In my own footsteps

Monday Mar 31, 2008: 7.75 miles, ascent approx 440m (Map: OS Explorer 122)

Hoorah! The clocks went forward this weekend and, as I am usually at this time of year, I was looking forward to being able to get some nice walks in without having to get going too early in the morning. Now, as much as I like the mornings, sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day and it's great to be able get stuff done and then start a walk in the afternoon and not fret about when it's going to get dark!

During my break up t'north I realised that I needed to get my act together and get used to walking up hils a bit more before my trip to Scotland in a couple of months. So, with a long afternoon to spare, I planned a shortish route with a couple of good ups - or at least as good as you get in these parts.

The route was cobbled together from bits of various walks I've done over the years, including one I enjoyed as an after-work jaunt a couple of time last year with a big fat hill in it. I parked the Vauxhall Broomstick in the Jack and Jill windmills car park on the Downs above Clayton, which about a mile or so from Hassocks in West Sussex.

Heading roughly southeast, I passed New Barn Farm and crossed the South Downs Way by the golf course. Zig-zagging along in the same overall direction, about three quarters of a mile further on I turned northeast onto the Sussex Border Path. I followed this all the way up to the SDW again and then down the north side of the Downs via Burnhouse Bostal to Underhill Lane.

About a half mile of the lane (going east) brought me to the car park (not on map) at the foot of Ditchling Beacon by the Beacon road. I took the footpath south and nice and steeply up. After seeing my first wood anenomes of the year, I forked southeast through the nature reserve. After a stop for a breather and a drink on a conveniently positioned bench, I slogged on up to the SDW at 230m or so.

After a tiny dogleg (a puppyleg?) across the SDW (again), I headed south and then southeast on the bridleway to Heathy Brow and North Bottom. Continuing towards Lower Standean Farm, I piked up the track to pass to the north of the farm buildings, after which I turned north onto a footpath, climbing gradually (and feeling it) back towards the SDW (again).

Crossing my earlier tracks near Keymer Post (not on map) at the SDW, I continued down hill (north) on a bridleway, forking westwards to rejoin Underhill lane, this time going west towards Clayton. After about two-thirds of a mile of lane, I turned onto a footpath rising steeply from the road (southwest/west) to begin my climb back up to Jack and Jill. Taking the footpath that curves around the top of a chalk pit, and then the bridleway going southeast, Jack and Jill appeared above me, and after a short stop to admire the view and eat more junk food, I was back at the start of my walk.

Note to self: Do more walks with big hills in - you need the exercise!

Easter Weekend 2008, Malham Tarn and Around (Map: OS Explorer OL2)

No walks in Sussex for a couple of weeks I'm afraid. The last walk for the Sussex Womens Walking Group was drowned out by rain and gales, but I made an escape over Easter to the Yorkshire Dales on a break with the wonderful and highly recommended Walking Women Holidays (www.walkingwomen.com).

After travelling up in hail, rain, and wind we arrived at Malham, from the village we headed up and up for the 3 miles to our accomodation near Malham Tarn (High Trenhouse conference/management centre). We were now in the Dales proper and I was blown away by the stark but beautiful landscape. We arrived at High Trenhouse in a biting northerly wind and I was glad I'd packed my winter stuff. We were all glad of the wood burning stove and the prospect of post-walk saunas and jacuzzis in the next few days.

And so to the walks...

Saturday 22nd March; 8.5 miles (in 5 hours), approx 150m ascent.
It had snowed overnight and the roads and tracks were covered in a generous more-than-dusting of snow. The Artic wind had continued overnight and showed no sign of abating.

From High Trenhouse we walked south by road before picking up a bridleway southwest, then a track west to Jubilee Cave and a footpath south to Victoria Cave and Attermire Scar. Turning southeast the path joined Stockdale Lane briefly and above Stockdale farm we joined the Pennine Bridleway, stopping for lunch (huddled in Sally's emergency shelter), and then going east for a mile and a half and climbing gradually to the saddle north of Kirby Fell.

We continued northeast (into the wind) on the Pennine Bridleway towards Landscar, turning roughly east on a track to join the road at Langscar Gate. As the weather had taken a turn for the worse, we followed the road northwest for about a mile and a half back to High Trenhouse, walking straight into the biting wind and snow (brrr!).

Sunday 23rd March; 6.5 miles (in over 5 hours...), High Trenhouse to Malham, mostly down hill. The wind dropped overnight, but so had a very large amount of snow! Deep and crisp and even, and gobsmackingly wonderful.

Going northeast from High Trenhouse on the road we turned east-ish onto a farm track after about half a mile and then because the snow was so beautiful and it was so quiet we detoured onto the boardwalk through the nature reserve before joining the Pennine Way east and then south around Malham Tarn in snow that was a good foot or more deep in places. Where the Pennine Way turned southwest, we continued south on a footpath above Watlowes and Malham Cove. After a brief detour to look down into the Cove, we continued southeast and then east-ish, slipping, sliding, and stumbling in the snow, to Gordale Bridge.

After a brief lunch stop, we walked up Gordale Beck to see the waterfall at Gordale Scar. Retracing our steps bak to the road, we continued southeast to Janet's Foss and alog the footath beside Gordale Beck. We turned north on the Pennine Way for the last third of a mile to Malham.

By the time we reached Malham it was already 3pm. Because of the snow on the paths and the snow-laden clouds above us, we abandoned plans to walk the 4 miles back to High Trenhouse.

Monday 24th March; 8 miles, about 250m ascent. High Trenhouse and back via Great Close Hill, Middle House, Darnbrook, and the Pennine Way.

No more snow overnight, but the bitter cold wind was back with hail and snowy showers expected. Setting off in the same direction as yesterday we skirted the north of Malham Tarn on farm tracks and the Pennine Way.

After leaving the grounds of the Malhmam Tarn House field centre, we struck out southeast across snowy open cuntry to the top of Great Close Hill. We went north across West Great Close and then northeast in the sleet on the footpath above Middle House Farm. Passing over the Midge Hills and Back Pasture Hill, we lost the path in the snow breifly, but found ourselves again and headed northwest on the footpath down to cross Cowside beck.

Walking up hill towards Darnbrook House we were caught head on in a hailstorm so we sheltered behind a stone barn for a few minutes until the sun came out again. Joining the road just south of Darnbrook House, we went southwest on the road, stopping by Thoragill Brook for lunch.

Coninuing on the road after lunch, we rejoined the Pennine way where it crossed the road, heading south back to Malham Tarn, where we retraced our steps back to High Trenhouse.

Tuesday 25th March; leaving day, a half day walk, 5.5 miles, approx 220m ascent. There was still quite a lot of snow on the ground and it was sunny, cloudy, and windy, all at the same time.

A lot of people set off for home, but a few of us had time for a little more walking before our trains departed. We drove to the Winskill Stones nature reserve about 1.5 miles southeast of Stainforth and 3 miles east of High Trenhouse.

After having a good look at the limestone pavement, and spotting fossil coral in the stones, we took the track northwest towards Upper Winskill, where we turned northeast and then took the path down to Catrigg Force waterfall.

After retracing our steps 100 yards or so back up hillfrom the waterfall we followed the track heading northwest and down to Stainforth.

After crossing Stainforth Beck by the stepping stones, we crossed the B6479, continued east over the river Ribble, and turned south onto the Ribble Way. After elevenses by Stainforth Force, we followed the Ribble Way another mile or so to recross the river and the railway north of Langcliffe.

Picking up the footpath entrance by the railway bridge, we then east and then followed an old walled track and path northeast and sharply up, stopping on the hillside below Lower Winskill for a quick lunch break. Continuing up, we arived by Upper Winskill again and retraced the track half a mile southeast back to the cars. After a quick trip back to High Trenhouse for showers and changes of clothes we made for Settle and all stations south.

I loved the Dales and I'm going to go back again for sure!

P.S. More pictures and descriptions of this holiday should appear on the Walking Women website in due course.

Sunday 9 Mar. 2008: 10 and-a-bit miles, ascent approx 350m (Map: OS Explorer 122)

The day started inauspiciously with rain firing down at about 8.30 and strong winds and showers forecast, but by the time we met and got going it was a bit cloudy but quite mild.

Today's walk was for the London Hiking Dykes walking group, so as is the way on these occasions we started from a station, in this case Lewes (my home town). Today's route was assembled from a selection of my favourite paths around the Black Cap area of the South Downs (see previous entries).

Six of us set off from the station up te hill to the High Street. We wended or way across Lewes to where we picked up the Sussex Ouse Valley path going upstream alongside the river Ouse.

After about a mile we turned west passing under the railway, and after negotiating a very rickety stile, turned north on the byway for a quarter of mile to Offham.

At Offham we crossed the A275 and took the bridleway up the side of Offham Hill. After passing through the gate on the bridleway into the woods we stopped for a breather and various treats from thermos flasks.

Staying in the woods for about another 1/3 of a mile we emerged to rejoin the bridleway and make our way up to Mount Harry beacon. Continuing east, we dropped down from Mount Harry and then turned northwest and downhill at the junction of paths to skirt around behind Black Cap, slipping and sliding in the mud. The woods on the hillside below us were bright green from the thick moss on the trees and the spring plants bursting through the woodland floor.

At a clearing on the path we stopped for lunch looking out at the the distant hills of the High Weald and Ashdown Forest. After lunch we continued on to the nearby junction of bridlepaths where we took the bostal (sunken bridleway) southwest and upwards to the junction with the South Downs Way on the top of the Downs.

We joined the SDW, going almost southwest on this particulary muddy stretch and then continuing on the track along Buckland Bank.

About a mile from the top of the Downs we took the curving path east along the edge of the ancient field system and then, after stopping on the hillside for an afternoon break, headed down to the south end of Ashcombe Bottom woods. By this time a bank of dark grey-black cloud had fomed to the north and west of us, though it looked like the worst of the weather would bypass us as it was still bright and sunny to the south.

After negotiating the big puddle (ie, mudhole) at Ashcombe Bottom, by climbing fences, swinging on gates, or just wading through the gloop, we picked up the path turning northeast and up hill to the top of the old racecourse. Looking back over Ashcombe bottom we saw a pair of buzzards circling over the trees. As we reached the top of the racecourse, we walked into the rain, which got stronger as we turned southeast.

A stiff shower was falling, with the sun shining through it, as we walked alongside the training gallop and the stud farm. The rain soon stopped a big rainbow (almost a double one) appeared over Landport Bottom. After stopping to admire the view we continued in the afternoon sun to emerge on the A275 near HMP Lewes.

From the A275 we followed the main drag back into Lewes town from where the London party made for the next train home and the rest of us went for tea.

We had a bit of everything on the weather front, but all much better than expected. The Weather Goddess had smiled on us again for a lovely early spring walk on the Downs.