NEWSLETTER
PENRITH
GROUP
No 53 March 2014
GROUP OFFICERS and COMMITTEE 2013/14
Officers
Chairman Graham Allan
Treasurer Philip Holland
Secretary Sue Marshall
Membership Secretary David Dixon
Programme Secretary Janet Arnison
Footpath Secretary Alan Duval
Countryside Secretary Charlie Shepherd
Social Secretaries Sally & Peter
Hinchcliffe
Press & Publicity Officer Harry Upton Committee
Jean Bradshaw
Jude Feest
Martin Hodgson
Christine McNaughton
Marjorie Oakey
Mary Patmore
John Upson
If you have any burning issues to get off your chest we are confident that you will know at least one contact from the above list.
PRESS & PUBLICITY
A number of retail and leisure outlets in Penrith have agreed to allow leaflet / flyer publicity from our Group to be displayed on their premises. Initially this will comprise Rambler Association leaflet / membership application form, a basic Group ‘bespoke’ flyer and possibly a small version of the Newsletter.
Contact Harry Upton 017684 80191 if you know of a good publicity location, or have any item of interest for the Newsletter.
Sue Marshall (Secretary) 01768 897159 will be able to direct you to the relevant contact.
WALKS PROGRAMME
Issue of the summer programme of walks is imminent and there should be a copy with the Newsletter.
CAR PASSENGER RATE
From 1st January 2014 the mileage rate for anyone travelling by car to Group walks was raised to 10p a mile but this is seen as a maximum that a driver may wish to charge.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Penrith group has increased from 328 on 1st October 2013 to 344 in 31st January 2014. There may still be a few in the ‘pipeline’ awaiting processing by Head Office to the Group.
Walk Group coordinators / leaders may like to consider holding a small stock of membership application forms to hand out when someone new walks with the group.
All existing members should take every opportunity to recommend the Group’s activities on a ‘one to one’ approach to friends and acquaintances.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Christmas Lunch took place in December at the George Hotel, Penrith with 45 people attending. The vast majority of members said they enjoyed the event and the meal and in fact a number said they would be happy to return there this year.
Final arrangements for the HF weekend to Whitby have been completed with just the walks programme to be confirmed. A total of 33 members will be going with a number of others having expressed a wish to attend but unable due to other commitments. An information leaflet will be sent nearer the time. It is our intention to seek the views of those attending about the makeup of future weekend breaks.
Ullswater steamer trip, 7 - 9pm, 24th June 2014. Book your place now with Peter / Sally.
WALK START TIMES
Look out for an imminent survey of B+ members to establish preference of ‘stick’ with current timings or make a ‘change’.
“ISAACS” TEA TRAIL
There is a meeting on 21st March to further develop the strategy of maintaining the trail in sections by a group of volunteers.
The purpose is to highlight placeswhere there are RoW difficulties and generally to keep an eye on the trail route. It is thought that a process of checking three times per year, April to October, will be implemented.
Hexham RA will have 2-3 volunteersfor the Allendale area and other individuals will pick up sections of around 3miles. If anyone from Penrith Group isinterested or available to cover the section from Alston to Gilderdale Burn in Cumbria (also part of the Pennine Way) please let Graham Allan know on 01768 890390.
FOOTPATHS
New consultations
i) Cross Croft, Appleby. Object to closure of route over railway.
ii) Snappergill, Garrigill. Agreed, subject to improvements.
iii) Ghyll Crest, Appleby Road, Kirkby Stephen.
iv) High Hesket Farm. No formal proposal, but bridleways affected by development.
Lake District National Park
The NPA is proposing to divert path over ford at Cawdale Beck near Carhullan (GR 491180) to slate bridge 250m downstream at GR 493180. Bridge has been improved, and diversion order will be made soon. Area has agreed to pay for works, and costs of advertising order.
Area has agreed to contribute to new footbridge in Swindale. United Utilities have also agreed to contribute and maintain bridge in future. They will also maintain footpath along south side of Swindale. LDNP will also put in a contribution, and it is hoped that the work will be done in the summer.
Area contributes money from the Sharpe legacy to a Fix the Fells project each year, and this year the proposed project is the path over the summit of Gowbarrow Fell.
Path problems found at any time should be photographed, grid referenced and referred to the Footpath Secretary, Alan Duval, with any comments. Alan’s Group e-mail is
COUNTRYSIDE
North Pennines Partnership Group expressed concern at current afforestation with possible restriction of future open access walking due to potential de-classification.
WALKS WITH A DIFFERENCE
Brough to Lunedale
A special walk that is currently being investigated involves a ride from Brough to Lunedale by Classic Bus followed by a 12 mile walk across the Pennine divide via Selset and Balderdale Reservoirs, Round Hill and North Stainmore back to Brough.
Eden Wheel
Plans are well under way in Graham Allan’s capable hands and the walks this year are incorporated into the summer Walks Programme
The GROUP’s BOOK of …
…30 “Walks in the Penrith Area” is still available to purchase - to members via the Group at a discount price of £8. If you are interested in securing a copy please telephone Graham Allan on 890390.
WALK LEADERS
For end of year record and statistics purposes would all Leaders keep a note of numbers attending each walk (and any variation to programme distance / ascent) and feed them back to Harry Upton 017684 80191 for progressive accumulation.
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
The aim is that parallel running of existing and new sites will roll out in April 2014 with subsequent involvement of Key people such as Walks Co-ordinators.
DIARY DATES
2014
7th March: 7.30 pm: Committee Meeting 11th-14th April: ‘Away Weekend’ at Larpool Hall HF Centre, Whitby
15th & 29th June: Eden Wheel walks
11th July: 7.30 pm - Committee Meeting
13th & 27th July: Eden Wheel walks
24th October: 7.30 pm - 32nd AGM
6th November: 7.30 pm - Committee Meeting