Aycliffe Fell Walking Club made their second visit to the Lake District on Saturday 13th May for a very hot day of walking. Patterdale to Ambleside involved several different routes from Grizedale Bridge, The Patterdale Hotel, Deepdale Bridge and Ambleside, for those who preferred a circular walk.
My group of eight set off from Patterdale with the target of the Fairfield summit at 873 metres. It was tough going in the heat but it wasn’t helped when we missed an unmarked turn early on and had to backtrack to find the track up to Birks. We took lunch just after the summit and moved on above Grizedale Tarn to St Sunday Crag, Cofa Pike and eventually Fairfield at about 3pm. Each peak climbed was followed by a serious descent before climbing to the next but we did it! I tell you, the views were absolutely amazing from the summit of Fairfield, whereby on looking west we could see four lakes and the sea beyond. Here the group split up with two members taking the ridge route via Hart Crag and High Pike whilst the rest of us took the less direct route down over Heron Pike and Nab Scar into Rydal and thence on to Ambleside. We arrived at Ambleside with very little time for refreshment whilst other groups arrived earlier and had plenty! One group even spotted a male adder which had come out from between some rocks to check them all out!
It should be noted that AFWC outings involve enough choice so, if you are new to walking, you can choose a shorter walk whilst braver and more experienced walkers may choose the longer and more demanding routes. The walks are not ‘led’ as such, but there are enough walk suggestions for everyone’s needs at a cost (to cover the coach) of only £15 per person per outing. Annual club membership is only £10 per person. The coach picks up walkers in Darlington, Aycliffe Village, Newton Aycliffe, Middridge, Shildon, South Church and Bishop Auckland and frequently Barnard Castle and the Premier Inn at Stockton, if on route. If you are interested in joining us on one or more of our walks, please visit our website www.aycliffefellwalkingclub.com and book a seat on the coach using the online form.
The next walk is on 10th June from Ingleton and Chapel le Dale areas to Horton in Ribblesdale. This will involve opportunities to climb Inglebrough and Penyghent (two of the Yorkshire Three Peaks) or opt for one of the lower lying and less challenging routes to Horton in Ribblesdale.