Barbondale Thursday Walk


Barbondale Thursday Walk

Arranged at very short notice it was a pleasant surprise when 9 keen members turned up for this walk. The prospects for the day were rather mixed as heavy showers had been forecast and cloud was shrouding the tops. Nevertheless off we strode out of the village and through the woods up Barbondale itself, to the bridge that crosses Barbon Beck. Here we cut back on the road for a short way, then followed the track up to Bull Pot Farm. From there it was heads down as we began the relatively easy angled, but nevertheless relentless ascent of Great Comb (some in our group moving somewhat faster than others).

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After a coffee break near the Trig Point we made our way to the high point, some distance from the trig, then began the descent to Occupation Road and then along to the Barbondale Road. Here we had a discussion as to which route we preferred to take onto Middleton Fell, with one hardy soul choosing the direct route straight up the wallside, whilst the rest of us took a steep but less forbidding route off to the right.

Once again re-united and the steep climbing over, we all enjoyed the walk over Calf Top followed by the superb descent back to Barbondale. We were very fortunate in that the weather stayed fine all day and the mist cleared from the hill tops, allowing us to take in the fine scenery and in particular the views out towards Morecambe Bay at the end of the day. A good start to our 2014 Thursday walks programme.