Sunday 19th February 2017 - Scorton, Lanacashire

This month our walks are based on Scorton in Lancashire where all the walks start and finish. The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt.. The farmland in Lancashire is very wet so Boots are essential on all walks. All walks start at The Priory where we will finish for the hot pot meal at approx. 5.00 pm.  We plan to leave   at approx. 7.00 to be back in Formby about 8.30.   

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 Monica Sealey before 9th 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 Margaret on 07793195276 or by email margaretpegg@btinternet.com and I will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after 9th February 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 24th April at the Pinewoods commencing at 8.00pm

Club Weekend 1st – 4th June 2017 The Club Weekend will be based at the Best Western Beaumont Hotel in Hexham.  Accomodation in Hexham is limited but rooms are available at the hotel and the guest houses listed on the attached sheet. Please email me at margaretpegg@btinternet.com to let me know if you plan to come on the weekend and then book your room direct with the hotel or one of the guest houses. When booking please let them know you are with the Range Walking Club.

‘A’ Walk Distance: 12 miles Ascent: 1200 ft Leaders: Andy Fowler Jane Fowler	We start the walk by leaving Scorton at the Cricket field and go under the M6 motorway to Slean End.  Here we pick up the Grize Dale valley until reaching the reservoir.  A short ascent takes us to Nicky Nook for great views – weather permitting.  From here its field work down to Fell End and then progressing into moorland as we head for Harrisend Fell. Skirting round the fell we turn north for Gathering Fields, Swainshead Hall and on to Lower Swainshead before meeting the Wyke Way.  We now keep on the Wyke Way all the way back to Scorton taking in Dolphinholme and the various fisheries.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10.5miles Ascent: 1400 ft Leaders: Margaret Pegg John & Edwina Roberts	From the Priory we walk south through Scorton village and follow Tithe Barn Lane under the motorway and onto footpaths and across fields to Throstle Nest Farm and Helbeck Farm.  We then wind our way eastwards across fields and down to the mill village of Calder Vale.  Turning northwards we pick up a good footpath and road to Oakenclough and Grizedale Bridge.  At Grizedale Bridge we turn west and follow the footpath up and over Nicky Nook and then back down into Scorton for our hot pot supper at The Priory.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 8 miles Ascent: 1300 ft Leaders: David Wake Gill Hickmott	The walk starts from the Priory Hotel and Restaurant at Scorton which is a small rural village in Lancashire in the parish of Nether Wyresdale near Garstang.  The name means farmstead near a ditch or ravine.  The village was developed around the cotton mill and railway in the nineteenth century although the village and Catholic Church can be traced back to the seventeenth century. The 8 mile walk enjoys an easy ascent to Nicky Nook where in good weather there are fantastic views over the Lancashire plain, Blackpool Tower clearly visible in one direction around to Heysham in the other. There are several stiles to cross but most of these are beside gates if preferred.  Dry stone walls and sheep folds give shelter for breaks.  Across the farm land many stretches are very wet so boots are essential.  After descending Nicky Nook we make our way back to Scorton for our hot pot supper at The Priory Restaurant.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 6.7 miles Ascent: 450 ft Leaders: Liz Bellman Steve Wright	We start at the priory in Scorton and head north towards Cleverley Bridge, Nans Nook and on to Sunnyside Caravan Park. Along the way we cross the M6 on a footbridge. We veer east and then south to pass between several lakes that are part of a fish farm. We then loop round to cross long lane and continue south to Syke’s farm. After the farm we make our way to Cliftons before passing Wyresdale Lake and Tithebarn Brook. Finally we cross the motorway again back into Scorton for our hotpot supper at The Priory. Much of the walk is across farmland with lots of stiles and long stretches were very wet and muddy so boots are essential.