Abbeystead - Christmas Walk 2013 (15th December 2013)

Walk: Tarnbrook and Marshaw, from Jack Keighley's book, "Walks in the Forest of Bowland", published Cicerone.

Party: Marcus Nyahoe, Steven Hornby, Peter Rees

The previous day had seen high winds on the Fylde coast, but on the drive up to Abbeystead it appeared that we had struck lucky. The weather was clear and bright, and seemingly calm. This impression was soon proved to be erroneous as we started to rise to the higher ground. By the time we got to Hind Hill the wind was almost gale force, but descending into the valley brought an eerie amount of calm.

This was a great walk. We've used Abbeystead for the Christmas walk before, albeit not this route, and I can confidently say that I'll be coming this way again before long.

Page 1 of the walk

Page 2 of the walk

The River Wyre is very small at this point

Terrorist gear ahoy!

Peter and Steve being blown about on Hind Hill

Me with the Wyre in the background

Abbeystead House near the end of the walk. This mansion was built as a shooting lodge.

Silverdale - Saturday 9th March 2013

The second walk of 2013 was a little delayed due to football (Blackpool played at home last week when we should have gone) but it was worth the wait.

The walk, taken from Graham Dugdale's fantastic book, Curious Lancashire Walks", took in the famous Pepperpot and the ruin of Arnside Tower, a fourteenth century Pele Tower which was worth getting up for on its own. It was built for protection from brigands and was on three floors. the first was windowless and held cattle, the second held the main living quarters, with the ladies bower above that. This little journey offered much more than that though as it takes in railside and woods, and skirts Hawes Water. In winter it was lovely, but a revisit on a warm Spring morning is defnitely on the cards, as is another one on a hot summer's day, and one on a cool autumn morning. The changing colours would make this seem like a different walk each time.

Sometimes you come across a walk which rinvigorates your enthusiasm for the hobby. This is such a walk. Fantastic.

Steve takes in the size of the Pepperpot (actually  Steve's small so it isn't as big as it looks here!)

Peter joins Steve in keeping the Pepperpot upright.

Mr Hornby again in relaxed pose

Marcus in front of the Arnside Tower

View of the Arnside Tower from the other side.

Arnside Tower can just be seen in the distance.

Salter's Way, Forest of Bowland - Saturday 16th February 2013

The first of our regular walks for 2013 was, unusually, a straight walk. Salter's Way, along the top of Salter's Fell is a little unending, but for peace and tranquility it is second to none. We met just two walkers and a group of bikers who were riding along the Way. Aside from that we did not see a soul.

Getting to the start of the walk was an experience in itself. Dropping one car in Hornby (the end of the walk) we were given a lift to Slaidburn. Although the straight walk was just 9 miles, the sat nav indicated a 30 mile trip as we had to drive around Bowland and then in from near the Yorkshire Dales.

This was an enjoyable enough introduction to the walking year, but I'm not sure I'd hurry back to do it again.

Peter taking pictures if the view just after we encountered the elderly bikers

Steve at the same point.

Peter and I taking a well earned rest.

The witches near the end of the walk on the road to Hornby.

The circle of witches. Creepy.

The road to Hornby at the end seemed to be never ending.

Abbeystead - Sunday 16th December 2012

For one reason or another 2012 has been a poor year for walking.

Whether it has been the rain or something else I'm not sure but trips out for even short walks have been few and far between. A trip to Abbeystead for our traditional Christmas walk has resolved that, and now I'm all enthusiastic and raring to get going again.

We started off with a nice short four mile walk around the reservoir, but the thick mud and getting slightly lost in Mark Holme Wood made this seem slightly longer. Views of the reservoir are impressive though, and bring home the reason we walk in the country.  

Steve ready to begin

Me ready to go

Peaceful looking reservoir from the north bank

River Wyre from the Long Bridge

Looking towards Abbeystead Fell and Hare Appletree Fell

The River Wyre from Mark Holme Wood

The iron footbridge across the reservoir

First glimpse of the dam

Water flowing over the dam gloriously (below is a video to better capture how awesome this is.

Water flowing over the dam as the Wyre keeps flowing

The contrast between the rapidly flowing water over the dam and the calm of the reservoir

The reservoir so calm, the reflection is perfect.

Keswick - September 2012

The weather was not kind for this trip, so our planned jaunt up Seat Sandal had to be postponed in favour of Latrigg, a hill that we looked at every weekend we spent in Keswick as it overlooks the hotel. Firstly though we decided to revive a tradition that seemed to have died as we expanded the group beyond four - breakfast at a cafe.

So it was bacon barms all round before the (surprisingly easy) walk up Latrigg. The best thing about the walk, aside from the views, is that it can be done as a circular route from the hotel entrance and back again. Latrigg itself is a lovely hill and the views, when the cloud cleared, were outstanding.

The rest of the weekend was taken up with the usual events and rewards. Yours truly kept up his fantastic run of winning the Rees trophy and has now been awarded it to keep. It will be replaced by the magnificent Nyahoe trophy. Oh, and Nigel won some piffling thing...

Great weekend again. Thanks to all involved.

The mighty hill to be conquered.

Peter, Nigel and Steve part way up. Blencathra in the background.

Peter, Nigel, Marcus part way up. Blencathra in the background.

Blencathra from Latrigg

Concentration during a fiercely contested game of bowls.

Nigel happy with his trophy.

The famous Rees trophy is coming home.

The trophy winners together

The trophyless (or losers).

Keswick Trip - April 2012

The Keswick trip for April 2012 was to involve walking up the third highest Wainwright, Helvellyn. we hoped the weather would hold out as in September 2011 the cloud cover was too low and so Place Fell was selected instead. This time we were lucky and the weather was glorious, although how lucky we felt scrambling up 300ft after Striding Edge is anybody's guess. However the rewards are magnificent and certainly helped the beer go down well that weekend.

Steve ready to set off.

Happy to reach the Hole in the Wall.

Looking over the tarn to the summit

Who ate all the pies?

On top of Striding Edge

This sign tells how somebody died at this point.

Coming down Striding Edge

Somehow we all made it to the top

Somebody has just seen Everton go above Liverpool

Knott End - Sunday 8th January 2012

The first walk of 2012 was a short Sunday stroll in Knott End, mainly due to the time it gets light and the need to get back for the Man City vs Man Utd FA Cup game, the less said of which the better, attended by me, Steve and Peter. This was a short 5 mile walk that took just over an hour and a half. Nevertheless it was full of interest, with wildlife reserves part way through and at the end, Knott End Golf Course, and a view towards Fleetwood that is always surprising due to the unexpected short distance across the mouth of the River Wyre.

These local walks are ideal for these winter months, but next one is our first one in the Lake District for a while - Staveley.

Knott End Lifeboat Station at the start of the walk

Peter and Steve getting ready for the "trek".

The view over to Fleetwood. It almost looks civilised.

Hackensall Hall. 

A little excitement is added to the walk.

Fortunately we diodn't have to cross this field.

The intrepid duo go on ahead

View over the River Wyre as we get inland a little more.

Barnaby Sands, the first of the nature reserves.

Barnaby Sands

Looking back at the lone active farm.

Again we were fortunate not to have to cross this.

A small pond, or big puddle.

Muddy track towards the end

Nature reserve on the coast at the end of the walk