Next Saturday Walk 25th May ending at Broughton-in-Furness
Occasionally we repeat walks that have been curtailed or diminished by severe weather conditions. This outing we are repeating Black Combe (2023) and Dunnerdale Fells (2022), hoping for reasonable weather! And the C walk will be walking fells that are rarely walked, the last section of the A walk. The A & C will visit Swinside Stone Circle, possibly older than Stonehenge, but rarely visited because of its remote location.
The A Walk will be led by Bob and is 10.8 miles with 2300 feet ascent.
We will start at Whicham and traverse Black Combe from S to N. Nearly all the ascent is in the first 3 miles, but it is not too steep! With luck there will be good sea views including the Isle of Man. Then gently downhill past Whitecombe Head on easy moorland paths with lovely views ahead towards the Duddon valley. We will visit Swinside stone circle, continuing the rest of the C walk, including the remains of the 1730's charcoal-fuelled iron furnace in the woods just before Duddon Bridge.
The B walk will be led by David and is approximately 9 miles and 1750 feet.
The Dunnerdale Fells are among my favourites partly because they are so little known. We begin near High Cross, crossing fields to Low Moss, then a lane to Croglinghurst where we begin our main climb of 900 feet on to the Dunnerdale Fells, visiting Great Stickle (views South and East), then Stickle Pike (views North and West). Then we cross over to the other side of the Dunnerdale horseshoe and take a mid-level path to 'The Knott', then down. The 3 mile return to Broughton is via Scrithwaite Farm, Green Bank, River Lickle, Hartley Ground and Broughton Towers, the last 'Jewel in the crown' of the day.
The C walk will be led by Ray and is approximately 6 miles and 700 feet.
Starting at Broadgate we will head up to Cragg Hall and Swinside Stone Circle. Then to Fenwick Farm and around Lath Rigg on Fell tracks, reaching the Iron Works at Duddon Bridge. Then, a short walk alongside the River Duddon and across fields and into Broughton.