Sunday 17th October 2021 - Holmes, South Lakes

This month our walks are based in South Cumbria exploring the fells and crags of Newbiggin and Hutton Roof. The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and there will be a toilet stop at Burton in Kendal services. Both walks finish in Holme where we will have refreshments before leaving at about 4.30 to get back to Formby at 6.30pm. Boots are essential on all walks, also please take notice, when walking, of the advice on likely ground conditions from the individual leaders.

The cost of travel will be £16.00 for members, £18.00 for non-members, £7.00 for Leaders, £7.00 for 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 book by email and pay online or send in your return to the Treasurer Monica Sealey before 9th October; 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 0781 2423307 (preferably by text) or by email monicatuk@yahoo.co.uk who will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after 9th October 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.

‘B+’ Distance: 10.5 miles Ascent: 1,100 ft Leaders: Lynn Smith A N Other	This area is undeservedly the poor relation to the Lake District proper. It is often driven by unnoticed as we head for the Lakes. The walk begins with the Lancaster canal towpath before the gradual ascent of Newbiggin Crags. Note these footpaths are not shown on the OS map. Extensive limestone pavements are all around plus the views to the Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales. We continue south on the limestone link path into the natural woodland and limestone scenery of Hutton Roof Crags and the impressively named Blasterfoot Gap. A descent through the gap leads us to Hutton Roof hamlet. A pleasant section of field walking follows leading to a small abandoned quarry. Skirting the lower reaches of the crags, tracks and footpaths take us to Clawthorpe hamlet. If time permits a short diversion to the top of Holme Park Quarry is worth a visit to see the extent of the active workings below. A small plateau completes this varied walk before arriving back in Holme.
‘B/C’ Walk Distance: 7.5 miles Ascent: 700 ft Leaders: Trevor Ludlow David Willis	This walk also includes the canal towpath and takes in part of both Newbiggin and Hutton Roof Crags. The weather on the day will determine which direction and which of the recce routes we take. Newbiggin is exposed limestone country, less suited to wind and rain, Hutton Roof is mainly natural woodland on limestone providing more shelter. In two places the terrain requires care for foot placement as we negotiate rough ground but there is plenty of time for either walk route. The Holme Park Quarry view platform will feature on either option. Its call to fame is the residual vertically faced island in the quarry centre created by the excavations around it, isolating it from future human contamination. The crossing of the limestone pavement of Curwen Woods is unexpected before finishing in Holme. Note, on the Hutton Roof route the 6 foot tall bracken almost covers the path in places and if wet you know it!