This month's walks on Sunday 21 October take us to
Langdale in the Lake District. There will be a toilet stop at the services on
the M6. Boots are essential for all walks. The coach will leave school at 8.00am
Promptly and will leave Langdale for the return journey at 17.00 hours, hoping
to be back in Formby by 19.30 hours.
The cost of travel will be £7.00 for adults and £4.00 for children and students
in full time education who were formerly pupils at Range High School. Please
return the slip, completed in full, with a cheque (NOT CASH , in an envelope
marked"Range Walking Club", to the school office by Thursday 11 October.
There has been some difficulty in the past posting walk return forms at the
school out of school hours. The letter box beside the school entrance is no
longer being used. If you wish to personally deliver your return forms out of
hours please deliver them to the Treasurer or David Wake.
'A' WALK - LANGDALE SUPREME
A high level walk taking in Bowfell (2960') and crinkle Crags (2816') and the
Ravines of the Oxendale valley. We start at the Stickle Barn National Trust car park , New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (NDG)
in Great Langdale Valley- toilet facilities available. The road is followed to
the end of the valley, then the new detour at Stool End farm to ascend Bowfell
via The Band and the Climbers Traverse path, under Cambridge Crags to Bowfell
Buttress, before ascending Flat Crags to the summit of Bowfell. Our walk drops down to Three Tarns, then over Crinkle Crags, actually five
distinct tops, described by the immortal "AW' as "Lakeland's best ridge mile".
It includes the notorious "bad step" a 10' drop (this way round at least!).
(Subject to the weather!!!) Views are superb, the whole ridge being a vantage
point over the surrounding Langdale, Oxendale and Eskdale valleys. The route
continues via Red Tarn and descends Browney Gill back over Oxendale Beck to the
NDG.
Terrain - well defined paths though rough and some scrambling in parts.
Distance: 10 miles
Ascent: 3300'
Leaders. Ken Bryning & Bob Scurr
'B'+ Walk - A LOFTY WAY INTO LANGDALE
Starting from Clappersgate, we traverse the full length of Loughrigg Fell
(ascent 1050'), eventually dropping down to Red Bank and High Close YHA.The second part of the day's climbing then begins as we walk north west on good
tracks via Spedding Crag and onwards to Blea Rigg (1776'). This section of the
route takes us along the North Rim of Langdale and offers classic Lakeland views
in all directions (with the usual proviso!). At the end of Blea Rigg we descend,
first to Stickle Tarn and then down the stepped path to the Stickle Barn and
well earned refreshment. Although only 8 miles in length, the route is truly "undulating" and walkers
should be prepared. There is little shelter from the elements but in the event
of mutiny/bad weather, several alternative paths are available to us.
Distance: 8 miles
Ascent: 2000'
Leaders: Dave Purdy & Glennis Poole
'B' Walk
This undulating walk gives opportunities to see tarns, waterfalls and classic
views of the Lake District.Starting at Ambleside, we walk through Rothay Park and climb over the edge of
Loughrigg Fell with the Fairfield Horseshoe to our right, before dropping steeply down to Skelwith
Bridge for coffee. Out of Skelwith Bridge, we follow the Cumbria Way to view Colwith Force meeting the river again
at Slater Bridge with views of Little Langdale Tarn and Lingmoor Fell. A long gentle ascent, which is a bit
rough underfoot in places, brings us to the shores of Blea Tarn before descending into Langdale.
Distance: 8½ miles
Ascent: 1300'
Leaders: Ray Webb & Janet Purdy
'C' Walk
Having left the coach at Skelwith Bridge, an undulating start to the walk takes
us via Loughrigg Tarn and onto Redbank Wood for excellent views across Grasmere. More climbing follows as we
head via Huntingstile Crag back to the Langdale valley. Care will be necessary as we make our descent to
Walthwaite. Having crossed the beck by the bridge near Thrang Farm, we follow the Cumbria Way with its fine
views of the Langdale peaks back to the coaches.
Distance: 7 miles
Ascent: 850'
Leaders: Barry Whitby & Peter Houghton