Vol: 31 Issue 7 2nd July 2017 Kirkby Stephen via Garsdale Head Coach leaves Kirkby Stephen at 5.30pm. The first drop-off stop will be Black Bull PROGRAMME OF EVENTS July 2017 13 July Thursday Car – Beacon Country Park, Upholland 10.30am start - Sat Nav:WN8 7RU GR509064 B: Dennis Barnish Meet at Carr Lane Car Park 16 July Sunday Car B: Brock Bottoms to Inglewhite 10.30am start - Sat Nav: Sat Nav: PR3 0RP Susan Grierson Meet at Bilsborrow Village Hall . C: Mere Sands Wood 10.30am start - Sat Nav: L40 1TA Roy Smith Meet at St Mary the Virgin Church, Rufford 19 July Stroller – Stanley Park Revisited 10.30am start - Sat Nav: FY3 8LS S: Bill & Marie Meet at the Art Deco Cafe car park, Stanley Park then afterwards at the café. 30 July Coach – Caldbeck 8am start – Return 5.30 pm – first drop off Black Bull A: Roughton Gill and Knott Leader: Graham Hogg B+: High Pike Leader: Allan Benson B: Cumbria Way Leader: Tony Ingham C: Bobbin Mill Circular Leader: Bill Manning Thursday Car - Beacon Country Park, Upholland – 13 July 8½ miles (13.8km) Leader: Dennis Barnish Meet at Carr Lane Car Park (Sat Nav:WN8 7RU Map Ref: GR509064), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am. From the A5209 Parbold by- pass head towards Newburgh. ( If using the M6 exit at J27 Parbold). After passing the Wayfarer pub take the 1st Left (Higher Lane) at a mini roundabout, continue straight on and after passing a church the road swings left and becomes Beacon Lane. Continue past 2 pubs on left. Park on the large car park on the right 400 yds PAST the entrance to Beacon Golf Club and Country Park. The w alk goes through the country park and visits Ashurst Beacon then goes down to Appley Bridge to join the Leeds Liverpool canal which is followed to Gathurst before returning via Roby Mill. COACH BOOKINGS Some members have indicated that they do not know who to contact to cancel a booking. Before the day of the walk the contact is the same as for booking a walk which is as shown on the programme ie email [email protected] or text/telephone 07763 209997. On the morning of the coach walk either telephone the above number or if this is not available, if possible let another walker know. When leaving a voice message pl ease give your telephone number. Please e -mail Walk Details to : [email protected] Please Note – Walk Details must be in one week before each coach excursion Today's Coach Walks starting points: A: B6259 after Moorcock Railway tunnel B+: Kirkby Stephen B: Kirkby Stephen C: Kirkby Stephen Swarth Fell & Wild Boar Fell Grade: A Distance 12.5 miles /20km Leader: Graham Hogg Climbing 1968ft / 600m Swarth Fell and Wild Boar Fell together make up the western side of Mallerstang, valley of the infant River Eden. We have the opportunity to visit both these fells today in a linear walk from Garsdale Head through to Kirkby Stephen. Leaving the coach on the B6259, (just after the Moorcock Railway tunnel), our route first takes us across South Lunds pasture to Turner Hill (465m) where we then have a gradual ascent to Swarth Fell Pike (651m) and Swarth Fell (681m). The views from the summit are excellent and include Wild Boar Fell, High Seat, Mallerstang and the upper reaches of Wensleydale. We now descend for sixty metres or so to the relatively large tarn that sits in the col between Swarth Fell and Wild Boar Fell. From here, it is a short pull to the summit of Wild Boar Fell itself, standing at 708m. (According to Wainwright the fell gets its name from the wild boar which inhabited the area over 500 years ago). As we descend northwards over Little Fell (559m) and down Greenlaw Rigg we’ll get a glimpse of Pendragon Castle. According to legend, the castle was built by Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur. However, in reality the castle was built in the 12th century by Ranulph de Meschines, during the reign of King William Rufus. It has the remains of a Norman, with the later addition of a 14th century garderobe turret and some further additions in the 17th century. On reaching the “Tommy Road” we head down to the River Eden and pick up the “Pennine Journey" footpath which we will follow all the way to Kirkby Stephen and the coach. Crosby Garrett,Smardale Gill,Smardale Fell Grade: B+ Distance 12 miles / 19.3km Leader: Val Walmsley Climbing 1500ft / 457m Leaving Kirkby Stephen we head north west to Busk and continue by crossing Scandale Beck to Soulby, with its three acre green. We follow the beck south west to Smardale Mill and west to Crosby Garrett and there may be a chance to visit the Grade 1 listed St. Andrews Church with an Anglo Saxon Chancel. We now pass under the Settle Carlisle railway and continue south passing Bull Flat with views over Smardale Gill and the viaduct to Pillow Mounds and Smardale Bridge. Now north east over Smardale Fell to Smardale Hall and return via Greenriggs and Crogham Castle remains. "Have a nice day". Pendragon & Lammerside Castles Grade: B Distance 10½ miles / 16.9km Leader: Tony Ingham Climbing 1100ft / 335m The walk leaves Kirkby Stephen by Franks Bridge over the River Eden and proceeds south along the river for a while, through the village of Nateby and on to Wharton Hall, a mid-16th century building. From there the walk continues south to reach Lammerside Castle, an oblong 14th century Pele Tower. The next section crosses Birkett Common before eventually reaching Pendragon Castle, which dates from the 12th century (Norman). At this point, after 5.25 miles, the walk turns back towards Kirkby Stephen, climbing up the Tommy Road before joining the Settle to Carlisle railway line (the highest and most costly to be built in England). The walk soon crosses this line and leads north to Bullgill where it veers off north east on a bridleway, above Wharton Hall, to re-join the river near Halfpenny House. The rest of the walk follows the river north through Stenkrith Park and back into Kirkby Stephen. River Eden & Hartley Grade: C Distance 5.5 miles / 8.8km Leader: Roy Smith Climbing 400ft / 122m Todays walk starts and finishes in Kirkby Stephen. The walk consists of bridleways, wild meadows and fields, riverside walking and well maintained tracks. From our drop off we make our way downhill to the River Eden. Crossing Frank’s Bridge we follow the east bank of the river, at this point part of the Coast to Coast walk. Slowly moving south we move slightly away from the river to follow a bridleway which takes us southwest, over the dismantled railway down to the hamlet of Nateby. From here we walk uphill through wild meadows to Lockthwaite. Our route now takes us over pasture land alongside Ladthwaite Beck to Ladthwaite. This is our farthest point. Making our way back we are now on a well maintained track. This part of the walk provides excellent views over the surrounding countryside and Kirkby Stephen. Once past Hartley Quarry we cross the dismantled railway again, before making our way back to Frank's Bridge and Kirkby Stephen. Please remove muddy boots before boarding the coach & check that you take all your belongings with you. Thank you .