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Deeside Ramblers Newsletter No. 29 December 2017 Once again over the last few months, our group has enjoyed lots of excellent walking and other events. This is due to the efforts of our walk leaders, and of course our walks organizer Paul. He would welcome any new walks and leaders, as at the moment we have a small number of regular leaders. On the social front, Pat Cole continues to add interesting events to our calendar. The recent evening in Chester, on a “Ghost Walk” proved a great success. We also see members of other North Wales groups on some of our walks, and a few of our members go on walks with other groups. A very hot day on one of the long walks at Sed- bergh. And I mean HOT !!. Towards the end of the walk, we had all run out of water, and were feeling the sun. The day was saved by a lady at a farm we passed, who very kindly refilled our water bottles. We re- sisted the temptation of a close by hostelry…..! The folks on the shorter walk on our coach ram- ble to Saddleworth. The weather this year on the outing was thankfully dry, which after the soaking we had last year was very welcome. The group here are on the top of a hill called “Pots and Pans” Group web site https://www.facebook.com/groups/deesideramblers/ https://twitter.com/deesiderambler1 http://www.deesideramblers.org.uk/ 1 Newsletter December 2017 Sedbergh Holiday. Jack Cawley reports on the long walks.. The Thursday walk took us up to Garsdale Head. After a short drive and some of us, not all, missing a stone in the road on the way, We arrived safely in the railway station car park at Garsdale Head. The day was extremely warm and sun cream was very much the order of the day. Next step was across open moorland to cross the famous Settle - Carlisle railway by a foot bridge where it was an obvious photo call. A little bit of road walking ensued until we reached a track which led us by a disused chapel in Lunds which had served the small community in the 17 th and 18 th centuries. Now it was a small gradient to reach our target, the High Way. The route was inspired by Lady Anne Clifford, who owned vast estates in the old county of Westmorland during the seventeenth century. Lady Anne travelled repeatedly between her castles in Skipton and Penrith and the route takes in these once magnificent buildings, many now sadly in ruins. It also served as an old drovers’ trail during the limestone quarrying industry on the fells in the 18 th and 19 th centu- ries and there was still evidence of some of the disused quarries, one of which provided a useful place to sit and have lunch. All around us we could see the fells of Abbotside Common, Great Shunner Fell and the valleys of Wensleydale and Dentdale . We walked along the Highway for a couple of miles before we descended to Thwaithe Bridge Farm. As we were now in the valley there wasn’t much respite from the heat as the air was very still. At the end of this picturesque agricultural valley, we reached Yore House Farm where the heat took its toll on one of members. At this point, Val found the farmers wife who very kindly refilled all our water bottles, a most refreshing gesture appreciated by all. Now it was along the road and under the Dandrymire Viaduct, a huge imposing feature of the landsacape and back to our cars. The Friday walk was up to the highest peak in the Howgill Fells, namely The Calf, at 2220ft. We drove to the Cross Keys Inn, a tem- perance inn which didn’t serve alcoholic drinks. The first part was along the valley of Cautley Holme Beck, which led to Cautley Spout, a waterfall which flowed down from the fells. However, as it had been a dry period, there was only a small flow, but we could imagine what a fine sight it would be in wetter conditions, but we didn’t mind! Our path led us up the side of the Spout winding its way up the hillside in a series of zig-zags until we crossed rough ground and reached the Dales Highway which in turn led us to The Calf with its trig point. This was the opportunity for a photo with us wrapping ourselves around the trig point. The position of The Calf gave us the advantage to have a 360 degree viewpoint of the fells around us. It was a beautifully clear day and we could see the Howgill Fells along which we were to continue, many of peaks of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, and with Sedbergh below us. Although it was a hot day in the valley below, there was a most welcome breeze on the tops which managed to keep us from feel- ing too hot as had happened the day before. It was now on along a very good track to cross the tops of Bram Rigg, Calders, Rown- tree Grains and on the slopes of Winder. We followed a track just above Sedbergh which gave a fine vantage point to see the lay out of the town and we arrived back at Thorn Hall having had a fine day on the fells again . 2 Newsletter December 2017 From Paul Stevenson. Walks Programme Coordinator. In last 12 months, our group has hosted 56 walks. We walked on 26 weekends. Alternate Saturdays/Sundays. 11 Wednesday “Pub lunch” walks, 15 summer evening walks. Total attendance on all walks, 910. We had 12 different leaders. Thanks to all leaders for their efforts in choosing, checking and leading the walks. If you have a particular walk you would like to see in a future program, please let me or one of our walk leaders know. This way we can ensure the program reflects the wishes of our group members. A fuller report on our walks can be found on Facebook. You come across some strange place names on our walks. Not sure if it refers to being out of breath, or a com- ment about the group..!! Coach ramble to Saddleworth area by Jack. We set off from Greenfield and passed the local primary school to join a path which led through wet grass up a hill to reach Intake Lane very aptly as we needed an intake of breath and were greeted by a very friendly black cat. Our next stage was along the lane to come to the Oldham Way for a short spell before we turned to take a narrow, steep path, surrounded by heather, to reach Alphin Pike named after Alphin one of two legendary giants, the other being Alder. Here, we were ‘entertained’ with the story of Alphin and Alder, who battled it out over a water nymph and who slung huge rocks at each other with Alphin being killed and the water nymph taking her own life as she lost the love of her life. The hills opposite are known as ‘Pots and Pans where, allegedly, the rocks that Alphin threw at Alder had landed. Now it was along clear paths for a good distance until we came upon a recently burned area of heather and we made our own path to reach Wimberry Stones Brow where we had lunch with views across to Dovestones Reservoir and the valley below. Our next stage took us through some boggy peat where Mike decided to test the depth of the peat. Fortunately, he came to no harm as there were willing hands to pull him out. We headed on towards Chew Reservoir and then took a good track descending to Dovestones Reservoir surrounded by the colourful hills above us. Having walked around Dovestones, we headed for the track, with some ups and downs in between, to come to the track which was to lead us along the side of the valley opposite to Alphin Pike and Wimberry Stones where we had walked earlier on. On the way, we met Kevin, the sheep, who was 17 years old and had been hand fed from birth after his mother had rejected him. He came across to us and enjoyed the fuss that was made of him. Now it was down to the Huddersfield Canal and along the towpath to Uppermill and time for some refreshments. Many thanks to Josie and Tricia Morris, who planned the walks. To Kath for collating the bookings for the coach, to Dave and Tricia for leading and to Owen our coach driver for a very smooth ride. 3 Newsletter December2017 Chairmans corner. If elected this year I will have held the post for 10 years, during that time I have managed to come through the ups and downs life throws at us. Without doubt walking has played a big part in my life with such happy memories and the many friends I have been associated with, long may it last. I have put it to our Social Secretary Pat Cole that we have a social night in Febru- ary next year to have a look back at some of the highlights of the group and its members along with fun and games, we will of course make everyone aware when our plans are finalized. Our annual holiday this year was in the Yorkshire Dales National Park at Sedbergh, the weather was in many ways too hot, we British always grumble.

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