Trafford Ramblers Group

From the Peak and Northern Footpath Society

Damaged Stile or Footpath Problem?

The Society has recently launched it Path Checker App. Its free and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. It simplifies the reporting of a footpath issue and is recommended over the OS Locate app.

Two new books

1001 Walking Tips: Navigation, Fitness , Gear and Safety Advice for Hillwalkers, trekkers and Urban Adventurers (Vertebrate publishing, Sheffield, £25) described as a superb primer and good value!
Walking in the Peak district: White Peak West (Cicerone, £12.95) 40 walks described in Cicerone’s style

OS Maps are Expanding their offerings

Celebrate your outdoor achievements with a retro adventure patch or pin

Themed Maps, eg Food & Drink, Films

Slow Ways

This is a website that is creating a national web of checked walking routes between towns, villages and cities

Kinder Trespass And "The Natural Health Service"

Click for a Report on the talks at the 90th Celebrations^th

From Kate Ashbrook, Caroline Lucas, & Stuart Maconie

Ken Reece circulated the following.

During the Pandemic lockdown I planned a new 155 mile long-distance circular route, predominantly through the Peak District, and named it ‘The Peak Way’. The route starts and finishes in Stockport, Greater Manchester so it’s very accessible from throughout the UK. I've published a guide book 'Walking the Peak Way' which is currently only available through the website. www.peakwaywalk.com

The book seems to divide the route into sections of 10 to 15 miles and may be of interest, reviews welcome.

Richard

Details: Category: Trafford; Published: 24 March 2022

Ambleside Trip May 2026

RTG Lakes Trip 2026 Walks

RTG Lakes Trip 2026

After three great trips to Keswick on successive years, we’d decided to try Ambleside for this year’s trip – it didn’t disappoint. Even the weather, despite the dodgy forecasts, wasn’t too bad: we got a bit wet, but the blustery showers were mainly short-lived, so we had plenty of sunshine too.

Everyone booked their own accommodation – several people had booked into the same B&Bs – and we met up for walking and socialising in the village. It was our biggest trip to date in terms of participants; had it not been for two late cancellations due to injury, we would have had 40 members attending at least for some part of the week.

As previously we started with a leisurely “meet and greet” walk on Monday afternoon. From the centre of Ambleside, we walked along quiet lanes to Low Sweden Bridge and then down to and through Rydal Park to the hall. We then crossed the main road to Rydal Water and after a short walk by the lakeside climbed to Loughrigg Terrace, to visit the old quarrying cave. We returned to Ambleside on quiet lanes following the River Rothay.

On the other days, also as previously, we were able to offer three walks of different grades.

Tuesday’s walks were: a strenuous classic “Langdale Pikes” walk from the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel in Great Langdale; a moderate ascending Loughrigg from Ambleside, descending to walk alongside Grasmere and Rydal Water before crossing the road and joining the old “coffin route” back to Ambleside; and a leisurely walk from Elterwater into Little Langdale and on to Skelwith Bridge, returning to Elterwater on a section of the Cumbria Way, alongside Great Langdale Beck.

On Wednesday we had two walks both starting in Grasmere, and we all walked the first mile or so together to “new bridge” crossing Easedale Beck. The moderate plus walk then ascended Helm Crag, and along the ridge into Far Easedale. There was a period of strong winds and horizontal hailstones along the tops, but we decided to continue – which turned out to be a good call as it didn’t last too long. The moderate walk continued up Easedale to, and around, the lovely tarn then descending into Far Easedale to return to Grasmere. Wednesday’s other walk was a leisurely-plus walk around Tarn Hows. It included an impromptu detour visit to Coniston to enjoy some of the “Bluebird” festival which was taking place in the village that week.

Thursday’s walks were: a strenuous ascending Red Screes from Ambleside, returning via Scandale and High Sweden Bridge; a moderate plus ascending Wansfell from Ambleside and returning via Troutbeck, Robin Lane and Skelghyll Woods; and a leisurely linear walk from Ambleside to Grasmere via Loughrigg Tarn.

People had met for drinks, and some groups had booked tables in the same restaurant through the week, but Thursday evening was the “grand finale” group meal. 35 of us squeezed into Daisy’s – formerly Bellis – which is now a daytime café and open in the evenings only for private functions. It turned out to be a great choice – the food and service were good, and as we had the venue to ourselves the atmosphere was relaxed. The drinks, conversation and laughs flowed freely, and we had a great evening to finish our week. The leaders and organisers were given gift cards as a token of appreciation, but thanks once again to everyone who contributed – we couldn’t put on such a variety of walks without your help.

And, as ever, thanks to everyone who joined the trip to enjoy a few days walking and socialising with our great group. Planning for Ambleside ’27 has begun …

Kath Thorley

Ramblers Privacy Policy