The programme of walks for 2021 (11 – 19 September)

We are asking that those intending to join a walk to email us at ulverstonwalks@gmail.com just with the walk number and number attending. This is to allow us to provide extra walk leaders if the numbers suggest splitting a walk into 2 groups, but this is for planning purposes and not binding.

Please read the ‘Walk Notes’ tab for general instructions and advice.

DATE	WALK No.	START TIME	GRADE	DESCRIPTION
Sat 11 Sept	Walk 1	10am to 12 noon	Easy Walk	Monuments of Ulverston Cemetery, and the lives and deaths of people remembered. Meet at Dr Wilson’s lighthouse memorial in the cemetery. Parking available at Ulverston Leisure Centre, Priory Road (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab). Mainly on hard-surface paths with some grass areas. Led by Rod White
Sat 11 Sept	Walk 2	2pm to 4pm	Easy Walk 3 miles	A stroll around the Lanes and Paths of North Ulverston looking at local history, geography and nature. No dogs. Meet at the start of the Cumbria Way in the Gill (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab). Led by Jean Povey
Sat 11 Sept	Walk 3	10.30am to 4pm	Moderate-plus Walk 8.5 miles	A circular rural walk from Oxen Park via Rusland, High Ickenthwaite and Low Hay Bridge (Nature Reserve), with great views and points of interest. Meet at the Reading Room in Oxen Park, with honesty box parking (Grid Ref: SD 317 873). Led by Alan Robinson
Sun 12 Sept	Walk 4	10am to 12noon	Easy Walk 3 miles	A continuation of Walk 2 going south through Ulverston looking at local history, geography and nature. No dogs. Meet at the start of the Cumbria Way in the Gill (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab). Led by Jean Povey
Sun 12 Sept	!!! Walk 5 Now Full !!!	11 am to 4pm	Moderate Walk 6 miles	Walking through History around Dalton – the Ancient Capital of Furness. A circular walk packed with history, including a disused railway, mining remains, a medieval packhorse bridge, the atmospheric Furness Abbey and a rare opportunity to enter Dalton Castle. A new walk for the Festival. Meet at Dalton Station, with options of 10.53am train from Ulverston or the 10.52am from Barrow; or the 10.40am 6 bus from Ulverston or the 10.30am from Barrow Town Hall. There are return buses hourly (including 3.49pm) to Ulverston or (3.52pm) to Barrow and trains at 4.pm to Ulverston and 3.52pm to Barrow. Led by Neil McLaughlin-Cook
Mon 13 Sept	Walk 6	10am to 2pm	Easy Walk 3.5 miles	Swarthmoor Circular Walk, Including Swarthmoor Hall (the home of the Quakers), the Quaker Meeting House and with tea provided at the Methodist Hall. No dogs. While the tea is free, there will be a £3 fee for those wishing to enter the Meeting House. Meet at Ulverston Station ( see map under ‘Find Us’ tab ). Led by David Jackson
Mon 13 Sept	!!! Walk 7 NOW FULL !!!	9.45am to 3pm	Moderate Walk 6 miles	Newby Bridge, Finsthwaite Tower and High Dam. A pleasant walk through mixed woods with surprise views, to picturesque High Dam via the little visited Finsthwaite Tower. Meet at Ulverston Bus Station, Victoria Road (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab), for 9.52am X6 bus. Returning on 14.44 or 15.44pm X6 bus. Or meet at the Swan Hotel (Grid Ref: SD 370 864), at 10.10am, which usually allows parking for those taking refreshments there after the walk. Also some room for parking on nearby lane. Led by Simon Hughes
Tues 14 Sept	Walk 8	11.30am to 3.30pm	Easy Walk 4.5 miles	Eskdale and Stanley Ghyll, with newly opened ‘Falls’ viewing platform. Can be linked to travel from Ravenglass on ‘L’aal Ratty’ making a great family outing. Participants using Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway should catch 10.25am service from Ravenglass (arr. Dalegarth 11.05am); others travelling by car meet at Dalegarth Station by 11.30am (Grid Ref: NY 173 007). Return trains at 3.10pm and 4.30pm, with refreshments available at the Station. Those using ‘Ratty’ must book tickets with specific times, and are advised to do so at least 24 hours in advance, online at https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk (or google Eskdale & Ravenglass railway). Led by John Dennis
Tues 14 Sept	Walk 9	10am to 4pm	Moderate- plus Walk 9 miles	A pleasant rural circuit from Ulverston to Lowick High Common, returning via Mansriggs. Meet at the start of the Cumbria Way in The Gill (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab). Led by Sheila Bull
Wed 15 Sept	Walk 10	10am to 1pm	Easy Walk 2 miles	Our traditional and most popular Herb Walk over the Hoad with medical herbalist Sarah Atkinson. Meet at St Mary’s Parish Church at the top of Church Walk (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab).
Wed 15 Sept	Walk 11	10am to 3pm	Moderate- plus Walk 6 miles & 400m ascent	The Dunnerdale Horseshoe. A classic fell walk of the South Lakes with spectacular views of the Duddon Estuary and Coniston Range. A large proportion of open fell walking. Meet at the Community Car Park (honesty box) opposite the Parish Hall in Broughton Mills. Note: the Bridge in Broughton Mills is closed for rebuilding, so the route in and out of Broughton Mills is different from the usual route, but the overall distance is much the same. (Grid Ref: SD 223 906). Led by Stan Aspinall
Thurs 16 Sept	!!! Walk 12 NOW FULL !!!	10am to 3pm	Moderate Walk 7 miles	Furness Iron – Old Peru, the mining history from Ulverston to Dalton. No dogs. Meet at the start of the Cumbria Way in The Gill (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab) returning by bus. Led by Colin Pickthall – an expert in the subject.
Thurs 16 Sep	Walk 13	10am to 3pm	Moderate Walk 6 miles	The Sculptures of Grizedale Forest. A circular walk taking in some of the more remote and in some cases hidden sculptures in the beautiful southern part of the forest. Meet at the Blind Lane car park NW of Force Mills (Grid Ref: SD 344 913). This is a new walk. Some of the sculptures require walkers to venture quite deep into the forest. This will be managed as appropriate to all walkers. In the event of stormy weather, the walk may have to be cancelled, with those booked-in notified Led by Dave Robson
Fri 17 Sep	Walk 14	10am to 1pm	Easy Walk 4 miles	The industrial Archaeology of South Ulverston, including the Canal, Rope-Walk and Sir John Barrow’s Cottage. Meet at Booths steps (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab). Suitable for wheel/push chairs, except for a short extension to Ainslie Pier and back. Led by Andrew Hudson
Fri 17 Sept	Walk 15	10am to 3pm	Moderate 5.5 miles 300m ascent	Rusland and High Dam circuit, including water-powered forge and tannery. Open fell up to High Dam with quite steep ascent. Great views to the north. Meet at Rusland Church (Grid Ref: SD 338 897). A new walk. Led by Mick Shaw
Sat 18 Sept	Walk 16	10am to 2pm	Easy 3 miles	A circular walk, Tree Spotting around Ulverston. Meet at Ford Park car park (see map under ‘Find Us’ tab). Starting with the Ford Park Tree Trail, and progressing to an amazing richness of mature, and some rare, trees across the public and private gardens of Ulverston. A new walk. Led by Judy Pickthall
Sat 18 Sept	Walk 17	10am to 3pm	Moderate- Plus Walk 7 miles 430m ascent	Tarn Hows and Black Crag. Classic sites of the South Lakes , including a modest summit but with panoramic views. Meet at High Cross, with ample parking (Grid Ref: SD 332 986). Led by Stephe Cove
Sunday 19 Sept	Walk 18	10am to 3.30pm	Moderate 5 miles 472m ascent	Coniston Copper Trail with 2 local experts. Meet at Coniston TIC car park (LA12 8EH). A fascinating story of copper mining back to Elizabethan times, conducted within classic walking territory, but avoiding the high fells. Led by Lindsay Harrison and John Dennis.
Sunday 19 Sept	Walk 19	11am to 4pm	Easy Walk 4.5 miles	Sites of East Ulverston. An opportunity to wind down at the end of the Festival with a stroll around Next Ness, Plumpton and Newland, visiting the Iron Furness as part of the National Heritage Weekend and finishing on Hoad, with a short talk on Sir John Barrow and opportunity to climb the monument. Those not wishing to include the Hoad may return direct from Newland. Meet at Booths steps. Led by Martin Cooper.

*2022 – We look forward to a return to the traditional and full festival, in its 22nd year, currently planned for Saturday 23rd April to Monday 2nd May 2022.