- Range Walking Club
- Sunday 23rd May
1999-North Lake District-Keswick
- On Sunday 23 May we visit the North Lakes - always a
place to savour for its scenery and views - all the trees
coming into leaf and flowering shrubs in abundance and a
good selection of walks to "boot". As usual we
leave school at 0800 hrs prompt. A toilet stop will be
made en route. All walks finish in Keswick which we hope
to depart from by 1730 hrs, arriving back in Formby by
2000 hrs. The 'B' walk will leave the coach before
Keswick on the outward journey with 'C' walkers
commencing their walk at Keswick. One coach will then
take the 'A' walkers to Seatoller (NB. this party will
probably not start their walk before 1130 hrs) whilst the
'B'+ group will be taken by the other coach to
Braithwaite, the start of their walk. The cost of travel
is £7.00 for adults and £4.00 for children and students
in full-time education who were formerly pupils of Range
High School. Please return slips with cheque (not cash)
to the school office by Thursday, 13 May in an envelope
marked "Range Walking Club".
'A' Walk
Starting in Seatoller (the wettest village in England) we
climb to the Dale Head (224153) at 2473'. Turning east we
take a good path down to Dalehead Tarn and ascend the
opposite edge of Eel Crags to High Spy (2143'). From here
it is a magnificent (mist being absent) ridge walk via
Castle Nook, Maiden Moor and Black Cragg to the
intoxicating Cat Bells. A steep descent requires care but
we then have a pleasant hour's walk around the top of
Derwent Water to the hopefully literally intoxicating
Keswick.
Distance: 10 miles
- Ascent: 3300'
- Leaders: Meirion Williams and Gordon Spence
'B'+ Walk
- Our walk starts at Braithwaite and goes steadily uphill
on good paths and tracks through Barrow Door, around
Outerside and across High Moss. There is a short but
steep ascent to the saddle below Sail. We will turn east
and traverse Scar Crags (677m) and Causey Pike (637m).
This is a rocky ridge, about 1 km long. with steep drops
to the south which give us excellent views in good
weather (we, of course didn't see anything but the inside
of a cloud!). The descent from Causey Pike to Stair is
steep and, in a couple of places. requires concentration
and an enthusiasm for scrambling but the return from
Stair to Braithwaite is short and gentle. We then
continue to Keswick where the coaches will be waiting.
Good boots and lockable knees are essential for the ridge
and descent.
Distance: 10 miles
- Ascent: 2300'
- Leaders: Rick Tynan and Dave Miles
'B' Walk
We start at Threlkeld Bridge and head via fields to Yew
Tree Farm. We then climb up to St John's Chapel and
proceed over Low Rigg. Passing Tewet Tarn and onto Naddle
Bridge we cross over fields to Gooseweli Farm and will
lunch in Castlerigg Stone Circle. Continuing via Castle
Lane to Rakefoot Ford we then have a short, sharp climb
up to the top of Walla Crag (great views). A steep
descent into Great Wood and back along the lake takes us
to refreshments etc in Keswick.
Distance: 8½ miles
- Ascent: 900'
- Leaders: Dave Willis and Ed McCluskey
'C' Walk
An attractive, interesting and varied walk involving some
modest and relatively short climbs which offers superb
views over Keswick, Derwent Water and the surrounding
fells, Starting from Keswick we follow the lakeside path
to Friars Crag and then continue on south past Stable
Hills to cross the Borrowdale Road in order to follow an
uphill path along the foot of Walla Crag through Great
Wood to Castlerigg. We then make our way northwards
towards Goosewell Farm and the Castlerigg Stone Circle.
Then, heading south and west, we reach Spring Wood and on
reaching the outskirts of Keswick turn southwest to
Castlehead Wood and then on to the shore of Derwent Water
andback to the coach. (If wet, it could be muddy in
places).
Distance: 7½ miles
- Ascent: 600'
- Leaders: Dave Griffiths and Stuart Norris
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