Kendal Ramblers has group walks on Tuesday or Wednesday and every Thursday throughout the year
For the latest updates, photos and comments see our Facebook page:
|
KENDAL RAMBLERS began back in the 1970s when a small group of friends got together to survey, map and clear local overgrown footpaths. After a while they decided they might as well walk on them! So Kendal walking group began. Years later, and after a great deal of hard labour, Kendal Ramblers became an official Ramblers Association Walking Group.
Walks vary in length (5 miles – 12 miles). See WALKS PROGRAMME page for details.
We also organise group holidays, social events and speakers.
Kendal Ramblers tries to cover all abilities on over a 100 walks a year. We have published many of these in our books “Walks in South Lakeland”. We also publish a set of 10 leaflets “Short Walks Around Kendal “ giving walks of 3 miles within our Kendal Ramblers Group Area. See full details of our publications in GUIDE BOOKS page.
We are fortunate to be in the Lake District with the marvellous fells and valleys literally on our doorstep. Walking with a group gives one the confidence to tackle walks which would be quite formidable alone.
Kendal Ramblers are a very friendly crowd. We welcome visitors to our walks as well as new members. Boots, waterproofs and food and drink essential.
Walks vary in length (5 miles – 12 miles). See WALKS PROGRAMME page for details.
We also organise group holidays, social events and speakers.
Kendal Ramblers tries to cover all abilities on over a 100 walks a year. We have published many of these in our books “Walks in South Lakeland”. We also publish a set of 10 leaflets “Short Walks Around Kendal “ giving walks of 3 miles within our Kendal Ramblers Group Area. See full details of our publications in GUIDE BOOKS page.
We are fortunate to be in the Lake District with the marvellous fells and valleys literally on our doorstep. Walking with a group gives one the confidence to tackle walks which would be quite formidable alone.
Kendal Ramblers are a very friendly crowd. We welcome visitors to our walks as well as new members. Boots, waterproofs and food and drink essential.
ORIGINS OF KENDAL RAMBLERS GROUP by Pat Walsh.
As several members have asked about the history of the Kendal Group of the Ramblers’ Association, I thought I would put something down in writing before my memory goes completely.
The inaugural meeting of the Group took place on 13 March 1970, attended by a small group of ramblers which included Margaret Adams, Gordon Crowther and Reg Mackarel. At the beginning this small band was mainly concerned with surveying and maintaining walkable footpaths in the Kendal area, but rarely walked purely for pleasure.
When David and I moved to Kendal in late 1989, I rang the Secretary, Margaret, to ask for a walks programme, and was surprised to hear that they did not have one. I was invited to a committee meeting, and before I knew it was asked to produce a walks programme. This was a great challenge, as not only were we new to the area with little knowledge of Lake District routes, but also we knew no-one who might lead walks.
The first programme (which I have still) covered April - June 1990, with alternate full- and half-day walks on Wednesdays. Wansfell from Troutbeck was the first walk, led by John Dyson (we repeated this as a birthday walk in 2010, as many of you will remember). Other walks were led by Margaret Adams, Reg Mackarel, Brenda Cockshott and ourselves. Walks varied from 6 to 11 miles, covering areas as diverse as Newby Bridge, Haverbrack, Cartmel, Potter Fell and the Corpse Route from Longsleddale.
We met at ‘The Tram’ in Queens Road, Kendal to car share. By this time we had acquired a group of about 20 experienced walkers who volunteered to lead for us. Joan Pickard, Gemmell Alexander, Bill Newman and John Walters were added to our database of leaders, offering walks in Kentmere, Buttermere, the Howgills and Ravenstonedale. We also introduced one of many ‘Walk and Work’ days when we cleared footpaths with scythes and secateurs.
For the winter programme we tried a walk with pub lunch, and introduced a suggested charge for car sharing. New leaders were Gerald and Mary Cole, Jean Corlett, Roy Isherwood, Harry Philipson, Rupert Connell and Geoff Bibby. In spite of this, we were still (as ever!) asking for more leaders to come forward.
After a year the walks had become so popular that we needed to find a larger meeting place - the Leisure Centre car park, Burton Road. We now introduced alternate Wednesday and Thursday full-day walks. The annual Potato Pie Supper was held at Kirkland Hall with slide presentation on the Galapagos Islands by Brenda Cockshott - cost £1.50. And we celebrated the 21st birthday of the Group with a walk from Dent followed by a meal and birthday cake.
This active group was now expanding so rapidly that we felt confident to offer a walking holiday. John Dyson organised a 4-night stay at HF Conway for £80 full board. It was such a success that we had a similar holiday in Ballachulish the following year.
So that was how it all started. If you were there in those days and find any errors or omissions, please let me know.
Pat Walsh February 2013
As several members have asked about the history of the Kendal Group of the Ramblers’ Association, I thought I would put something down in writing before my memory goes completely.
The inaugural meeting of the Group took place on 13 March 1970, attended by a small group of ramblers which included Margaret Adams, Gordon Crowther and Reg Mackarel. At the beginning this small band was mainly concerned with surveying and maintaining walkable footpaths in the Kendal area, but rarely walked purely for pleasure.
When David and I moved to Kendal in late 1989, I rang the Secretary, Margaret, to ask for a walks programme, and was surprised to hear that they did not have one. I was invited to a committee meeting, and before I knew it was asked to produce a walks programme. This was a great challenge, as not only were we new to the area with little knowledge of Lake District routes, but also we knew no-one who might lead walks.
The first programme (which I have still) covered April - June 1990, with alternate full- and half-day walks on Wednesdays. Wansfell from Troutbeck was the first walk, led by John Dyson (we repeated this as a birthday walk in 2010, as many of you will remember). Other walks were led by Margaret Adams, Reg Mackarel, Brenda Cockshott and ourselves. Walks varied from 6 to 11 miles, covering areas as diverse as Newby Bridge, Haverbrack, Cartmel, Potter Fell and the Corpse Route from Longsleddale.
We met at ‘The Tram’ in Queens Road, Kendal to car share. By this time we had acquired a group of about 20 experienced walkers who volunteered to lead for us. Joan Pickard, Gemmell Alexander, Bill Newman and John Walters were added to our database of leaders, offering walks in Kentmere, Buttermere, the Howgills and Ravenstonedale. We also introduced one of many ‘Walk and Work’ days when we cleared footpaths with scythes and secateurs.
For the winter programme we tried a walk with pub lunch, and introduced a suggested charge for car sharing. New leaders were Gerald and Mary Cole, Jean Corlett, Roy Isherwood, Harry Philipson, Rupert Connell and Geoff Bibby. In spite of this, we were still (as ever!) asking for more leaders to come forward.
After a year the walks had become so popular that we needed to find a larger meeting place - the Leisure Centre car park, Burton Road. We now introduced alternate Wednesday and Thursday full-day walks. The annual Potato Pie Supper was held at Kirkland Hall with slide presentation on the Galapagos Islands by Brenda Cockshott - cost £1.50. And we celebrated the 21st birthday of the Group with a walk from Dent followed by a meal and birthday cake.
This active group was now expanding so rapidly that we felt confident to offer a walking holiday. John Dyson organised a 4-night stay at HF Conway for £80 full board. It was such a success that we had a similar holiday in Ballachulish the following year.
So that was how it all started. If you were there in those days and find any errors or omissions, please let me know.
Pat Walsh February 2013
Kendal Ramblers is part of The Ramblers
The Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers' Association, is the largest walkers' rights organisation in Great Britain which aims to look after the interests of walkers (or ramblers). It is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland, with around 123,000 members.
Britain is criss-crossed with over 225,000 Km of footpaths, bridleways and public rights of way. With its sumptuous countryside, national parks, way-marked paths and enlightened 'Right to Roam', Britain is one of the most walker-friendly countries in the world.
When the Ramblers first came into being, much of Britain was out of bounds to walkers. Enclosure, followed by the Industrial Revolution, had swallowed up vast tracts of formerly common land in a process that had placed, for example, 99% of the Peak District off limits onto private company or estate land.
Over its 78 year history, the Ramblers has witnessed a seismic shift in the nation's attitude towards the countryside from 'theirs' to 'ours', starting with the post-war establishment of 10 national parks and legislative provision for a 'definitive map' that enshrined a legally recognised and protected public rights of way network.
The Ramblers, with its sprawling network of devoted volunteers, quite simply, coaxed, campaigned and drove the process every step of the way.
At a national level, the Ramblers lobbied for — and obtained piece-by-piece — legislation to open the countryside up to walkers, culminating in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which granted freedom to roam in open countryside in England and Wales. The outcome of these combined efforts, simply, is that walking is now part of the warp and weft of everyday life, incorporated into the infrastructure of towns and countryside alike, the life blood of the tourist industry.
Finally, at the end of 2009, 75 years of campaigning came to an end as the 'Marine and Coastal Access Bill' became law, opening up the entire English coastline to the public so that anyone and everyone can enjoy it.
The Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers' Association, is the largest walkers' rights organisation in Great Britain which aims to look after the interests of walkers (or ramblers). It is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland, with around 123,000 members.
Britain is criss-crossed with over 225,000 Km of footpaths, bridleways and public rights of way. With its sumptuous countryside, national parks, way-marked paths and enlightened 'Right to Roam', Britain is one of the most walker-friendly countries in the world.
When the Ramblers first came into being, much of Britain was out of bounds to walkers. Enclosure, followed by the Industrial Revolution, had swallowed up vast tracts of formerly common land in a process that had placed, for example, 99% of the Peak District off limits onto private company or estate land.
Over its 78 year history, the Ramblers has witnessed a seismic shift in the nation's attitude towards the countryside from 'theirs' to 'ours', starting with the post-war establishment of 10 national parks and legislative provision for a 'definitive map' that enshrined a legally recognised and protected public rights of way network.
The Ramblers, with its sprawling network of devoted volunteers, quite simply, coaxed, campaigned and drove the process every step of the way.
At a national level, the Ramblers lobbied for — and obtained piece-by-piece — legislation to open the countryside up to walkers, culminating in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which granted freedom to roam in open countryside in England and Wales. The outcome of these combined efforts, simply, is that walking is now part of the warp and weft of everyday life, incorporated into the infrastructure of towns and countryside alike, the life blood of the tourist industry.
Finally, at the end of 2009, 75 years of campaigning came to an end as the 'Marine and Coastal Access Bill' became law, opening up the entire English coastline to the public so that anyone and everyone can enjoy it.