AMBLESIDE, LAKE DISTRICT

SUNDAY, 13TH JUNE 2010

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

Moderate Leader: Jackie Gudgeon Distance: 8.5 miles

Today we will be doing a round of Loughrigg Fell with an option to reach the trig point on top for those who would like a slightly bigger challenge. We set off along a quiet lane from Rothay Bridge, climb to Miller Brow and on to Lily Tarn for a coffee stop. We then head towards Loughrigg Fell proper where we skirt round to Loughrigg Tarn, Oaks, and Intake Wood to join the Loughrigg Terrace with stunning views over the vale of Grasmere. We descend to cross the river between Grasmere (lake) and Rydal Water to climb up to join the coffin track to Rydal. Back along quiet lane and through Rothay Park back to Ambleside.

Easy/Leisurely. Leaders: Margery Howe / Derek Lee Distance : 5/7 miles

The Easy walk will take the quiet road following the River Rothay to Rydal, returning through Rydal Park. A Longer walk taking the same route, but extending it round Rydal Water, will be available as required.

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 June 2010. Glenridding, Lake District.

Leaders: Strenuous: Selwyn Williams, Moderate: Peter Denton, Leisurely: Philomena Walker, Easy: Hazel Anderton & Cynthia Prescott.

Please note the Leisurely walk at Glenridding will include a boat trip at a cost of £5.60.

Sunday, 11th July 2010. Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales

Currently there are moderate and leisurely walks planned for this 'mid-month' ramble. Please make it known if you are willing to lead a strenuous or easy walk.

Bookings Derek Lee. 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 10th July 2010. Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.40 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Jackie Gudgeon. Coach Fare £9 (non-members £10).

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Sunday, 13th June 2010. 10.30 am. Hurst Green village centre car park for Ribble Valley. 8 miles.

Wednesday, 16th June 2010. 1.30 am. Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, Bickerstaffe. 5 miles.

Tuesday, 22nd June 2010. 7.00 pm. Rainford from Amier Restaurant (ex Wheatsheaf Inn) on A570 between Ormskirk and St Helens. 4 miles.

Saturday, 26th June 2010. 1.30 pm. Orrell Water Park, Orrell. 5 miles.

Sunday, 4th July 2010. 10.30 am. Lune Valley and Aughton from Crook O' Lune car park. M6 Junction 34 then A683 towards Caton for 2 miles. 8 miles.

SEFTON & DISTRICT FOOTPATH GROUP

Sunday, 13th June 2010. 1.30 pm. Rufford Station.

Sunday, 11th July 2010. Moreton Station. Linear walk to West Kirby.

Walks are between 5 & 6 miles.

CLUB NOTES

WEB SITE

Please note that the Club's website has moved - it can now be found at www.skemramblers.org.uk. Email addresses for Committee Members are also now "@skemramblers.org.uk"

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. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS OR TO THE COACH DRIVER IF THE COACH IS LATE IN LEAVING.

REMEMBER COACH FARE IS £10 (£12 NON MEMBERS).

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.

If anything is left behind on the bus when we get to Ormskirk, I usually take it home with me (being last to get off) so please ring me as soon as you notice if you are missing anything - Jackie.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB