Sunday 13th May 2018 - Kettlewell, Yorkshire

This month our walks are based on Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales.  The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt.  Boots are essential on all walks.  There will be no stop enroute as there are toilets in Grassington, where the linear ‘C’ walk starts and in Kettlewell where the other three walks start. There is a good choice of refreshments for the end of the day. We plan to leave at 5.30pm to be back in Formby about 7.00 pm.

The cost of travel will be £11.00 for members, £14.00 for non-members and £5.00 for Leaders, children and students in full time education.  Please make your cheques payable to Range Walking Club and ensure they are signed as it is inconvenient for the Treasurer to chase up such omissions.

Please book by email and pay online or send in your return to the Treasurer Monica Sealey before 3rd 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 3rd May 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.

‘A’ Walk Distance: 12.5 miles Ascent: 2,500 ft Leaders: Ken Bryning Bob Scurr	Starting from Kettlewell we leave the village walking North to gain height on the Top Mere road, a track in fact, and are soon enjoying good views of Upper Wharfedale and Great Whernside, the objective for the day.  On meeting the Starbotton Cam Road, we head East continuing via Tor Dike to cross the Walden Road, and then NW via Hem Gill Shaw to the ridge and Little Whernside 604m (1992ft) our first peak of the day. Great views (subject to the weather) are on offer in all directions, and we can look down into Nidderdale and the Angram and Scar House reservoirs.  Retracing our steps for a mile or so, we now head SW via Black Dike End to the Trig point on Great Whernside 704m (2323ft), with views up the valley to Buckden and South down to Grassington. Descent is to Hag Dyke (the Scout Outdoor Center), Hooksbank and back to Kettlewell.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10.5 miles Ascent: 2,100 ft Leaders: Carole Scurr Ray Webb	From Kettlewell we follow the ‘A’ party up the Top Mere Road track (though at a more sedate pace) until a footpath junction with Starbotton Road (971754).  Heading west we join the Starbotton Cam Road track, which we follow down to the outskirts of the village.  From Starbotton we commence the second (and last) ascent of the day, climbing north above Eshber Wood before dropping down into Buckden. After Buckden it becomes a walk in the park or, more accurately, a walk along the Dales Way as we follow it and the River Wharfe back to Kettlewell.  Although there will be more climbing than usual for a ‘B+’ walk, the views across Wharfedale should make it worth the effort.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 9 miles Ascent: 1,560 ft Leaders: Gill Hickmott Louise Pimm	Our walk starts from the car park in Kettlewell which we leave to cross the River Wharfe. We then have an immediate steady ascent to the exposed ridge separating Wharfedale and Littondale. The views of the surrounding fellside are superb and well worth the ascent and subsequent descent to Buckden. We return following the tranquil riverside to Kettlewell.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 8.5 miles Ascent: 800 ft Leaders: Anne Belcher Keith Jacques	This is a linear walk on clearly defined paths along one side of the River Wharfe valley from Grassington where the coach will drop us, to Kettlewell where the coach will be waiting. After visiting the Linton Waterfalls in Grassington we follow the river for a while before climbing up to the Dales Way which takes us all the way into Kettlewell. Good weather on the day will give us extensive views for much of the walk which can be enjoyed whilst crossing the many stiles we will encounter en-route.