Sunday 4th January - Kirkby Lonsdale

The January walk will be on Sunday 4th and is an opportunity to start your 2015 walking early.

The walk is a moderate of 9.5 miles starting at 10:00

Directions: A few miles from Kirkby Lonsdale leave the A65 at Cowan Bridge and follow the sign for Leck. Keep on the lane through Leck and follow the metalled road for another three miles out on to the open Fell, to a parking area where the road ends a few yards short of Leck Fell House (grid reference 674791)

The drive to Lech Fell House takes you up into the fells and achieves much of the height gain to these hills. This area is new to me and the walk takes in the highest hill in Lancashire following county boundary changes. Weather permitting we gain excellent panoramic views including Lakeland fells, nearby Bardon Fell,  Ingleborough, Whernside and Dentdale.

A short initial climb leads you from the road to the Three Men of Gragareth which are three distinctive cairns on the horizon. The route continues a short distance to the trig point of Gragareth at 627m. A wide grassy ridge continues around the horse shoe taking in Green Hill, the ‘ boundary stone’,  Great Coum (687m) and Crag hill all of which have small height changes. Trying to decide which is the highest is deceiving difficult and changes as you view from different points around the horse shoe. A short part of the ridge is peaty grass land with some wet areas to try  avoid. Suggest good waterproof boots and perhaps gaiters.

There is a gradual decent towards Bull Pot farm and which leads us join Ease Gill with its eroded and sculptured riverbed. A short decent reveals the water cascading down only to disappear underground. Continuing along the now dry river bed passing several pot hole entrances before we turn away to return up to the car park.

Dave and I found a place to have a coffee just off the A65, however if you have knowledge of a particular pub close by your suggestions would be much appreciated.

Please let Karen know if you plan to join us and if you would like to share cars.

Have a good Christmas and New Year,