Welcome to East Lancs LDWA

The East Lancashire group is one of about 40 groups around the country affiliated to the Long Distance Walkers Association. We are a friendly bunch who enjoy the social side of the club as well as the walking. The group secretary's name is Andy Griffin and his contact details are secretary.eastlancs@ldwa.org.uk  Please contact Andy for general enquiries about the group. Andy does keep all East Lancs members informed of group news and activities via the LDWA bulk e-mail system. Please update your details on the main LDWA site to ensure you receive these.

Why not look at our walks programme, see Future Events. Our main social walks are at the weekend, normally a Sunday, and these average twenty miles in length. This would take about eight hours to complete and all walkers need to carry enough food and drink to last the day. We like to visit different areas eg the West Pennine Moors, Lune Valley, Yorkshire Dales etc. In 2013 we are offering the Dales Way in four sections to be walked on four Sundays (2nd June, 7th July, 4th August, 1st Sept). Numbers are limited on this venture and will not be available on the day due to these being linear sections and involving coach transport. For more details and to reserve your place please contact Geoff Halliwell at geoff.halliwell@gmail.com

We also offer occasional introductory walks for those who wish to try a longer distance but are hesitant about 20 miles.

Keep an eye on the Future Events page for any such walks.

The group also offers Wednesday walks which are shorter in length, from about 12 to 16 miles. Some of these are also Long Distance Paths which are broken down over several dates. Each part of the walk is a good day in itself, do not be put off if you cannot complete the whole path. Look out for the Lancashire Monastic Way starting in December.

We also offer some "Plodder" walks on various days. These are slightly shorter and at a more moderate pace. These walks are not advertised in Strider but the details of them will be advertised on the "latest news" section of the website. The contact for the Plodder walks is Reg Kingston and he can be contacted on reginald.kingston@btinternet.com  If you are interested in these walks then you can be placed on the e-mail list for details of them.

Our walks programme is compiled by Norman Thomas, Dave and Alma Walsh and John Bullen. John is the main contact at j.bullen1@ntlworld.com  They can help with general enquiries re the walking programme but please contact the walk leader for specific enquiries about a particular walk. These can be found in Strider or under Future Events on this website.   

East Lancs also offers one challenge event each year. This is the "Two Crosses" event and was held this year on Sunday March 17th 2013.  Competitors have the choice of 17 or 25 mile routes which may be walked or run. Food and drink are available at checkpoints on the course and at the finish. Click on the link below for photographs of this years' event. The results for 2013 can now be seen on this page.

http://www.ldwa.org.uk/EastLancashire/W/13/two-crosses-challenge-event.html

You will be made very welcome on any of East Lancs walks but please telephone the walks leader beforehand or check this website on the relevant walk to confirm any last minute alterations. 

East Lancs has also helped to develop a series of walks called "A Breath of Fresh Air". Please click on the link for more information about this. The 5 routes can be downloaded from here and so can be explored at your own leisure.

http://www.breathoffreshairwalk.co.uk/

The social secretary is Viv Lee and she is always willing to listen and put into action any social event requests. Viv does organise some weekends away as well, see the Social Events page for more details and for Viv's contact details.

Please take a few minutes to explore our website. After each walk a short write up is published along with photos if available. We also have the "Rogues Gallery" which aims to capture pictures of our group and visitors. This should give you a good idea of what we get up to! The contact for the website is Hilary Scott on hilary.scott54@sky.com  Contributions about your walking exploits are most welcome.

Our meetings are very social affairs and take place at the Pack Horse Inn, Affetside, north of Bolton. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 8.00pm. This meeting has a small formal part and is then a chance for group members to have a drink and chat together. Why not come along and see if you like us. Better still, pull on those boots and come along on a walk, you will be made very welcome.