June 14th 2008 Cartmel No race meeting but a lovely tranquil village, a local society wedding at the Priory complete with vintage car and a cricket match being played on the equivalent of the village green, relaxing in the local hostelry after a strenuous walk. Could life be better?

My apologies dear reader. I got rather lazy about keeping up to date and thus missed completely reporting on our May walk, which was to Howarth, Yorkshire on the 9th May. The area of course was made famous by the Brontes and is now visited by tourists from all over the world, even the local sign posts are repeated in Japanese. The B group's lunch stop was on the moor above Bronte bridge. I don't know where the A party got to but we all met up later, even Tom rejoining us. Thanks to our walk leaders Roy and Maureen we enjoyed walks of about 11 and 7 miles in good weather. One of the problems of writing in this blog is that I can only report that which I see or hear about and I only go on one of the walks so how about you, dear reader, is there something from that last walk you would like to comment upon? If so then why not try adding a comment, its very easy, just hit the comment button and follow the instructions.

Grassington April 2008

En route we encountered two extensive detours caused by accidents putting us over thirty minutes behind schedule and as we neared Grassington the snow thickened on the hills and we expected a white walk but as if by magic the snow disappeared when we actually arrived. There were 43 of us in two walks, a twelve and a seven miler led by Alex and Mike respectively. We set off in sunshine and it was good to see both Tom and Maureen fit enough to join us once again. The weather treated us to the full range of seasons in just a few hours. Our lunch stop in Conistone saw Wendy using her initiative to find a dry place to eat (see pictures) and, as it was wet underfoot the walking was both careful and tiring. We returned to Grassington via the Dales Way, the A walk knocking a couple of miles off their route so that both groups arrived almost together back at the coach. The usual hostelry visit was particularly welcome.

Grassington

Halfway

Causey Pike

Lakeside

Castle Crag

Keswick Weekend April 2008

Twenty seven members spent two nights at Lakeside House, making it five years in a row. Friday was arrival day with no prearranged activities, though some members did manage a walk to Ashness Bridge via Walla Crag.
On Saturday the A walkers tackled Causy Pike with some trepidation in view of the snow and bad weather forecast. It was a great success however with everyone managing the final scramble. The B walkers skirted Cat Bells and Castle Crag, finishing their walk at Seatoller, where those of a certain age were able to use their national bus passes for the first time on the return to Keswick. After bathing and resting one group attended evening Mass and met Sandra and Bill Ince, two of our founder members, who moved to Keswick some years ago. Later we enjoyed one of Georges famous roast beef dinners before being subjected to the latest version of a games night, hosted by Sheila and Ged. A night of hilarity, olympian performances and stern refereeing, saw the "Cool Cats" taking the trophy.
Sunday dawned with Snow having fallen overnight. For some the previous days exertions proved too much and the party split with a few spending time around the town, others leaving for home and some fifteen hardy souls returning to Grange and ascending Castle Crag. We were rewarded with a delightfull snow walk, though the recent TV programme of Wainwright walks had encouraged the world and his wife to do the same thing.
It was a great weekend thanks to Ian, Wendy, Sheila and Ged.

Walk Dates & Leaders

March 8th Ian Roberts & Ged Rehm.....Bowness to Hawkshead.
April 4th/5th Keswick weekend Social Ian & Sheila
April 12th Alex Scarisbrick & Mike Pearson.....Grassington
May 10th Roy & Maureen Hendry......Howarth
June 14th John & Theresa Mooney......Cartmel
July 12th Alan & Anita Carr......Ceiriog Valley
August 9th Alan & Anne Deutsch.....Conway
September 13th Paul & Marie Murphy
October 11th Sheila & Ged Rehm
November 8th Bill Wright & Alan Carr
December 13th Eve, Eileen & Jean
December 27th Christmas Walk Geoff & Sadie Wyke

Information

We travel by coach from Our Lady's Church at 8.15 am on the second Saturday of each month and we are normally back in Formby by 7.30 pm.
Two different grades of walk are offered on each outing, the A walk being longer and higher than the B. The areas we walk in include the Lake District, North Wales, Lancashire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Dales and we try to make our coach journey no longer than two hours.
Bookings can be made by telephone to our Bookings secretary Theresa Mooney on 01704 878548.
The annual cost of membership is £8. Non-members are encouraged to walk with us once before joining and the cost of each walk is £8.

History

In 1991 I asked Father John Short if he would support a Parish Fellwalking group whose objective would be to promote sociable group walking on the Fells. His response was to say that not only would he support it but he would lead the first walk from Ambleside to Wansfell Pike. 14 people took part and we used a school mini bus that first time but have since expanded to using a 51 seater coach. Over 200 people have since been involved involved in walks with a current membership of 76.

Bowland 2006

First Walk of the Season 8th March 2008

Bowness to Hawkshead via Claife Heights and Latterbarrow, led by Ian and Wendy.
The weather was not good, intermitent rain and strong winds causing our first hiccup. Whilst still on the coach approaching Bowness we saw a sign "Ferry cancelled" and enquiries revealed that this was indeed the case due to the high winds. Ian found a company willing to sail us across at £2 per head and we set off. The rain cleared for a time and spirits lifted as the A group climbed Claife Heights. The B party stayed lower following the shore line path. On the descent to our lunch stop on the lake shore one of our party fell and twisted an ankle resulting in our calling out a taxi to meet us at a convenient spot and the"injured" returned to our coach which was now waiting at Hawkshead. Both parties carried on over Latterbarrow and down into Hawkshead where we sampled the local hostelries. Despite the difficulties all enjoyed a good walk and our injured party was able to rejoin us for our return to Formby. I understand there were no broken bones involved.