Sunday 21rd September 2008 - Langdale

On Sunday 21 September, our first walks of the new season are based on the Langdale Valley in the Lake District. 

The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and travel direct to Langdale where there are toilets and refreshments.   We plan to leave at 5.30pm and should be back in Formby around 8pm.    

The cost of travel will be £10.00 for adults, £12.00 for guests and £5.00 for Leaders, children and students in full time education.  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 11th September 2008,  or if you wish to deliver your return forms personally, out of school hours, please deliver them by the same date to the Treasurer, Alan Thomas, at 11 Altcar Road or Jean Makeating at 60 Burlington Ave.

MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE NOW DUE AND IF POSSIBLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR CHEQUE FOR THE FIRST WALK.  OTHERWISE PLEASE FORWARD TO THE TREASURER,  ALAN THOMAS,  AT THE ADDRESS ABOVE.  (See below for rates and penalty for late payment)

 

 

 

 

‘A’ Walk Distance: 10 miles Ascent: 3000' Leaders: Trevor Ludlow Margaret Pegg	This walk takes us to the summit of Bow Fell.  As Wainwright describes – a mountain is better defined by it’s shape and form rather than height alone.  Ordnance Survey requires a height in excess of 2000ft. Bow Fell satisfies both!!  At 902m it is the 9th highest mountain of the Lake District – so much for the education.   First we follow the valley floor (Cumbria Way) to it’s end, where we pause to debate whether we ascend steeply or steeply ascend. Deciding there is no real difference and we should just get on with it, we make our way steadily up, pausing frequently.  At the saddle we descend a little to Angle Tarn (sorry 2 ups on this walk).  The final ascent (after lunch) takes us to the boulder strewn ridge of Bow Fell and the summit itself (more boulders!). I hope we get the reward of fine views to the other 8 taller mountains to make our effort more worthwhile (no view on the recce!). From the summit we descend along ’The Band’ to the valley floor, heading back to the coach and well earned refreshments.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 7 ½ miles Ascent: 2400 ft Leaders: John Hughes John Rothwell	Pike O’Blisco (or Pike of Blisco, which Wainwright called it’s Sunday name) is just 2313ft high but offers stunning views of central Lakeland as a reward for the climbing. The route from New Dungeon Gyll hotel turns south at the old hotel, up the side of Side Pike before passing the popular beauty spot of Blea Tarn.  There is then a short section on the Wrynose Pass road before the main ascent on open fell to the summit of the Pike. The descent is via Red Tarn, past tumbling waterfalls, into Oxendale and eventually back to the hotel.  In the event of bad visibility an alternative walk may be substituted.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 8½ miles Ascent: 1300 ft Leaders: Linda Trollope David Willis	This is not a very strenuous walk but a good opportunity to get back into stride for the coming year, with a bit of painless history and geography thrown in. From the National Trust car park, we follow the same route as the ‘C’ walkers for the first couple of miles.  Having crossed the beck, we pass along fields to ascend gently to Oak Howe, affording good views along the valley. Up then, through attractive woodland and over toward Little Langdale where we cross the old Slater’s Bridge, then circle the south side of the pretty tarn and down to Fellfoot, pausing to look at Ting Mound en route. After a short trek along the busy road, we head north below Hollin Crag for a bit of scrambling along the fellside until we reach a lively waterfall.  On and downto the little jewel that is Blea Tarn.  From the head of the pass just beyond, we stop to look around. From the tarn behind to the panoply of peaks ahead, the panorama is awesome! We make our rapid and relatively easy descent to base, where a choice of 3 watering holes awaits us.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 7½ miles. Ascent: 500 ft Leaders: Craig Baker Stuart Norris	Starting from New Dungeon Ghyll we cross over the Great Langdale Beck to pick up the Cumbria Way at Side House where we climb along the Cumbria Way to Oak Howe and on to Baysbrown and Baysbrown Wood.  In Sawrey’s Wood we climb south towards Little Langdale and from here we turn east and follow a minor road to High Colwith. We now start the return journey by skirting Fletcher’s Wood towards Elterwater.  From Elterwater we pick up again the Cumbria Way and follow the Great Langdale Beck along the valley back to New Dungeon Ghyll.  There are several opportunities along the way for refreshment and comfort stops and for Craig ‘View Stops’.