Mountain Section

The Mountain Section is open to all members of Reading Rambling Club who like longer or more strenuous walks with a difference.

Past trips have included the Lake District , the Yorkshire Dales, the North Yorkshire Moors, the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, Exmoor, the Peak District and the Cambrian Mountains.

We also organise occasional holidays, for example, spending a week in self-catering cottages in Ambleside. On another occasion, a small group escaped the English winter to explore the beautiful and rugged Anaga region of Tenerife.

So, if you enjoy hill, mountain or coastal path walking, good company and fun along the way, then why not consider joining us.

Wall-to-wall sunshine in Pembrokeshire

Mountain Section trip to Tenby – March 2010

My wife Nicky boasts that we always take good weather with us on holiday and with few exceptions she is generally right. So we were expecting great things on our first Mountain Section trip together.

Our group of 20 people was based at 2 B&Bs just west of Tenby. Most stayed at Swanlake Farm where we eventually all met on Saturday for the car shuffle to Penally Station for our first walk. This was a linear walk of about 7½ miles on the Pembrokeshire coastal path back to Swanlake Farm and we started in warm sunshine looking rather over-dressed in such conditions. A short walk to the delightful Penally church revealed the first open daffodil of spring. Excellent views of Caldy Island were had at the start and more undulating walking eventually lead us to a cliff-top view of the bay at Skrinkle Haven for a short coffee stop. No time for hanging around though and soon we were on our way crossing the beach at Manorbier before reaching Swanlake Bay and our B&B in the early stages of a cracking sunset. Thank you Penny for leading our first walk.

We awoke to bright sunshine on Sunday and devoured a large breakfast before driving to Bosherston. Our leader John Ledger started at a brisk pace on the sand dunes at Broad Haven. He threw in an unexpected challenge early on by asking us to relocate to a footpath on the other side of a barbed wire fence. We all survived. A strong wind blew as we crossed Castlemartin firing range so we took refuge for a while in St Govan’s Chapel which was set in a cleft in the limestone cliffs. Onwards over Govan’s Head, stopping for lunch at a sheltered spot on Broad Haven beach, we followed our white-capped leader along stunning cliff top paths lined with flowering gorse smelling of coconut. The cold wind continued to blow and John gave very good value for money by visiting every inlet and outlet on the path, no shortcuts were allowed. Yet another stop was taken in a quiet hollow on the cliff top at Trewent Point overlooking the bay at Freshwater East – a perfect place for a short doze for some. A short walk followed back to Swanlake and the carefully organised car shuffle. Thank you John for leading Sunday’s walk, you said it was about 11½ miles but it felt longer.

Monday started with a car journey to Marloes Peninsula for a circular walk of about 10 miles. This was another stunning day with undiluted sunshine and clear views over a calm blue sea. We picked up the coastal path at St Brides and looked around St Bridget’s church before continuing at a leisurely pace to a quiet cliff-top spot for lunch above Messelwick Sands. We looked in vain for seals but did see cormorants basking in the sun on the jagged ridges dropping into the sea. Further west we had clear views of Skomer Island before turning to make our way back to the cars passing colourful rock formations in the cliffs on the way. Thank you Charles for providing very detailed directions to the start and leading Monday’s walk.

Our last walk started in Saundersfoot on another fine day and started off heading inland through farmland with Ralph leading. Feeling at peace with the world after 3 magnificent walks we were suddenly confronted with a sign stating ‘Trespassers will be shot and survivors will be shot again’. Undaunted, we continued bravely to Pleasant Valley where we all agreed to extend the walk to 7 miles through Summerhill to Amroth and a break for lunch. Although Nicky and I have only been RRC members for a short time, we soon learned of Ralph’s uncanny ability to locate ice cream on walks in any part of the country. We were rewarded with some of the best I have tasted at ‘Pirates Ice Cream’ shop on the sea front. This was to be our last break before picking up the coastal path back to Saundersfoot. Thanks Ralph for leading the last day’s walk. Still bathed in sunshine we said our farewells and made our way home along the M4.

Thanks must go especially to Lynda for all her hard work in organising the trip and also to the leaders for getting us back home in time each day for a short rest before the honesty bar opened.

Dave Sayer

Reaching the heights in the Lakes

M/S Wrinklies trip to Stainton April 2010

The Lake District in springtime is always to be savoured and, with a meteorological promise of high pressure for at least 3 days, we set off on Thursday afternoon to walk Heughscar Hill from Askham. This gentle upland is a northern moor of the High Raise, Loadpot Hill Ridge east of Ullswater. After a 7-mile walk we returned to the Brantwood Hotel for a well-earned cuppa and later dinner.

Friday dawned fine and dry and we set off for the short drive to Dockray for a climb of Birkett Fell and Hart Side followed by a descent over the Brown Hills ridge giving a great panorama over the whole of Ullswater and its tributary valleys. This corner of the Lakes was new to us and much admired by all.

On Saturday, young Alex felt he wanted a demanding walk and took himself off to St Sunday Crag arriving back just in time for dinner. Meanwhile, young Ted and his companion, together with other WITS (Wrinklies In Training) set off for Saturday’s walk over Place Fell. This was planned as a full-day excursion and whilst being only one of the lower 2000-footers is very extensive. Leaving our cars at St Peter’s church in Martindale, we walked first to Sandwick and thence from north to south over the main ridge of the fell, stopping for the usual picnic lunch just west of the summit. We returned along varied paths giving charming views of the lake from the east side and enabling us to see and reprise Friday’s walks from afar.

Sunday morning dawned grey and wet with low cloud. This was Lynda’s day for completing her Wainwrights and nothing would daunt us! By the time we had had our later-than-usual breakfast made later by waiting for Rex who almost didn’t get any, the sun was trying to shine. As we climbed the first ascent both of the designated peaks, High Pike and Carrock Fell, were clear of cloud and we had lovely views over the gentle slope with its springy grass. However, just before High Pike the cloud came down and on went the rain gear. As we huddled at the top, the cloud came and went giving magical glimpses of valleys, hills and blue skies. (Lynda, have you sorted out your flower symbols, not to mention your white balance?)

Then it was on to Carrock Fell, crossing wonderfully soft dry bog. The cloud and wind intensified making Lynda’s final peak a true ‘fell moment’. There was a race to the top between Keith, the official cameraman, and Lynda who had got the bit between the teeth. And then she was there – her final peak, she had achieved it! Well done, Lynda – ably helped by John who was achieving the Wainright peaks for the second time. We huddled in the shelter of the cairn where John found some Scotch (the best many of us had tasted), Rex brought forth champagne and Margaret found some cake! There with the wind whistling and the rain spattering we drank to AW, to Lynda and to Kevin, a founder member of the Mountain Section who was celebrating his official 80th birthday. A moment to remember – will Lynda be there again to celebrate her 80th?

The way down was straight, steep and made beautiful by mosses and lichens in their multiplicity of colours and their intricate patterns. Below the cloud the cars appeared. Then back to the hotel for tea and chocolate biscuits followed later in the evening by huge half-ducks and good wines. A day to remember, in honour of Lynda, who founded the Wrinklies and without whom the Mountain Section would have floundered. Thank you, Lynda!

A short walk was convened for Monday morning in the unfortunately named Wet Sleddale in the Shap fells. Completing a 3-hour moorland ramble over Wasdale Pike and Sleddale Pike, the party said its farewells and declared that a memorable holiday had been enjoyed by one and all. Lynda and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to making the holiday a success and it is especially gratifying to have so many walking friends present to celebrate our fellwalking milestone on the summit of Carrock Fell.

Margaret Brown and John Ledger

See the Walks Programmes for forthcoming Mountain Section weekend trips.