Sunday 18th February 2015 - Cartmel, South Lakes

Our walks this month are based on Cartmel in the South Lakes. The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and travel to Burton Services for a toilet stop before continuing to Cartmel where all walks start.  Boots are essential on all walks.   All walks are planned to finish by 4.30pm so that there is time to relax before the meal at 5pm.  After the meal we will return to Formby arriving between 8.00pm & 8.30pm.

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 5th February; 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 809287 who will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after      8th January 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.

Leaders Meeting: Monday 27th April The meeting is moved forward to April to assist with putting together the information for the AGM which is in July this year. 

Club Weekend 2015: 5th-7th June
The Club Weekend on the 5th-7th June 2015 will based in St David’s on the Pembrokeshire Coast.   A booking has been made for a group meal on Saturday 6th June in the Grove Hotel High Street St David’s SA62 6SB 01437 720341. The hotels and guest houses in St Davids all seem to be fairly small so there will probably be a need for us to stay in separate places.  However, since The Grove Hotel is on the High Street it will be an easy place for us all to meet throughout the weekend.  Since St David’s is a small city it is advisable to book as soon as possible to be close to the centre.  If you are booking The Grove Hotel please mention that you are part of the group booked by myself.

‘A’ Walk Distance: 12 miles Ascent: 1,750 ft Leaders: Ken Bryning Shaun Rollinson Bob Scurr	Starting at the racecourse we walk through the village, passing the Priory and a famous Michelin starred restaurant to head up onto Hampsfell. This is an elevated ridge of limestone, a mere 226m in height overlooking the Kent estuary on one side and a wide view of Lakeland on the other. A stone building known as the Hospice crowns the highest part .It was provided by a pastor of Cartmel in 1830 for ‘the shelter and entertainment of travellers over the fell’ . Whilst we may stop for coffee our plans are to track east via Field Broughton, High Cark Hall and through Seatle plantation to Bigland Tarn, where there is a large country manor and equestrian centre. We now pick up the Cumbria Coastal Path to head South via Grassgarth to Speel Bank with views over the Leven estuary and Greenodd Sands. Return is via Over Ridge, Wall Nook and Hard Crag Woods before crossing the racecourse at Cartmel back to our waiting coach. An interesting and pleasant walk over a very pretty and often overlooked area of South Lakeland that will give us a good appetite for Hot Pot!
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10.5 miles Ascent: 1,500 ft Leaders: Dave Purdy Eddy Drala	Starting from the car park in Cartmel we head initially southwest on the Cistercian Way and then turn north to meet the Cumbria Coastal Path which we then follow to Bigland Tarn via How Barrow, Scroggs Wood and Ellerside. This section of the route offers superb views westwards over Greenodd Sands and the River Leven estuary. From Bigland Tarn the walk returns southeast and south passing through Seatle Plantation, High Cark Hall, Beckside, Hill and Barns Bank plantation back into Cartmel and a well earned meal and refreshments.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 9.25 miles Ascent: 550 ft Leaders: Liz Bellman Ray Webb	A figure of eight rather than circular, and with only one noticeable climb, the walk includes Cartmel, Cark, the Cumbria Coastal Way, Cark (again), the Cistercian Way and finishes in Cartmel.  A ‘must do’ for those who find joy in alliteration.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 7,5 miles Ascent: 800 ft Leaders: Janet Purdy Glennis Poole	Starting from the car park in Cartmel we cross the race course and climb through woodland to Barns Bank. Gradually gaining height we reach Howbarrow with views of the estuary and the Lake District fells. Our climbing is now over as we follow the Cistercian Way to the pretty coastal village of Cark where toilets are available. We then take an enclosed path to Sand Gate overlooking the sands before returning to Cark through the village of Flookburgh. From Cark we continue on the Cistercian Way back to Cartmel.