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Sunday 18 December 2016

Sun 18th December - A Seasonal Ramble In Grizedale Forest

Starting Point: Moor Top car park NY 343964

Description: Grizedale forest is situated in the heart of the Lake District between the lakes of Coniston and Windermere.

Route: From the start point we head onto the west of the forest. Passing Juniper Tarn and continue until we reach the crossroads where we will pick up the green and red walking trail to the Summit of Carron Crag. We will then follow the red trail down to the visitors centre where facilities can be used if needed. We will then cross the road and head into the east of the forest. We then take the green trail initially which then merges with the purple Moor Top cycle trail which will lead us back to our starting point. All of the walk will be on forestry track.

Grade: Leisurely

High Point: Carron Crag 314m - a Wainwright outlying fell and a Birkett

Distance: Approximately 5 miles

Meet time: 9:45

Start time: 10.00

Time: 3 and a half hours

Leader: Katie.

Please let Katie know by 6.00pm on Saturday if you plan on coming on this walk. Text 07709 318941.


Sunday 11 December 2016

Sun 11th December - Latrigg and Brundholme Wood from Keswick

This walk forms part of the “Weekend of Walking – the Summit Good Christmas Event in Keswick!” and links in with the day-time group walk and Christmas Meal on Saturday, 10th December in “The George” in Keswick.

Everybody is welcome – don’t forget your Santa hat!

Description: This is a very pleasant route which provides an alternative way up a fell which people often rush to the top of. From Moot Hall in Keswick, we’ll wander out of the town and follow tracks through Brundholme Wood until we reach the start of the gentle slope that leads to up Latrigg. Following this gentle slope, the summit is soon reached which provides an excellent vista over Keswick and Derwent Water. For those who are wanting a rest after such an “energetic” amble, there is a well-positioned bench nearby from which one can “take in the view”! We’ll return to Keswick via Mallen Dodd and a brief section of the Cumbria Way, before visiting a cafĂ© for a hot chocolate and a natter!

Grade: Moderate (easy end of)

High Point: Latrigg summit (368 m)
Height gain: Approx. 360 m (1,200 ft)
Distance: Approx. 6 miles (10 km)

Meet Time: 10.15 am
Start Time: 10.30 am
Time: Approx. 4 hours

Start / Finish: Outside the main entrance of the Moot Hall, Market Place, Keswick, CA12 5JR. (This is the tourist information office.)

Car Parking: There are many places to park in and around Keswick, these include pay and display car parks as well as some on-street parking.

Public transport is available to Keswick. From Lancaster & Kendal it is the Stagecoach 555, from Carlisle the 73, and from Workington & Penrith the X4 & X5 buses.

Leader: Wayne

Please let Wayne know in advance by 6.00 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk (text 07753 121168)

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.

Saturday 10 December 2016

Sat 10th and Sun 11th December - The Summitt Good Christmas Event in Keswick!

A Weekend of Walking – The Summit Good Christmas Event in Keswick!

This year, the Summit Good Ramblers will be holding a weekend-long Christmas event, on 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016.

Based in Keswick, we’ll be holding two walks on Saturday, an easier low-level option (leisurely / moderate) in lovely Borrowdale and a harder high-level option (strenuous) going up and over the grand Grisedale Pike. These will be followed by an evening meal in The George, in Keswick. On Sunday there will be a moderately-paced walk up Latrigg starting from Moot Hall in the town centre. People are welcome to come along to any bit of the weekend they want – be it all of it, just the meal, or either/both of the day walks.

Keswick has a wide selection of accommodation available to suit all tastes and budgets so people who want to stay over and enjoy a glass of mulled wine can do so without needing to sort out transport home - see http://www.keswick.org/. Buses are also available to and from Keswick from Lancaster & Kendal it is the Stagecoach 555, from Carlisle the 73, and from Workington & Penrith they are the X4 & X5.

Walk Details:

Saturday - Option A (Moderate) - Borrowdale
Saturday - Option B (Strenuous) - Grisedale Pike
Sunday - Latrigg Fell


Christmas Meal

A table has been provisionally booked at 7pm at The George in Keswick on Saturday the 10th December. Places will be available on a first come first served basis.

For people who are unfamiliar with The George it is renowned for it's pies, especially the Cow Pie. Half portions are available but the challenge stands to see who can finish the full portion! They have meals suitable for vegetarians, gluten free meals are also available on request.

So dig out the diary and see if you are free to be part of the festive do or all festive dos! Festive games will be played and christmas jumpers and santa hats/antlers are optional!

Please email summittgoodrambling@gmail.com if you wish to reserve a place.

We’ll be publishing details of the walks closer to the time, but save the date – it should be a cracker of a weekend!

Sat 10th December - Option A (Moderate) - Borrowdale CANCELLED

Description: This is a circular, lower-level walk that visits the southern tip of Derwent Water and the Lodore Falls waterfall, walks through scenic woods along Watendlath Beck and ascends the mighty Bowder Stone – a 2,000 tonne “pebble” with a staircase to its summit!

Route: From the start point, we follow the road northwards to Grange before heading west until reaching the Cumbria Way. At this point we follow the long distance path until arriving at Derwent Water and then heading towards Lodore Falls.

Following paths up through the woodland, we visit the famous waterfall, and wind our way to Watendlath Beck and the footpath that takes us to Watendlath village itself.

As we begin to ascend again, we ramble alongside Bowdergate Gill until we reach the top of Puddingstone Bank. From here we descend to Frith Wood and have a pleasant wander along woodland paths and a brief section by the road before heading towards the Bowder Stone.

After the obligatory “bagging” of the Bowder Stone, it’s just a short walk back to the start point.

Grade: Moderate (easy end of)

High Point: At the top of Puddingstone Bank (340 m)
Height gain: Approx. 400 m (1,300 ft)
Distance: Approx. 6.6 miles (10.6 km)

Meet Time: 9.45 am
Start Time: 10.00 am
Time: Approx. 5.5 hours

Start / Finish: At the Bowder Stone car park.
Car Parking: At the National Trust’s Bowder Stone car park on the B5289. This is pay & display, but free to National Trust members (post code CA12 5XA, grid reference NY 253 168).
Buses: The Stagecoach 78 bus service from Keswick goes along the B5289. (Public transport is available to Keswick: from Lancaster & Kendal it is the Stagecoach 555, from Carlisle the 73, and from Workington & Penrith the X4 & X5 buses.)

Leader: Wayne

Please let Wayne know in advance by 6.00 pm on Friday if you are coming on this walk (text 07753 121168).

Note: As there is some road walking involved (minor roads and alongside the B5289), please wear a light coloured top, or wrap a “day-glow” cover over your rucksack, to assist with visibility. Please also bring a torch with you in case we are delayed for any reason.


If the conditions are bad I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk.

Sat 10th December - Option B (Strenuous) - Grisedale Pike

Car Parking: Small car park just outside Braithwaite at the bottom of Whinlatter Pass (B5292), grid reference NY227237. There is normally a bit of space on the side of the road below the car park entrance if needed.

Start/Finish Point: Small car park at the base of Whinlatter Pass, grid reference NY227237.

Meet Time: 9.00am

Start Time: 9.15am

Description: This is a circular route up Grisedale Pike which will hopefully offer us great views of the Derwent Fells, Whinlatter Forest and the Skiddaw massif (weather dependent!)

Route: From the car park we immediately begin the ascent of Grisedale Pike (791m), which is initially arduous before becoming slightly easier going before the final climb to the summit. This is the most strenuous part of the walk so we will go at a steady pace. From the summit we will drop down to Coledale Hause and then further into the Coledale valley. This is a well-worn mountainous path so will be easy going underfoot. We will pass Force Crag Mine before following the road along Coledale Beck along the base of the valley back the car park.

High Point: Grisedale Pike – 791m.

Distance: Approx 4-5 miles

Time: Approx 3.5-4.5 hours

Grade: Strenuous

Leader: Tom M

As this is quite a mountainous route please bring appropriate clothing and footwear, as well a packed lunch. I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk depending on our progress or the weather conditions. Please bring a torch or head torch in case we are delayed in getting back.

Please let Tom know on 07760660113 before 6pm on Friday if you plan on coming on this walk or have any questions.

Sunday 4 December 2016

Sun 4th December - Great and Little Langdale

Car Parking: Sticklebarn National Trust car park
Start / Finish: Sticklebarn Car Park NY294063
Meet Time:9.15am
Start Time:9.30am
Description: Exploring the beautiful valleys of Great and Little Langdale.
Route: Starting at the Sticklebarn National Trust car park in Great Langdale, framed by the high fells of Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes. The route climbs steeply up a well made path to the picturesque Blea Tarn. After stopping to admire the view and taking photos of what is likely one of the most scenic spots in the Lake District, the path continues dropping down into the Little Langdale valley alongside a stream before crossing a rather boggy stretch to reach the foot of Wrynose Pass. Joining the road for a short distance the route then crosses a pack-horse bridge and follows a track along the base of the fell, with grand views on a clear day of Little Langdale, Wrynose Pass and Lingmoor Fell. At Little Langdale tarn we cross Slater Bridge (a beautiful old pack-horse bridge) and climb out of the valley via a small road and track back into Great Langdale.  Dropping back down enter into abandoned slate quarry territory and follow the quarry road through Baysbrown Wood to pass a farm and follow the track and bridleway signs along the southern slopes of Great Langdale down to the beck and path back to the car park.
Distance: 13km
Time: 5h
Grade: Moderate Please let Mel know in advance by 5.00 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk - text 07584303975.