Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club
Walk & Event Reports
Sunday 2nd July 2017
A Walk
Ashgill Force
12 Miles Grade 2/3
Leader: Stephen Parker
Report by Peter Flynn
Photos by Peter Flynn & John McKay
A walk full of style. Or should we say “stiles”. Every field had one to enter it and a second to leave it. None of them were the standard two planks at right angles to each other; these required at least county level gymnastic skills – or else the sort of dainty feet which the men on the walks did not possess, though some of the ladies did seem to glide over the obstructive barriers. Some walk leaders are well known for including lots of stiles on their perambulations; today was a Cumbrian all-comers record outing. The other very important feature today was that of the leader. Two years ago, as I am sure he would not mind us mentioning, Stephen did this as his first ever walk with the club and we were all totally surprised that a) he finished it at all and b) that he came back for more. Today was his first ever “A” walk lead and not only did he skip round the route at an excellent pace, but also despite the hundred or so stiles, and the variety of routes that were possible, he never put a foot wrong. The only fault – a serious one for which he could make amends in the obvious way – was that it was made very clear to him at the start that new A walk leaders pay for all subsequent refreshments. Apart from his own, not a penny was forthcoming. We started the walk by congratulating John on still being alive and commenting on the inefficiency of the serial killer who was after him. (The committee are certainly not going to use that gentleman again – we will take our business elsewhere). 12 of us started off through the woods at the back of Alston hospital and then onto the banks of the River Nent, following the ubiquitous Pennine Way. In the village of Garrigill we stopped for a breather then up a steep hill and across more varied and convoluted stiles to Ashgill Force, a spectacular waterfall with a ledge behind it across which – despite it being very wet and slippery with a long drop onto jagged rocks – the loonies in the party immediately scampered. We had lunch there and headed back a different way to Alston for cakes, a cup of tea and (for me) a very tasty bacon butty. One notable good deed on the way back – at a stile that headed straight into the branches of a pine tree, Ken produced his magic shears and cleared the way for ourselves and future walkers. It will undoubtedly contribute towards his MBE award. Many thanks to Stephen for a superb piece of walk leading – let’s hope you lead plenty more in the future.
Peter
