Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

Walk & Event Reports

Sunday 3rd July 2016

A Walk

Cross Fell

10miles Grade 1

Leader: Peter Flynn

B Walk

Brampton Area

7 Miles Grade 3

Leader: Stephen Parker

Reports by Peter Flynn & Stephen Parker

Photos by Pete Rutland, Mike Coates & Chris Loftus

 

Peter's Report

 

11 of us set off on what was supposed to be a fairly dry day with occasional sunshine – how wrong can they be!  Stephen turned up to lead the B party walk,  but sadly there were only two takers;  very strange – one day 10 to 15 for the B party and another day only three,  So,  sorry Stephen for that. After lunch was not too bad,  but in the morning,  every time there was a hint of sunshine or even dry weather,  and we took any of the layers of clothing off,  it started to pour down and we were soaked.  Also,  the ground was very very wet – a huge bog which left us amazed that the mountain does not sink in on itself.  As a stand-in leader for the walk, I decided it would be more interesting to approach Crossfell via the rivers and valleys rather than the well-worn bridle path that we used for the descent,  but while the path was easy enough to see on the map,  it simply did not exist on the ground.  This is a very little used area for walking,  and one of those where the O.S. path was replaced with one more convenient to the locals,  and we found ourselves in the less than desirable situation of having to scale a dry-stone wall.  Fortunately we managed this with no damage to the wall or ourselves.  This took us to the new path which we then followed up to Crowdundle Head,  the watershed which is the source of the Tees.  Cow Green Reservoir was in the distance,  very clear,  and the whole of the Lake District fells were clear to the West.  We ascended the Pennine Way path and had lunch on the top.  It was cold,  very cold, and thank the Lord for the shelter on the summit.  While we were on the top,  two gliders floated in the air above us – close enough for the pilot to wave to us & v.v.  We then descended to the boggy path that wound its way down to Kirkland and headed to Melmerby for welcome refreshments.

One comment, if I may,  on last week’s walk.  I was illustrating what was a “typical” A walk and among other aspects mentioned that there can be some resentment from other walkers in the club on bus walks,  if the A party is,  as sometimes happens,  late back.  This has happened in the past.  One person in the club told me that they felt offended by me implying that anyone last week was resentful when we were 15 minutes late. Sorry if I did offend anyone and apologies if the phrasing of the report did give that impression.  However,  I was very pleased that the person in question had the courtesy to raise the issue with me,  rather than let it fester.  Also,  to paraphrase Oscar Wilde,  it is far better to be criticised than to be ignored.    
 
Peter
 
Stephen's Report

 

"On arrival at the Sands Car Park it didn't look to hopeful for a B Walk as there were no takers unfortunately, however on checking the departure point in Brampton, Ian and Christine were found to be waiting, therefor the scheduled B Walk could go ahead. The weather looked as though it could turn at any moment however we were blessed with no rain for the whole walk. After setting off from beside Wilson Homes swift progress was made along the disused railway line to Brampton Station and on towards Talkin Tarn on our tour round the Tarn we saw many things but nothing as depressing as the old hotel that is falling into ruin, a very sorry state given its history. After the Tarn it was on to Gelt Woods and our lunchstop at Gelt Bridge which appears to have been built by our chairman, see photo attached, after lunch we finished the walk off with a walk back to Low Gelt car park, which included the quarry were it was pondered if the bee eaters would make an appearance again this year. After Low Gelt car park it was just the final part of the walk along the road back to Brampton, and on arrival back at the cars it was onto Hayton Farm Shop for Refreshments.
Thanks to Ian and Christine for coming along.
 
Stephen
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