AMBLESIDE, LAKE DISTRICT

SUNDAY, 29TH JUNE 2008

Coach Leader: Jackie Gudgeon

Coach Leaves at 5.30 pm

Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.
Please respect the wishes of the walks leader and remain with the walk until the end. If you are struggling - inform the walk leader so that he/she can make a decision to shorten the walk, have more rest, etc.

TODAY'S WALKS

Strenuous Leader: Selwyn Williams Distance: About 8 miles, climbing around 2500 feet

We leave Ambleside, walking quite steeply up the Struggle for about ¾ mile until we can get off road. A steep climb follows up to Red Screes, but with time aplenty to turn back and look at the increasingly stunning views back over Ambleside and Lake Windermere beyond.
At the trig point, we head off to descend to the head of the Scandale Pass, then follow the valley down to High Sweden Bridge and Low Sweden back to Ambleside via The Golden Rule, entering by the front door quaffing a pint of Hartleys XB at the bar and exiting via the beer garden, to return to the coach to pay for your next exciting outing brought to you courtesy of the Skelmersdale Rambling Club. (the more sober amongst you can do the tea and scones variation at the end of this route).
Although this walk is steep, there is plenty of time in which to do the walk so you won't be rushed.

Moderate Leader: Jackie Gudgeon Distance: 8.5 miles

As there are no toilets actually in the coach park, will moderate walkers please stay by the coach until the group is formed, at which time we will set off towards Rothay Park where we will pass some toilets. Our pause here is followed by a walk through the park then by a short steep climb to Brow Head Farm where we branch off to visit the attractive little Lily Tarn on Loughrigg Fell. Skirting the main bulk of Loughrigg Fell, we pass Loughrigg Tarn and the grounds of High Close Youth Hostel to join Loughrigg Terrace with lovely views over Grasmere. Down to the end of Rydal Water to cross the River Rothay and up to join the Coffin Route to Rydal Hall. From here we will descend to cross the A591 and Pelker Bridge to follow a minor road back to Ambleside.

Leisurely Leader: Sue Daniels Distance : 7 miles

From Ambleside we have a short walk on the main road before we branch off and follow a good track through to Rydal Hall. There is a tea room and toilets here and depending on the size of the party, we may be able to have a quick stop! From the hall, we take the Coffin track from which there are lovely views of Rydal Water to our left. We amble on and drop down to cross the River Rothay and have a brief glimpse of Grasmere before a short climb up to the first part of Loughrigg Terrace where the path passes Rydal Caves. Then we walk down hill and follow the road which runs along the river and back into Ambleside through the park. Plenty of gentle ups and downs but no long hills to climb.

Extra Leisurely Walk Leader: Derek Lee Distance: 6 miles

After a leisurely start as far as Hayes Garden Centre, we tackle the 400 foot climb to Jenkin Crag. Short stretches of this are moderately steep and a bit rocky but well within our capabilities, and we have plenty of time to reach the top for lunch. We will have extensive views over Windermere on the next gentle climb to Skelghyll Farm. From here we descend to the lakeside at the Watersports Centre, and return to Waterhead by the road and Jenkin Field. More pleasant level paths through Borrans Park and meadowland bring us back to Ambleside.

Easy Leader: Denise Holden

We will be starting the walk at the Market Place Clock Tower in the centre of Ambleside. A short gentle climb will lead us into the Stock Ghyll woods, where we will follow the path to the waterfalls.
The majority of the walk is fairly flat, with just the odd slight hill. As we go through the wood at Roundhall Farm, watch out for the turkey roaming around!! From here it is a slow descent down hill, ending at Low Sweden Bridge.
We will have plenty of time to enjoy a blueberry scone and coffee before returning to the coach.

NOTES ON THE AREA

Once a mill town whose becks and rivers provided power for waterwheels, Ambleside long ago made its peace with visitors and started to provide for their needs. There are book shops, outdoor pursuit shops and gift shops too numerous to mention, whilst the streets throng with people spilling off the pavements, and cars gyrating in a gigantic roundabout. But in spite of all this, Amblesude still retains its charm. The architecture is principally that of a Victorian town, whilst up the hill leading to the Kirkstone Pass some houses date from the 15th Century.

The earliest sign of man, however, is much earlier as the Romans built their fort, Galava, on the shores of Windermere. There are no impressive columns or walls still standing, for only a few stones remain poking through the grass, but nevertheless they are a reminder that Ambleside has been inhabited for nigh on a thousand years.

In the centre of Ambleside the quaint little Bridge House, built over the River Rothay like something out of a fairy tale, dates from the 17th Century. It was probably a summer house for Ambleside Hall, though in 1843 Chairy Rigg lived here with his wife and six children. With one room up and one room down, how they all fitted in is a mystery. An attractive subject for any artist who can brave the inquisitive passers by, it was painted by JMW Turner on one of his northern tours. In 1926 it was bought by the National Trust and in 1956 became its very first information and recruiting centre in the country.

Stockghyll Force, a popular beauty spot from Victorian times, still has the remains of the railed viewpoints where Victorian ladies stood to admire the scene. It is well worth visiting after heavy rain. Beside the stream, one of the old mills has been converted to holiday flats.

In the Ice Age, the undulating top of Loughrigg Fell was scraped clean by glaciers, leaving a landscape of bare rocky outcrops and boggy hollows, now occupied by tarns and pools. Though little over a thousand feet in height, and barely a square mile in extent, there is more scenery packed into Loughrigg Fell than practically anywhere else in Lakeland.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEXT RAMBLE.

Sunday 27th July 2008. Settle, Yorkshire Dales.

Leaders: Strenuous: Jackie Gudgeon, Moderate: Bob Jones, Leisurely: Marjorie Howe, Easy: Sue Beeley. Bookings Derek Lee. Cheques to Skelmersdale Rambling Club.

Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, Railway Road, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.

Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week would be nice. Thanks. Those who have the technology can e-mail your notes - please use the address on the Contacts page.

SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB

Saturday 12th July 2008. Clapham, Yorkshire Dales.

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.45 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Yvonne Turton.

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Saturday, 5th July 2008. 10.30 am. Chipping village centre car park for Parlick, Fairsnape, Wolf Fell, Saddle End. 1522 ft of ascent. 9 miles.

Wednesday, 16th July 2008. 7.00 pm. Crawford Village. 5 miles.

Saturday, 19th July 2008. 9.37 am train from Appley Bridge station for rail ramble to Littleborough for Blackstone Edge. Rail range ricket £3.80. Check arrangements with leader (01772 812034).

Wednesday, 30th July 2008. 1.30 pm. Lathom Chapel lay-by. 5 miles.

CLUB NOTES

COACH BOOKING

Please ensure that, before boarding your coach on the return journey, you complete your booking for the next ramble. It would be helpful if you could tell the coach booking officer if you do not intend to book for the next coach.

Please try to be back from your cup of tea or pint in plenty of time to book the next ramble before boarding the coach - bearing in mind that now we have two coaches this process can take quite a while!

MEMBERSHIP

Yes, it is that time again - time to renew your membership if you have not already done so at the AGM. Subs for the year 2008/9 will be £10. Please see Lin before boarding the coach for the return journey.

RUCKSACKS

Please store rucksacks, poles etc in the coach luggage compartment. Rucksacks etc should not be brought into the coach, except (with the prior permission of the driver on the day) for those two or three people who are getting off the coach on the way home at places other than the main dropping off points. Please remember that the rucksack rule is for our comfort and safety on the coach. Most members find it easy enough to bring a smaller bag on to the coach containing those things which are needed 'on the coach', and this requires only a little bit of thought when packing in the morning. Thanks.

Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else's stuff. Thanks.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB