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.
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