sheltered valleys. Do join us for a wonderful day walking amongst like friendly minded people.
A Walk; Leader: Beverley Kelly
Distance: 9.5 miles
Total ascent: 1072 ft
This is a walk with variety rather than height, as we walk out of the village past the methodist church, we are soon gently ascending towards Bare House. We need to stop regularly to view the panarama unfolding around us and as we proceed towards Kelber, we are able to observe a mass of wild life and vegitation.
From Kelber, it is a steady descent through limestone escarpments and dramatic landscapes towards Conistone where we view a picturesque village and ancient church.
A walk along the a quiet road for just over a mile with views over Wharfedale, before we descend to the river which we walk alongside, passing Ghaistrill's Strid and back to Grassington.
This is a B+ walk and I will not be racing, but we will need to make a good pace to avoid rushing at the end.
B Walk;
Leader: George Mann
Distance: 7.5 miles
Total ascent:970 ft
Todays walk takes us up the main street of Grassington and continuing up Moor Lane till we reach Yarnbury. From there we branch off through the old Lead Mining Workings before joining a track beside Hebden Beck.
Crossing the Beck we climb up on to Mossy Moor, past a small reservoir, then making our way along Edge Top join a farm track and gradually come down to meet the B 6265. We have to walk along this ( Single File facing the traffic) for two hundred yards to a stile into the field. We cross another three fields from there as we make our way down to join the Dales Way footpath alongside the River Wharfe. This leads us back to the coach park at Grassington.
There are about half a dozen stiles in the course of the walk and generally underfoot conditions good with some tarmac and farm roads. If granted a clear day we have wonderful views of the Wharfe Valley.
C Walk; Leader: John Smith Distance: 5.5 miles Total ascent: 670ft
The walk today is some 5.5 miles and over many stiles which are mostly easy to navigate.I hope the weather will be kind as the views are really terrific across the valley.
Our next walk will be to the Cheshire village of Burwardsley and the Sandstone Trail and will be on;
Saturday May 9th 2009 The coach will leave the car park at the back of Iceland at 8.00am
Burwardsley is actually mentioned in the Doomesday book as having a population of 9 and many of it's fields have Norman names dating from that time. It is thought that the people settled there because it was a natural clearing in the forest and there was plenty of water from wells and springs. During the 19th Centuray many of its cottagers were involved in glove making at home and there were no fewer than five shoemakers.
Click on any picture to view an enlarged version.
from Raw Head, pause to look back over the beautiful sandstone countryside to Harthill.
This is really a B+ walk but it is like an A walk in that there are no toilets en route! It is challenging in the length and number of stiles to be climbed, so many we lost count.
We leave the car park and head for the Eddisbury Way traveling along it for about two miles where we go under the railway and join Bishop Bennet way. This ends at a road we must walk along a short distance to find a foot path that will take us to The Sandstone Trail. Walking in the woods at the edge of Penkforton Estate we eventually climb Bulkeley Hill. If the weather is fine we may see Liverpool as well as the Cheshire Plain. We will leave the Sandstone Trail for a footpath which will bring us to Sarra Lane then back to the Candle Workshops along a road once more.
B Walk Leader: Keith Scott Distance:8.5 miles Total Ascent/descent: 1570 ft
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.
Starting from the Candle Workshop car park, the walk includes wooded slopes and rocky outcrops giving excellent views across the Cheshire Plain. This walk is a gentle undulating walk as it meanders through tiny villages and along the most spectacular stretch of the Sandstone Trail and although the highest point at Raw Head (see picture below) is only 746 ft, giving vast views of parts of Wales and seven English counties on a fine day, the ups and downs will give us that 'B Walk' type of ascent and prepare us to enjoy the refreshments at the end.
Some sections of the walk are on public roads,but only for short distances. There are not many sections where mud s a problem.
B Walk route (anti clockwise)
Admiring the views over the Cheshire plains
John views the memorial plaques on the trail
John at Raw Head, the highest point on the undulating walk.
C Walk Leader: Rod Sellers Distance: 6 Miles Ascent: 300Ft
This walk takes us over farmland to Peckforton Gap, thence onto the wooded slopes of Bulkeley Hill. Here are dramatic views of the flatland at the foot of the escarpment. The path drops, leaves the woods and crosses fields until it climbs again to Raw Head, where we lunch at the highest point of the trail. We return downhill, through a pine plantation, over fields and back along the road to Burwardsley and afternoon refreshments.
Click on map to enlarge
We then retrace our steps along the path and follow the road down to the picturesque Loughrigg Tarn. Dropping down to Skelwith Bridge we walk alongside the Falls and then alongside Elterwater with the magnificent views of the Langdales, before returning to Elterwater village and more refreshment.
