Sunday 20th July 2014 - Settle, North Yorkshire

This month our walks are based around Settle. The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and will drive directly to Settle where the B+,B and C walks start and toilets are available. The coach will then continue for the short journey to Horton in Ribblesdale where the “A” walk starts and toilets are also available.  All walks finish in Settle where there are plenty of refreshment possibilities.
We plan to leave at 5.30 pm to be back in Formby about 7.30 pm.  Boots are essential on all walks.   

The cost of travel will be £10.00 for members, £13.00 for non-members and £5.00 for Leaders, children and students in full time education. Please make your cheque payable to Range Walking Club and ensure it is signed as it is inconvenient for the Treasurer to chase up such omissions.

Please send in your return to the Treasurer before 10th June. Places will be booked on the coach by the treasurer on a first come first served basis.

Cancellations: if you need to cancel or make a late booking, please contact the Treasurer on 01704 871308 who will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after 5th June and it is not possible to fill your place on the coach, regrettably, we will not be able to give you a refund as coaches will have been booked on initial returns.

AGM September 15th 2014 at Range High School at 7.30pm All walkers with the club are welcome to attend so I hope the date is convenient for you.  On that evening there will be an opportunity to renew your membership and collect your new member’s card for the 2014/15 season. The meeting agenda and papers for the meeting will be circulated with the walk letter on the 4th September.

Sept 2014 walk: There is no walk during August so the next club walk is in September on the 21st September.  The details of the walks which are based in Snowdonia will be published on 4th September 2014.

‘A’ Walk Distance: 11.5 miles Ascent: 1550/2070 ft Leaders: Carole Scurr Bob Scurr	The walk starts at Horton in Ribblesdale, therefore all “A” party members should remain on the coach at Settle for onward transport to Horton ( 10 minutes ) where toilets are available. Please try to have boots on before getting to Horton. From Horton we follow lanes & a riverside path to Brackenbottom from where we begin our ascent of Pen-y-Ghent (694 m / 2277 ft ) which will be taken at a steady pace. Views from the summit( which involves a bit of rough rock & some hands on stuff ) are superb on a good day. We then retrace our steps ( steep & rocky in parts ) back down to the South Col ( just like Everest this! ). We then follow the Pennine Way path to Churn Milk Hole where we turn off down Long Lane. Next we follow Moor Head Lane & the Ribble Way to Stainforth. From Stainforth there are two options. Given a fine day & fair wind we walk up to Catrigg Force & on to Settle via Jubilee & Victoria Caves alongside Attermire Scar. If the weather is less kind we will return to Settle via the Ribble Way alongside the river passing Stainforth Force. Either is an excellent way to end the day.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10 miles Ascent: 1500/1800 ft Leaders: Dave Purdy Eddy Drela	From the car park a short, sharp climb up Constitution Hill in Settle soon brings us to the Pennine Bridleway & some good early views over the town and it’s surrounding area. Continuing north we descend into Langcliffe & follow an enclosed stony path via Dicks Ground Plantation to Lower & Upper Winskill. After visiting Catrigg Force waterfall we descend again on a good path into Stainforth. Crossing the Settle-Carlisle railway line ( by bridge! ) we drop down to Stainforth Force & head west to Little Stainforth. From here the walk continues west towards Feizor, but, as with the “A” walk we have options! One is to keep straight ahead through Happy Valley arriving conveniently at Elaines Café, the other is to detour to climb Smearsett Scar ( only 300 ft more of ascent ) to gain superb views plus a short limestone ridge walk before descending to Feizor. From Feizor we return southeastwards on easy grassy tracks to Stackhouse where we join the Ribble Way back into Settle.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 8 miles Ascent: 1250 ft Leaders: Janet Purdy Ray Webb	We follow the same route from Settle to Stainforth as the “B+” party, though at a more sedate pace. After the morning’s climbs, the return leg will be a leisurely stroll past Stainforth Force and alongside the river following the Ribble Way back into Settle.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 6.5 miles Ascent: 550 ft Leaders: Glennis Poole Liz Bellman	We start from Settle by following the Ribble Way northwards on a very pleasant path, mostly alongside the River Ribble. On reaching Stainforth Force waterfalls we cross the river to explore the village of Stainforth and to use the toilets there. Our return to Settle closely follows the Settle to Carlisle railway line towards the village of Langcliffe. For those interested in industrial archaeology, the route holds a few surprises which there will be an opportunity to explore. There could also be a chance of a bit of retail therapy near the end of the walk. There are plenty of places for refreshments when we return to Settle.