Sun 24 Jan - High Rigg from Castlerigg Stone Circle

Meet Time: 09.15 am
Walk Start Time: 09.30 am
Start Point: Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick, CA12 4RN (grid reference NY 291 237)
Car Parking: On the side of the road at Castlerigg Stone Circle (free)
Description: This walk is predominately on grassy footpaths, although there are a few brief sections on minor roads and a short stretch on the pavement next to A591. The paths are all ok, although in wet weather will be muddy. It is a circular route.
Route: From the stone circle, our route initially heads east using a mix of minor roads and footpaths towards Shundrew Quary. From here, we walk southwards over grassy footpaths, gaining height as we make our way towards Tewet Tarn. At the tarn the views over the Derwent Valley begin to open up, with the bulks of Skiddaw and Blencathra dominating the skyline. Continuing past Low Rigg we descend to St. John’s in the Vale Church. Outside this little church, which was rebuilt in 1845, there is a picnic bench where we may stop for a drink and a jelly baby before the brief, yet moderately steep, pull to the top of High Rigg. The summit is essentially just the top of a broad grassy ridge and is marked by a rocky outcrop and the obligatory Lakeland cairn. The view over to Clough Head and Great Dodd is lovely, and on a clear day the crags and screes are clearly seen. As we continue southwards from the summit, the route zig zags in order to avoid the spongey bits of ground until we meet a dry stone wall at the beginning of Long Band. At this point, we turn to the west and follow the wall down until we reach the bridleway that takes us to Sykes Farm. We now walk through fields of improved pasture to Low Nest, and cross the A591 (care required: road crossing) and follow the footpath north for about a third of a km before crossing back over (care required: road crossing) and take Castle Lane (a minor road) back to Castlerigg Stone Circle and the cars.
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Highest Point: High Rigg summit (355 m) (approx. 390 m height gain)
Grade: Moderate
Time: Approx. 4½ to 5 hrs
Important:
When this walk was recced there was evidence of cows being grazed on sections of this route, for this reason PLEASE DO NOT BRING DOGS ON THIS WALK. Thank you.
As this walk is taking place in January the amount of available daylight is short, please arrive promptly for a 09.30 am start. We intend to be back at the cars before dusk, but please bring a good headtorch and spare batteries just in case we are delayed for any reason.
Notes: If the conditions are bad I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk. If insufficient interest is shown in the walk it may be cancelled.
Contact: Please let Wayne know by 6 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk (text 07753 121168)

Sun 17 Jan - Kentmere Horseshoe

Trying this again, hoping the weather will be better this time...

Meet time: 08:30 – 08:45
Walk start: 09:00
Start point: Kentmere Church (grid ref NY 456 041) **

Distance: Approx. 12.5 miles
Time: Approx. 6.5 hours
Grade: Strenuous
High point: 828m @ High St.

Leader: Alastair (07584 300306)

Description:

A classic Lakes horseshoe - briefly the walk will take in: Buck Crag - Yoke - Ill Bell – Froswick – Thornthwaite Crag - High St - Mardale Ill Bell - Nan Bield Pass - Harter Fell - Kentmere Pike - Rough Crags - Wray Crag

If the weather should deny us this option, the alternative is to walk up to Kentmere reservoir along the valley, up to Nan Bield Pass, onto Harter Fell & down into Longsleddale at Gatesgarth pass before returning to Kentmere via Sadgill.

Please bring a headtorch (sunset is ~4.15pm) as well as normal packed lunch, extra warm layers, waterproofs etc.

There is also a strong probability that we will need crampons for at least parts of this walk with a cold spell forecast. An ice axe would be useful, and the knowledge & experience of how to use both pieces of equipment. If there is wind forecast, goggles are also a good idea & can be strongly recommended. An idea of conditions on the higher fell tops can be gleaned from many places, one such being Weatherline [http://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/]. If you have any doubts or questions about this please get in touch with me in advance

Please let me know before Saturday if you are attending & let me know if you need or can offer a lift (& if so, where from).

**Depending on who/how many are attending I may arrange to meet at Staveley and drive up to the start in as few cars as possible, due to limited parking in Kentmere. In this case it would be ~08:15 at the parking just past Barley Bridge (approx. SD 469 987) or in the Mill Yard. I will arrange this directly with those attending if necessary

Sun 10 Jan - Leader needed

Please contact Tom if you are able to lead a walk on this date