Spring is still springing....
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Sunday April 24th MeanderINGS. 20 miles. 10 walkers. Leaders Dave & Alma Walsh. Start 8.30am Finish 4.30pm Continuing the recent trend the weather was warm & sunny as we set off in a southerly direction from Ings. Within 10 minutes all walkers were down to shorts & T shirts as we progressed via fields onto the Dales Way. Passing the outskirts of Windermere we crossed the railway line & the A591 & made our way to the viewpoint of Orrest Head where we had fine views of Lake Windermere. After replenishing suntan lotion we headed down from Orrest Head over beautiful countryside to a track which passed Limefit Caravan Park with fine views of Troutbeck & further afield the Langdales. A long steep pull took us up to the base of our ultimate goal the three tops of Froswick, Ille Belle (2483ft) & Yoke. After lunch we took in all three peaks with stunning views all around us. The hard work seemed all behind us as we dropped down to the Garburn Pass but there was a 'sting in the tail' as we then climbed the smaller peaks of Sallows & Sour Howes. Finally we made our way back to Ings with refreshments at the excellent Watermill Inn. Heart of Bowland Challenge. Wednesday April 27th 2011. 17 people. 18 miles. Ldr : Andy Hayhurst This is what East Lancs walks used to be like – long, tough, unrelentless and Andy, Mike and Norman doing their Three Stooges routine! As usual after spending a full day in the company of these three your head hurts more than your feet at the end! We started from Slaidburn car park and off past the stunning War Memorial and Hark to Bounty Inn, progressing to Burnside Farm then to Burn End. This is where the first of many uphill climbs began, passing Dunsop Brook on the right in a deep cleft. Reaching the summit of Dunsop Head we found yet again we had only gone up to go down again and we descended down to Whitendale marvelling at the panoramic views of the Bowland Fells. We past the Keepers Cottage to follow Whitendale River to Brim Clough then another climb to Salter Fell as far as the Roman Road (marked on maps as Hornby Road). The Grand Old Duke of York (sorry Ramsbottom) then marched us down again to desend to Croasdale House then up again to climb to Hyde Field Clough and on to Kenibus. We then traipsed down a pleasant track to Lock Bridge on the River Hodder and onto New Houses (a ruined barn which has a very deep well). With Stocks Reservoir in front of us we followed the path to Hasgill Beck to enter Gisburn Forest. Walking on and over the causeway to St James Church we followed the track over Rushton Hill and Black House Farm. The end of a tough, hot day was down to Hammerton Hall, crossing Barn Gill to follow the River Hodder to Holmehead Bridge and across fields to Croasdale Brook over the last bridge to finish at the War Memorial. Sadly the electric was off in the village due to repair work, apparently much to the chagrin of the landlord of the Hark to Bounty who had put down his forthright comments on a blackboard outside the pub. We had to travel back to Wallington to quench our thirsts. Well Done Andy - a great walk! |
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