SHORT WALKS GROUP We’ve been blessed with good weather this spring so have been able to walk each month though the March walk had to be altered as the ground was so boggy and muddy. 11th March The walk was changed to a shortish road walk from the Derby Arms at Witherslack with refreshments at the pub afterwards. A good group of walkers joined the walk including my husband Chris on his scooter. After a spell of bad weather everyone was delighted to have a pleasant day and get out and enjoy a walk. We walked the old road to Millside and then up the quiet lane to Beckhead where the stream appears from under the rocks – a wonderfully tranquil spot. We carried on a short distance to where the lane ends and stopped for coffee. We then retraced our steps past some wonderful houses at Beckhead to Millside where we deviated down a short path to see the old millwheel- now part of someone’s garden. Back to the road we wound our way along the quiet lanes back to the Derby Arms for a welcome drink. 8th April It was a cold but bright day, and nineteen intrepid walkers gathered in Gummer’s Howe Car Park. A very pleasant 5 miler on good paths across pasture and fell side with magnificent views all the way lay ahead. We were all surprised how busy the car park was, but then realised that it was half term for Cumbria. Several family groups were headed for Gummer’s Howe, but not us. We headed towards Sow How Farm up through woods with long reaching views towards the northwest as our reward. We passed by the tarn, and then carried on past Heights Cottage to the Ziggurat (a large cairn complete with a seat inside, which my granddaughter calls the ‘Giant’s Chair’). It was a good place for a coffee stop. We enjoyed lovely views of Scout Scar, Cunswick Scar and much of the Lyth valley. We then did a small detour to avoid the very steep descent from the cairn, followed by two ladder stiles and a stone step stile. We continued on through woodland, crossing a pretty stream to Foxfield, with just a short section of tarmac road. Above Foxfield it was quite windy, so we checked which rocky outcrops afforded the most sheltered place to eat our lunch. Once shelter and a comfortable perch were found, virtually the whole route we had taken could be seen. Then it was back the way we came through the farmyard, through Astley Plantation and then down to the car park. It was an enjoyable walk, and we only saw two people during the entire walk...not bad for the first week of the Easter holidays. Erica Clapp Short Walks (continued) 13th May On a glorious Spring day we had a pleasant and easy drive to Kirkby Stephen and 11 of us had a varied and most interesting walk through the Vale of Eden. Starting from the shared Church of England and Roman Catholic Parish church, to view the gravestone of a ship’s commander, who had been murdered by his crew when sailing from Hong Kong. From the 17th century Franks Bridge we joined the coast to coast walk before reaching the Podgill and Merrygill viaducts, designed by the engineer of Tay Bridge, which collapsed 2 years after it was built. Following the former South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway to meet the River Eden to ‘The Devil’s Mustard Mill’, named for the noise of the rushing water through the worn bedrock. With great views to Cross Fell, The Nine Standards, Wild Boar fell and Mallerstang we arrived at the late medieval house of Wharton Hall, besieged during the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ in 1536. After a lunch stop overlooking the Eden, we walked through the village of Nateby to pick up the ancient byway of Lady Anne’s Way, named after Lady Anne Clifford of Skipton Castle fame, part of Wainright’s 1930,s Pennine Journey, and returning to Kirkby Stephen for afternoon tea. Many thanks to Erica, Tony and Stella for leading the walks. .