3. Members’ local walks during lockdown
11. Kath spots the first covering of snow near Longridge
Parlick Pike with a light dusting of snow on 4th December
10. Pat took advantage of blue sky and sunshine
A rare view of Anna’s Road, near Lytham, earmarked as a fracking site but never used.
In spite of the old brickworks and pylons, it’s pretty and a wonderful November day.
9. A few photos from local walks with Kath
Looking across Upper Dilworth Reservoir to Beacon Fell
Parlick with Fair Snape Fell behind
Beacon Fell on the left and Parlick on the right from Birks Brow
They're behind you!
Parlick Pike
8. Early morning a few minutes from home with Kath
7. Can I join you and bring a few friends - and a few more - with Kath
6. Local area with Kath and Luna - on a very hot day!
5. Walking in Whittle le Woods with Jim
4. More from Norman's Penwortham walk
3. Early morning walks with Pat
2. Exercising in the Penwortham area with Norman
1. Walking around Longridge with Kath
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2. Members' walks during lighter restrictions
A walk in the Yorkshire Dales with Kath
Looking towards Malham Cove
Janet's Foss
John & Betsy enjoy a walk from Elterwater to Slater Bridge
Footbridge over Great Langdale Beck
Colwith Force
Slater Bridge
Little Langdale Tarn with Pike of Blisco in the distance
John's solo walk to Stickle Tarn, Great Langdale, reminds us of past walks and helps us to look to the future.
Pavey Ark from Stickle Tarn
Harrison Stickle
Stickle Tarn
The long path up from Dungeon Ghyll
A maintenance team on a paved path
A little further afield after 15th May with Kath
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1. Pre lockdown group walks
Wednesday, 11th March
Moderate walk from Dunsop Bridge
Overcast in the morning, then showers in the afternoon.
Refreshments taken at Puddleducks after the walk. Some of the fields were muddy.
River Hodder with flooded fields on the far bank
Sunday, 8th March
Strenuous walk from White Coppice
The plan today was to do a walk where we would be able to keep our feet as dry as possible for a change. We climbed out of White Coppice following the relatively dry path leading up to the summit of Great Hill passing Drinkwaters on the way. There were good views today, but it was quite cold due to the strong wind, so we quickly moved on from our first peak following the newly laid flagstones across Spitlers Edge. We took shelter behind a wall for our elevenses before dropping down to Rivington Road at Horden Stoops. We then followed Belmount Road past the Pigeon Tower to Rivington Pike, our second peak of the day. From here we dropped through the Terraced gardens to Rivington. A great deal of work has taken place in recent years in these gardens clearing away so much of the undergrowth exposing many new features.
From Rivington we followed the west side of Upper Rivington reservoir and Anglezarke reservoir before joining Heapey Fold Lane which we followed to Healey Nab our final peak of the day. A lot of the trees have been recently felled here as they were diseased which has totally changed the Nabs appearance. From the Nab we dropped down to White Coppice ending the walk with our feet dry. Mission accomplished!
Ready to start at White Coppice cricket Club cra park.
Please go to the Gallery for more photos of this walk.
Wednesday, 4th March
Leisurely walk from Penwortham Cemetary
Cool, but with wall to wall sunshine
This walk replaced the intended walk at Woodplumpton, which was a quagmire. Using firm paths the route passed through parts of Preston and Penwortham. The group of twenty-three arrived back with clean boots. The leader pointed out things of interest on the way. A further seven people took a shorter walk of three miles.
Passing through Avenham Park
Please go to the Gallery for more photos of this walk.
Wednesday, 26th Febuary
Moderate walk from Plain Quarry car park, nr. Burton-in-Kendal
Refreshments taken at Greenlands after the walk.
The party setting off, with a thin covering of snow that had come down overnight but soon melted. By late afternoon the only snow was on the distant peaks in the Dales.
Sunday, 23rd February
Moderate walk from Scout Scar car park
Rain, hail, snow, and a bit of sunshine.
A total of 16 Walkers started out from the car park on Underbarrow Road and took a steady ascent onto Scout Scar. We passed (The Mushroom) the fourway summit shelter, this was built in 1912 to commemorate the Coronation of King George V. On along the Scar to Hodgsons Leap where we turned left and down to Brigsteer Road. We followed the road into the area of Kendal called Greenside and took shelter at The Riflemans Arms from the now strong Hailstones, it was decided this would be a good place for lunch. Carrying on along Greenside we stopped to read the Blue Plaque where John Cunliffe had stayed and during his time there wrote the Postman Pat series, the stories and adventures were inspired by The Valley of Longsleddale just along the road. It was then into Serpentine Wood and out across Kendal Golf Course and along Kendal Fell. This route would take us out onto Kettlewell Crag and eventually along Helsfell Nab. It was then a direct footpath across Cunswick Fell and our return into the car park. Great walk despite the mixture of weather condtions, Thanks to Derek our Chorley Group Guest Leader.
Sunday, 2nd February
Strenuous walk from Todmorden
Todmorden Centenary Way Stage 3
Seven walkers including 3 guest ramblers, set off in mist climbing out of Todmorden to where we left the Centenary Way two weeks ago on Weather Hill. This was a bit of a slog as the ground was very wet, so we stopped for 11s at a wall hallway up the hill where there was some shelter. From here we climbed to the trig point on Freeholds Top then followed a path across Inchfield Moor to the A618. The mist had now lifted revealing all the flood defence work that had been undertaken on these moors since I was last here. Thousands of trees have now been planted and every water course is being held back by newly built walls and willow weavings acting as dams to hold back and slow down water runoff from these moors.
We passed the Astronomy Centre and crossed old mine workings on our way to Cornholme. From here we climbed out of the valley joining the Calderdale Way for a while before dropping back down into Todmorden.
So that was it. The Todmorden Centenary way completed in three sections. Each walk has been quite different, and each has taken us to parts of the area we had not been to before so it has been certainly worth doing even though the weather has not been kind.
Please go to the Gallery for more photos of this walk.
Sunday, 2nd February
Moderate walk from Higher Hodder Bridge
Showers to start but cleared quickly.
A total of 13 Walkers started out from Higher Hodder Bridge and followed the Hodder through woodland and along footpaths passing Over Hacking, and Hodder Place to reach Cromwells Bridge. A little road walking to avoid a broken stile took us up to Stoneyhurst College. We then stopped at Stoneyhurst Golf Club for our Lunch at the outdoor seating area. It was then on to cross the Golf Course and a stretch of Woodland at Deer House Wood. We then made our way to pass Greengore, and on to reach the road at Crowshaw House. It was then a full stretch of road walking on Kemple Lane and on to Birdy Brow to arrive back at our start point on Higher Hodder Bridge. Great walk from Roger and Dorothy.
Lunch at Stoneyhurst Golf Club
Sunday, 26th January
Moderate walk from Grimsargh
Showers to start but cleared quickly.
A total of 13 walkers started out from The Village Green heading along Cow Hill Lane. We turned off to make our way to the next footpath at Londonderry Bridge. Turning into Fulwood Park Wood we passed Haighton House and a farm crossing over the M6 Motorway. On to Pitman Way we headed for Masons Wood and eventually crossed Preston Golf Course. We then hit the Preston Guild Wheel where we stopped for lunch. The next few miles followed the Guild Wheel until we reached Red Scar through an underpass below the M6 Motorway. Our footpath then took us on to reach the outskirts of Grimsargh where we headed into Tun Brook Wood to the East of the village. It was then roads straight back to the Village Green. A great day's walking no real rainfall. Thanks to Richard our Leader.
Lunch on the Guild Wheel
Wednesday, 22nd January
Leisurely walk from Merrytrees Lane, Cottam
A misty day but stayed dry
A total of 37 Walkers turned out for Normans Birthday Walk starting from The Ancient Oak Public House Car Park. A Splinter Group of 6 left for a 3 mile alternative. We set out passing the Old Cottam Hall making our way to pick up The Lancaster Canal. Following the Canal past the old site of Cottam Hall Brickworks we headed for the Sensory Garden in Haslam Park for our coffee, with Buns supplied by Norman. Out of the Park we headed towards Tanterton with Ingol and a route past Ingol Golf course. Now following good pavement paths we turned onto Cottam Hall Lane and back into The Ancient Oak where we changed for a well earned Lunch at the Pub.
Birthday Buns
Wednesday, 22nd January
Moderate walk from Shore Road, Ainsdale
Fog all day, so visibility poor.
11 present. Moderately easy using paths through dunes and woodland paths, plus beach. Refreshments taken in Ainsdale after the walk - parking on yellow lines which allow for 2 hours of parking.
Note - parking outside Pontins is only allowed during the winter months
NT sign states "Please note that we are not accepting Christmas trees this year. Please take any unwanted Christmas trees to your local recycling centre."!!!
Sunday, 19th January
Strenuous walk from New Dungeon Ghyll car park
It was cold and frosty to start of with but the sun soon started to warm it up a bit, although it clouded over later to give us a beautiful sunset on the way back home.
Six walkers enjoyed the walk including three from other groups.
The Langdale Pikes from near Slater Bridge in the Little Langdales.
Sunday, 12th January
Strenuous walk from Todmorden
Todmorden Centenary Way Stage 2
The weather was shocking as we drove to Todmorden with heavy rain and roads flooded in places, so it didn’t look good for the day. I was surprised to find that 7 passionate Ramblers and one Long Distance Walker had turned up to join me on this second leg of the Todmorden Centenary way. When we arrived we all got togged up in our waterproofs, but it wasn’t long before the rain eased off and by the time we had climbed up to join the Centenary way where we left it last time, next to Warland Reservoir, there was actually blue sky!
The Centenary Way again took us to places we had not been before so whilst it was extremely wet under foot for most of the day the walk was quite interesting.
Perhaps the most amazing thing we saw was three workmen climbing like squirrels up a Pylon to do some repair work. It was incredible how quickly they were able to climb all over the Pylon with very little evidence of safety ropes although they must have had them. Amazing to see.
We dropped down from here to join the Rochdale canal which we followed back to our cars.
We are all looking forward to the final leg in three weeks’ time!
Please go to the Gallery for more photos of this walk.
Wednesday, 8th January
Moderate walk from Calder Vale
Broken cloud to start, with cloud increasing, then light rain on the last mile.
With the fields being wet the route used for the most part country lanes and tracks in order to minimise the mud.
6 walkers present. We parked on the hill going into Calder Vale, but consider we were cursed by delivery drivers going to the mill, for the gap left on the road was not large. It maybe that we should in future avoid parking in Calder Vale for a mid week walk. Parking in Calder Vale near the mill at weekends should still be alright.
Path near Sullom Side
Sunday, 5th January
Strenuous walk from Todmorden
Todmorden Centenary Way Stage 1
The strenuous group were joined today by three guest members who found our walk on the Ramblers walks finder which shows it does work and is being used. We did our first stretch of the Todmorden Centenary Way which took us to places we have not been before on the north side of the canal which was interesting. On the south side of the canal we were on more familiar territory visiting Stoodley Pike monument (in thick mist again) where we joined and followed the Pennine Way to Warland Reservoir before dropping back down to Todmorden. Great day even though the weather was pretty grim on the Pennine Way.
Please go to the Gallery for more photos of this walk.