Ghyll Head 2016

Ghyll Head, December 5th - 9th.

Each December members of East Lancs go to the bungalow in the grounds of Ghyll Head Activity centre. This year there was three days of walking and plenty of eating and drinking in the evening! It is a self catering holiday and the evening meal was cooked by different people each night. This was followed by a quiz to keep the brains active after the physical exertion of the day. Viv organised breakfast and also the sandwiches for those days we took them, ably assisted by different members of the group.

"Cheers" says Barbara as we enjoy a meal

Quiz time - you can see the brains whirring!!

Isn't it lovely to see chaps hard at work in the kitchen?

"Cheers" say Paul, Sandra, Malcolm and John

Tuesday December 6th. Humprey Head. 17 miles. Leader: Geoff Halliwell.

Geoff kindly volunteered (or was press ganged, I'm not sure which!) to lead his Humphrey Head walk.

Starting from Grange we made our way up to Hampsfell Hospice and then down into Cartmel. Onto the coast where we could see many tractors out in the bay collecting cockles. A detour inland past the Sticky Toffee factory (no bargains today though) and then onwards to the base of Humprey Head. Here the tide meant that there was a choice of paddling across a channel or a scramble up the cliff. Geoff's suggestion of just walking back the way we came was overruled. Everyone made it safely up and we walked back along the top of the Head.

Through Arncliffe and down to Kent's Bank with a final walk along the promenade back to Grange. A good day out.

Paul, Sandra and Malcolm enjoyed a walk near Keswick.

Wednesday December 7th. Great Langdale and Little Langdale Valley Walk. 12.5 miles. Leader: Roger Jackson.

The heroic Ghyll Head party of fourteen set off from the Skelwith Bridge Hotel , on this damp and cloudy morning (good day for a low level walk). After crossing the bridge itself we joined a good path heading down Llittle Langdale valley. Our morning stop was overlooking the attractive Little Langdale Tarn. Continuing on down the valley we then headed in the direction of Blea Tarn, initially over boggy ground then on a rather rocky path.

On a better day Blea Tarn would have been a wonderful place to stop for lunch but on this occasion we kept on going past Side Pike and dropped down, through a deserted camp site, for our lunch break at the Old Dungeon Gill which provided seats, shelter and the option of a posh coffee in the pub. After Lunch we retraced our steps back to the camp site and joined the Cumbria Way heading down Great Langdale towards Elterwater . Then a nice flat walk along the lake, then following the river back to Skelwith Bridge.

Roger.

View across the valley, the cloud had lifted slightly

Smiles all round, it's not wet really....

Thursday December 8th. Staveley Return. 17 miles. Leaders: Geoff Halliwell, Neil Smith.

The morning was wet but we decided to walk over to Staveley, lunch in Wilf's cafe and walk back. Geoff and Neil concentrated on the route helped at times by Viv. We picked up the Dales Way as we neared Staveley and the weather decided to change from rain to bright sunshine. After lunch it was decided to return by the same route to avoid road walking to Ings. Mince pies and Mulled Wine on our return completed a good days walk.