Evening Natterjack Toad Walk

Evening Natterjack Toad Walk - Friday 17 April 7.30pm

Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve, National Trust, Roanhead, Hawthwaite Lane, near Barrow, Cumbria.

Enjoy an evening walk and listen to Natterjack Toads.

Experience this amazing and rare species at one of its last remaining UK strongholds. The males’ calls can be heard up to a mile away on a still night.

Mostly moderate but uneven terrain over dunes and grassland. Approx. 2-3 miles.

Walk involves slopes and may involve crossing stiles. Walk back will be in the dark. Please wear warm and waterproof clothes, stout boots or wellies and bring a torch.

For more information please contact:

Neil Forbes - Sandscale Ranger on 01229 462855 or visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sandscale-haws-national-nature-reserve/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Walk to Piel Island on New Years Day

Island Strollers walking group - come and join in!

'Paws for Thought' with St Mary's Hospice

Walk to Remember 2014 with St Mary's Hospice

Islands of Barrow Walking Festival

Art Gene invites you on a 'Mass Walk to Piel Island'

Guided Walk this weekend around Gt Urswick

Barrow Island walking group

The Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival gathers pace

The Sunday Times on 21 June 2009 declared this Festival one of the best 8 Walking Festivals in the UK. The 2012 Walking Festival gathers pace as its second week explores the diverse built and natural history of the peninsula.  Why not join John Murphy as he looks at the magnificent ruins of Furness Abbey, exploring the Cistercian roots of the area around Dalton, or Bill Shaw from the Herpetological Conservation Trust as he seeks out the rare Natterjack toad on North Walney Nature Reserve.

The remaining programme of Walks is as follows:

8 July Heritage of Furness Walk 1pm meet John Murphy at Furness Abbey Amphitheatre car park for a stroll towards Newton, meander up Dickie Pinks’ Lane to Dalton past Dalton Castle returning to Furness Abbey via The Haggs (5 miles circular)

Tuesday 10th July North Walney Natterjack Walk. 10am–2 pm

Meet at Bill Shaw at Earnse Bay car park. A walk through the Reserve then around the north end to look for evidence of Natterjack toads and other wildlife. Bring packed lunch.  No dogs please

11^th July 10.30am Get on Track Walk from Roose Station to Cavendish Dock and on to Dock Museum

12 July Walney Sunset Ramble 6.45pm Meet Richard Scott at Earnse Bay Car Park, Walney Island for a walk around North Walney Nature Reserve

14 July Walney Walk and Widows Crossing 11am Meet John Murphy at Dock Museum for a stroll onto Walney Island, along Biggar Bank to Earnse Bay returning via North Scale and Widows Crossing 

19 July Walney Sunset Ramble 6.45 pm Meet Richard Scott at Earnse Bay Car Park, Walney Island for a walk around North Walney Nature Reserve.

20 July Evening Walk to Piel Island 4.30pm at Dock Museum (for car convoy to Snab) or 5pm from Snab Point Stroll across the Sands of with John Murphy.  Meet the King of Piel Island in the Ship Inn where refreshments are available

21 July Wildside Bonanza in Barrow Park 12noon–4pm (meet at The Bandstand) A celebration of Barrow’s local wildlife with lots of free fun activities for all the family.  Try a spot of pond-dipping, nature trail, crafts, quizzes, story-telling and much more.

22 July South Walney Nature reserve guided walk 1.30-3.30pm

A guided walk looking at the waders, wildfowl and mammals of this fantastic Cumbria Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Bring binoculars if you have them. Contact South Walney Nature Reserve on 01229 471066 if you would like to use the electric off-road buggy

26 July 2pm Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve Beachcombing Family Event meet at National Trust Car Park on Hawthwaite Lane, Roanhead

26 July Walney Sunset Ramble 6.45pm Meet Richard Scott at Earnse Bay Car Park, Walney Island for a walk around North Walney Nature Reserve

28 July Sandscale Beach clean 10-12noon  Meet at National Trust Car Park, Hawthwaite Lane, Roanhead

28 July 2pm Wildlife Walk with Rangers from National Trust, Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve meet at National Trust Car Park on Hawthwaite Lane, Roanhead

29 July Walk to Piel Island 11.30am at Dock Museum (for car convoy to Snab) or 12 noon from Snab Point Stroll across the Sands of with John Murphy.  Meet the King of Piel Island in the Ship Inn where refreshments are available

Feet First in Furness weekly short walks are:

11am Monday – Meet Dalton Tudor Square - various routes around old Dalton

11am Tuesday - Channelside or Ormsgill reservoir walk meet at ASDA

1.30pm Wednesday – Meet Walney Mill Lane shops - Coastal walk from Earnse Bay

10.30am Thursday – Meet Greengate Childrens' Centre - Barrow Public Park Walk

Copies of the Walking Festival leaflet can be downloaded at http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/PDF/BBC%20Walking%20Leaflet%2012%20website.pdf

Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager commented “This is the ninth Walking Festival we have organised and it has proved very successful.  Every year we try to find something a little different to add to the Festival programme as well as the well loved favourites.  This year we are joining with the Barrow Wildside Project being run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and their Wildlife Bonanza in Barrow Park.  There is something for everyone, from Walks across to Piel island, to an evening ramble around North Walney nature reserve listening for Natterjack Toads with Bill Shaw, children’s beachcombing at Sandscale Haws and a Get on Track Walk with the Outthere project. 

All walks are being led by qualified walking guides and we are delighted to be working in collaboration with SeaChange, Feet First in Furness, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the National Trust.  Walking Festival leaflets is available from Barrow Tourist Information Centre, outlets across South Cumbria and are featured in the What’s on in South Lakeland Guide.  Details of all walks are available on line at www.barrowtourism.co.uk”

John Murphy, commented “The Furness Peninsula is a wonderful area of the country with stunning heritage and charming, picturesque walks.  I urge everyone to come and explore with me the coastal fringes and byways of this wonderful area”

The Islands of Barrow and Peninsulas Walking Festival is a five week festival of walks against the stunning backdrop of the Furness Peninsula and featuring the islands of Barrow and is a Barrow-in-Furness Sea Change Cultural Event.  Follow ancient trails, greenways and coastal paths exploring the natural and built history of this south western corner of Cumbria.

“Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” Charles Dickens

This weekend in Barrow why not ...

This weekend in Barrow why not ...

- Visit Furness Viking Hoard on display at Dock Museum, free admission

- Visit Croftlands Trust Art free Exhibition – the Forum, Duke St, Barrow

- Furness Bach Choir at St James’ Church, Blake St Performing HANDEL'S ‘JUDAS MACCABEUS’ Sat 16 June, 7.30 pm

- 'Dr Bike' from 10am until 2pm on Saturday 16th June at the Park Leisure Centre - get your bike checked out free ...

- Walney Fun Run - Sun 17 June

- 'An introduction to Identifying Trees in Summer' Sunday 17 June 1-3pm free guided walk, aimed at those with little knowledge of identifying trees in the summer. Meet at Mill Cafe car park, Furness Abbey. GR: SD 218 716

- '1950’s Barrow Exhibition' at the Dock Museum ... The Challenge Cup, Coronation, hairstyles, Teddy Boys … come and explore the fascinating 50’s, free admission.

There's loads more if you look! Have a great weekend all ...

Land, Sea and the Spirit of the Furness Peninsula

The Churches Trust for Cumbria in partnership with local faith communities and with the support of English Heritage and the North-West Multi Faith Tourism Association have produced a full colour leaflet called 'Land, Sea and Spirit of the Furness Peninsula'.

The leaflet highlights 15 different faith sites whose existence is linked to the history of the Furness Peninsula. These structures were built to serve the spiritual needs of all the different settlers in this part of Cumbria and through these buildings we can understand how the area has been forged by a dynamic and fascinating relationship between the riches of the land, the potential of the sea and the strong spirituality of the people.

Walk to Piel Island - Sunday 10 June

Walk to Piel Island with John Murphy, Sunday 10th June meeting at Mr Elephant, Ocean Rd 10am for car convoy to Snab Point. Leave Snab Point 10.15am.

The Islands of Barrow and Peninsulas Walking Festival

Voted one of the top 8 Best Walking Festivals in British Isles - Times Online 2009, each summer in July a Walking Festival is held against the stunning backdrop of the Furness Peninsula and featuring the Islands of Barrow. Follow ancient trails, greenways and coastal paths exploring the natural and built history of this South Western corner of the Lake District.

The Festival for 2012 is still being planned.  The Draft Walk Programme is as follows;

1^st July      South Walney Nature reserve guided walk 10.30-12.30

5^th July      Walney Sunset Walk 6.45 pm Earnse Bay

8^th July      Heritage of Furness Walk 1 pm Amphitheatre car park

10th July    North Walney Natterjack Walk.  10.00 - 14.00

11^th July    Get on Track Walk from Roose Station to Cavendish Dock

12^th July    Walney Sunset Walk 6.45 pm Earnse Bay

14th July   11 am start arriving at Widows Crossing at 1.30 pm

19^th July    Kids stomp around Walney 6.45 pm Earnse Bay

20^th July    Evening Walk to Piel 5 pm from Snab Point

21^st July    Wildside Bonanza in Barrow Park

22^nd July    South Walney Nature reserve guided walk 1.30-3.30

26^th July    Beachcombing Family Event

26^th July    Walney Sunset Walk 6.45 pm Earnse Bay

28^th July    Sandscale Beach Clean 10 am – 12 noon

28^th July    Wildlife Walk with Rangers from National Trust Sandscale Nature Reserve 2 pm – 4 pm

29^th July    Piel Walk at 12 noon from Snab Point

Festival partners include Barrow Borough Council, Feet First in Furness, National Trust, Natural England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

For more information about walks in and around Barrow visit http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1324

Islands of Barrow and Furness peninsula walking festival concludes this weekend

School’s out, the sun’s shining and the final week of the Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival has something for everyone.

Wild creatures feature heavily with an exploration of the Duddon Estuary with pond nets as part of the Wildside project and a Bat Walk in Barrow Park.

Explore the scenery, fauna and flora of the Westfield Trail or be guided by a wildlife ranger around Sandcale Haws with a chance to see rare plants including the endemic dune helleborine and nationally scarce round leaved wintergreen.

John Murphy will be leading a Heritage of Furness Walk from Furness Abbey Amphitheatre meandering along Dickie Pinks Lane to Dalton and returning to Furness Abbey via The Haggs.

The Sunday Times on 21st June 2009 declared this Festival one of the best 8 Walking Festivals in the UK. The final week’s programme is:

28th July Creatures of the Estuary Sandscale Car Park 2 pm – 4 pm

28th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm Earnse Bay Car Park, Walney Island

29th July Local Heritage of Furness Walk Meet Furness Abbey Amphitheatre 6 pm

30th July Barrow’s Wildside Extended Westfield Trail 12 noon meet at The Concle Pub at Rampside (parking available on Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Foulney Island car park)

30th July Bat Walk 8.45 pm Barrow Park meet at The Pavilion

31st July Wildlife Walk Sandscale 11 am – 3 pm meet at National Trust Sandscale Haws Reserve Car Park, Hawthwaite Lane

Copies of the Walking Festival leaflet can be downloaded at

http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/BBC_Walking_2011.pdf

Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager commented “This is the eighth Walking Festival we have organised and it has proved very successful. Every year we try to find something a little different to add to the Festival programme as well as the well loved favourites. We had a wonderful weekend of walks last weekend and with the weather picking up, there is lots for everyone this coming weekend.”

All walks are being led by qualified walking guides and we are delighted to be working in collaboration with SeaChange, Feet First in Furness, Cumbria County Council, Westmorland and Furness Bat Group, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the National Trust. Walking Festival leaflets is available from Barrow Tourist Information Centre, outlets across South Cumbria and are featured in the What’s on in South Lakeland Guide. Details of all walks are available on line at www.barrowtourism.co.uk.”

Councillor John Murphy, Mayor of Barrow commented “The Furness Peninsula is a wonderful area of the country with stunning heritage and charming, picturesque walks. I urge everyone to come and explore the coastal fringes and byways of this wonderful area.”

The Islands of Barrow and Peninsulas Walking Festival is a five week festival of walks against the stunning backdrop of the Furness Peninsula and featuring the islands of Barrow and is a Barrow-in-Furness Sea Change Cultural Event. Follow ancient trails, greenways and coastal paths exploring the natural and built history of this south western corner of Cumbria.

“Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” – Charles Dickens

John Woodcock MP to launch the Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival with the Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness

John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness will join Councillor John Murphy, The Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness, to formally launch the Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival 2011 with the inaugural Love Barrow Walk on Friday, 1st July, 2011.

The Love Barrow Walk will be led by the Mayor and will include a personal introduction and tour of Barrow Town Hall. Everyone wishing to participate on this walk are asked to meet on the Courtyard at the rear of Barrow Town Hall at 1 pm. The walk will explore the heritage of the St. George’s area, one of the oldest parts of the Town.

The Festival runs from the 1st July until 31st July and the first week includes a variety of walks across the Borough:

1st July Love Barrow Walk 1pm Barrow Town Hall

2nd July Cistercian Way 12noon Rose Garden, Ulverston

2nd July Beach clean Earnse Bay 10-12 noon

3rd July Walney Walk plus Widows Crossing 1pm Dock Museum

Meet at North Scale 4pm to explore the beasts of Walney Channel

5th July Barrow – Foxfield long coastal walk. Barrow station 10.30am

7th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm

A leaflet detailing the full Walking Festival programme can be downloaded at

http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/BBC_Walking_2011.pdf   or picked up from Barrow Tourist Information Centre and other distribution points across Cumbria.

The Sunday Times on 21st June 2009 declared this festival one of the best eight walking festivals in the UK.

Councillor John Murphy, Mayor of Barrow commented “The Furness Peninsula is a wonderful area of the country with stunning heritage and charming, picturesque walks. I urge everyone to come and explore the coastal fringes and byways of this wonderful area”

The Islands of Barrow and Peninsulas Walking Festival is a five week festival of walks against the stunning backdrop of the Furness Peninsula and featuring the islands of Barrow and is a Barrow-in-Furness Sea Change Cultural Event. Follow ancient trails, greenways and coastal paths exploring the natural and built history of this south western corner of Cumbria.

For further information contact Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager on 01229 876389.

“Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” – Charles Dickens

“Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” – Charles Dickens

The 'Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival' programme dates announced.

The Sunday Times on 21st June 2009 declared this Festival one of the best 8 Walking Festivals in the UK. The Festival runs from the 1st July until 31st July and will start with a Love Barrow Walk personally led by the Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness, Councillor John Murphy, and will include a personal introduction and tour of Barrow Town Hall. The full programme of walks is set out below:

1st July Love Barrow Walk 1pm Barrow Town Hall

2nd July Cistercian Way 12noon Rose Garden, Ulverston

2nd July Beach clean Earnse Bay 10-12noon

3rd July Walney Walk plus Widows Crossing 1pm Dock Museum

Meet at North Scale 4pm to explore the beasts of Walney Channel

5th July Barrow – Foxfield long coastal walk. Barrow station 10.30am

7th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm

8th July A walk from Furness Abbey (Greenway) 6pm

9th July Dalton Walk Meet Tudor Square 1pm

10th July Haematite Heritage Walk 1pm Wax Lyrical Lindal

14th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm

15th July Biggar Village Walk 5.30pm

16th July Barrow’s Wildside Ormsgill Quarry, How Tun Woods 2pm

16th July 1pm – 4pm Intro to North Walney Nature Reserve

17th July Barrow’s Wildside South Walney Nature Reserve 10.30am

17th July Morecambe Bay Stroll 1 pm Leece Tarn

21st July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm

23rd July Piel Walk 10.30am Snab Point explore the Heritage of Piel and Sheep Islands, Piel Castle and The Ship Inn with John Murphy

24th July Piel Walk and 11am Snab Point A guided walk peppered with interesting stories and facts led by John Murphy. Art Gene want to gather your favourite anecdotes about this magical isle.

24th July Family Wildlife Safari North Walney 1–4pm

24th July Barrow’s Wildside Owl Prowl Abbotswood time 9pm

28th July Creatures of the Estuary Sandscale Car Park 2pm –4pm

28th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm

29th July Local Heritage of Furness Walk Meet Furness Abbey Amphitheatre 6pm

30th July Barrow’s Wildside Extended Westfield Trail 12noon

30th July Bat Walk 8.45pm Barrow Park

31st July Wildlife Walk Sandscale 11am–3pm

Copies of the Walking Festival leaflet can be downloaded at

http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/BBC_Walking_2011.pdf

Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager commented “This is the eighth Walking Festival we have organised and it has proved very successful. Every year we try to find something a little different to add to the Festival programme as well as the well loved favourites. This year we are joining with the Barrow Wildside Project being run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and introducing an Owl Prowl and exploring the wildlife of How Tun Woods. There is something for everyone, from Walks across to Piel island, to an evening Bat Walk with Westmorland and Furness Bat Group, children’s beachcombing at Sandscale Haws and a Get on Track Walk with the Outthere project.

All walks are being led by qualified walking guides and we are delighted to be working in collaboration with SeaChange, Feet First in Furness, Cumbria County Council, Westmorland and Furness Bat Group, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the National Trust. Walking Festival leaflets will be available from Barrow Tourist Information Centre, outlets across South Cumbria and are featured in the What’s on in South Lakeland Guide. Details of all walks are available on line at www.barrowtourism.co.uk”

Councillor John Murphy, Mayor of Barrow commented “The Furness Peninsula is a wonderful area of the country with stunning heritage and charming, picturesque walks. I urge everyone to come and explore with me the coastal fringes and byways of this wonderful area”

The Islands of Barrow and Peninsulas Walking Festival is a five week festival of walks against the stunning backdrop of the Furness Peninsula and featuring the islands of Barrow and is a Barrow-in-Furness Sea Change Cultural Event. Follow ancient trails, greenways and coastal paths exploring the natural and built history of this south western corner of Cumbria.

For further information contact Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager on 01229 876389 or walking Guides John Murphy on 01229 473746 or Richard Scott on 823144.