Sunday 9th June 2016 - Pooley Bridge, Lake District

This month our walks are based on Pooley Bridge in the Lake District. The’ A’ walk is  linear starting from a point on the A6, B+, B & C walks all start from Pooley Bridge.  The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and travel to Tebay Services for a toilet/boot up stop.  Toilets are also available in Pooley Bridge(20p) for the remaining walkers.  Boots are essential on all walks. All the walks finish at Pooley Bridge where there are plenty of opportunities for refreshments.  We plan to leave at 5.30 pm to be back in Formby about 7.30pm

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 May; 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 or by email monicatuk@yahoo.co.uk who will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after 10th September 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.

Club AGM Monday 11th July
The Club AGM will be held on Monday 11th July at Range High School.  Membership cards will be issued from 7pm onwards and the meeting will commence at 7.30pm.  The AGM papers will be circulated nearer the time.

‘A’ Walk Distance: 12 miles Ascent: 2200 ft Leaders: Ken Bryning Shaun Rollinson	The walk starts at Shapbeck Gate, North of Shap village on the A6 (NY 556187) and proceeds westerly over Out Scar, descending into the Lowther Valley at Bampton Grange. Continuing south-westerly we start to climb via Drybarrows towards Bampton Common above Haweswater. At NY 463160 the route turns north-west to reach High Street at Wether Hill  (661m).  High Street is then followed via Loadpot Hill (672m), The Wartches and The Cockpit to our destination in Pooley Bridge.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10.5 miles Ascent: 1500 ft Leaders: Dave Purdy Ray Belcher	Starting from Pooley Bridge we head southeast, climbing via Roehead towards Moor Divock, pausing on the way to visit The Cockpit, an ancient stone circle. (It’s a good spot for a ritual ceremony ie coffee!)  Continuing southeast we pass the Cop Stone and descend through fields to the hamlet of Helton and then take an enclosed track down to the River Lowther and so into Whale. From here we turn north following the river on a well made, tree lined path beneath Lowther Castle to reach the pretty village of Askham. A gradual climb westwards now begins on grassy paths to bring us to Heughscar Hill, described by Wainwright as “a gem for ageing fell walkers”. From the hill top there are extensive views of the entire length of Ullswater and the hills beyond. From Heugh Scar we descend on more grassy paths back to Roehead and join our outward route back to Pooley Bridge.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 9 miles Ascent: 870 ft Leaders: Loise Pimm Gill Hickmott	Following the 'B+' party we climb to The Cockpit. We then swing south-westerly along a footpath below Barton Fell that eventually takes us to Howtown, a small hamlet where we could be encouraged to support a new enterprise which provides light lunches, cakes, tea & coffee.  After passing the steamer pier we head north to Swarthbeck Gill from where our return to Pooley Bridge overlooks Ullswater.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 7 miles Ascent: 850 ft Leaders: Liz Bellman Ray Webb	Following in the wake of the 'B+' and 'B' parties, but at a more sedate pace, we climb to The Cockpit on Askham Fell. We then head south-westerly, descending towards the lake with Barton Fell above and to our left.  Although Glencoyne Bay is out of sight (the location of William Wordsworth's Daffodils), the views across the lake and to the fells beyond are excellent.  The return leg begins at Swarthbeck Gill (NY454208) and takes us across farmland and past the alpacas at Cross Dormant.   After a short stretch on tarmac we leave the road at Waterside House and walk back to Pooley Bridge beside the lake, beneath the trees.   Distance:        7 miles                                     Ascent:           850ft    Leaders:         Liz Bellman and Ray Webb