Sunday 15th March 2015 - Orton, Cumbria

This month our walks are based on Orton in Cumbria.  The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and there will be a toilet stop on the way to Orton where all the walks start and finish. We plan to leave at 5.00 pm to be back in Formby about 7.00 pm

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 March; 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 5th March 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: 1,300 ft Leaders: John Roberts Margaret Pegg	We head east out of Orton taking in the Coast to Coast path via Sunbiggin to the interesting village of Little Asby.  Turning North west we pass Burtree and head down to Asby Grange  to make our way to the return path through Asby Winderwath Common and the Nature Reserve to Orton
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10.5 miles Ascent: 1950 ft Leaders: Andy Fowler Jane Fowler	Heading east out of Orton village we start our ascent (very gentle gradient) across fields to the ancient stone circle which may be a great place for morning coffee.  Carrying on in an easterly direction to the Acres farmhouse we turn north east for the main path up to the limestone pavement.  Weather permitting great views of both the Howgills and the eastern mountains of the Lakes will be available.  We carry on the bridleway with great views of the Pennines until making a u-turn and head onto Winderwath Common and then into Great Asby Scar.  Throughout we will get sight of the old Roman fort remains.  At a crossroads in the bridleway we head north to Gaythorne Plain before turning south west across heathland to meet the road.  After a little stretch of walking alongside the road we turn south on good paths and follow the river back into Orton for refreshments.  Please note, although Memory Map states this walk has an ascent of 1,950 feet, in practice it is all of very slight gradient and will be easy for all walkers, although there are quite a lot of stiles Distance:        10.5 miles.                                         Ascent:           1,950ft. Leaders:         Andy and Jane Fowler
‘B’ Walk Distance: 8.5 miles Ascent: 850 ft Leaders: Gill Hickmott David Wake	Leaving Orton in a north westerly direction we follow a green lane to Park Lane, then over fields to Bousfield Farm and on to where the Roman Road crosses the B6261. Here we turn north to follow the Roman Road steadily up and over the open moorland of Crosby Ravensworth Fell to Coalpit Hill and on, turning north east, to drop down to Slack Randy. Turning south we pass through fields gently up to Crosby Lodge, on past Hollins Scar into open moorland, still gently ascending, up a ghyll to Robin Hood’s Grave (he gets around doesn’t he!). We leave the open land to begin a gentle descent through several fields towards the church back into Orton. There are about 12 “stepping stone” type stiles to climb.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 7.5 miles Ascent: 800 ft Leaders: Julie Cork Steve Wright	We start from Orton taking paths across fields and sheep pastures crossing styles in the limestone walls, all reasonably easy to negotiate. A path takes us below the grassy slopes of the Knott and then a wide grassy track between outcrops of limestone leads to a gate into the Great Asby Scar nature reserve. After a wander through the nature reserve we leave it behind and follow tracks across open land to join the road. A stretch of road walking is followed by more field paths leading us back in to Orton where there is the chocolate factory, its excellent café, and - it also sells delicious ice creams.