The August Walkers of East Lancs


Roger's Weekend, August 14th to 16th - see below (video now available)

Todmorden Treat, Sunday August 23rd, 22 miles

Leader : Steve Clark

Well the weather forecast was good – a reasonable day was promised during a period of unsettled weather.  As 09:00 approached, I was made aware that Peter was on the bus from Rochdale and due to arrive 08:55 but that the bus had been delayed by the running of a half marathon.  We hung on a few minutes for Peter to arrive.  So 22 of us set off from Todmorden at just turned 09:00, warming up along the canal in the direction of Hebden Bridge, soon to turn off the canal and up to Mankinholes.  Then the climb via the most direct route to Stoodley Pike was taken from London Road.  Dropping down on the Pennine Way (PW) for a while we took a coffee break on a natural rock platform high above the valley on the edge of Hebden Bridge with super views across the valley to Heptonstall.
 
We descended to the canal and then up to the outskirts of Heptonstall.  Keeping to the edge of the Cloden Valley we met up again with the PW and across moorland to sit by the dam at Lower Gorple reservoir for lunch.  One of the group had been struggling a little and the next section’s climb across the boggy ground of Black Hameldon to the trig point at Hoof Stone Height proved challenging.  Dropping back to make sure they were okay we got to the trig point with everybody else having taken an impromptu afternoon break.
 
Once down to a road our tired friend took the option to stick with tarmac.  The person who’d given her a lift to the start of the walk, dutifully went back with her too and Les Abba went to help with navigation.  We pressed on down the Burnley Way.  Just before we were at Hartley Royd it began to rain.  Waterproof jackets on.  A few minutes later we had to call the leading group back from an open area, as we experienced lightning and thunder, which was almost overhead and dangerous.  We waited it out until the storm passed over.  6 more left to finish the walk in the safety of the road down in the valley, whilst 13 finished the walk as planned, via Whirlaw Stones.
 
We all arrived safely back at the start/finish, with the contingent who’d taken the valley route coming in 5 minutes after the main walk finished at 17:25.  GPS were examined and the tally was just shy of 22 miles with around 1,250 metres of ascent.  Is it a record to have finshed with 9 less walkers than started?  So, an eventful but hopefully enjoyable walk for all.
 
Steve

Photos by Ken Noble 

Photos by Hazel Storozuk

Photos by Julie Spencer

More photos :

Additional photos have been added for the 3 Feathers Part 2 walk (July 11th). See July Page.

Roger's Weekend, August 14th to 16th

Report awaited.

Photos from Ken Noble

Link to video on Flickr

 

Barrowford, Barley and Reservoirs, Wednesday August 12th, 14.3 miles

Leader : Chris Langabeer

25 walkers assembled at the Seedhill  Athetics centre in Barrowford on what turned out to be a fantastic day weatherwise at least. Modesty prevents me saying any more.
The route took in the villages of Carr Hall, Wheatley Lane and Newchurch and onward to Barley. It continued past Lower and Upper Black Moss Reservoirs, the ruins of Furber House before a climb to the highest point of the walk near to Wheathead Height. The Pendle way was taken for a few miles passing Admergill Hall, Watersmeeting to reach Barrowford Reservoir.
From this point the Leeds Liverpool was followed over Swinden Aqueduct, before a short walk along the road which led back to the start. Most of the group spent a pleasant half hour  having a cool drink in the nearby pub.
The mileage was 14.3 The ascent around 600m. Thanks to every one for coming.

Chris Langabeer

Photos from Claire Pilkington - here

 

Looking Over Little Lakeland, Sunday August 9th, 18 miles

Leader : Gordon Stone

I'd committed myself to leading a walk many months ago for which I'd named it "Looking Over Little Lakeland" to give me some scope to devise the walk in an area which I tend to frequent on foot, albeit usually a little faster than walking pace.
Thirteen two-legged and no less than three four-legged walkers assembled on the approach road to Rivington Barn from which we headed down to the shores of our first "lake" (okay they are reservoirs). The weather forecast wasn't great but there was a chance we would stay dry. On to Liverpool Castle and on to the "Pike Race" route before dropping down to cross the very youthful River Douglas and onto Green Lane.
On reaching the corner of Wilderswood, my walk was hijacked by un unscrupulous fellow, no names but let's initially call him National Trust. I succumbed, but more favourably in that Hilary would like to visit  the memorial to one of our members. It was also the first time I had visited the forest, despite living for the past 25 years less than two miles away, as it tended to lie between my routes up to Winter Hill.
On to Georges Lane and a diversion through Wilderswood before returning to Georges Lane and then up to Rivington Pike for our morning break with magnificent views of the reservoirs and the mountains of North Wales and the Lake District.
All suitably refreshed, we headed back to Georges Lane and onto Hordern Stoops. I must have travelled along Georges Lane well over a thousand times and do  not enjoy it so apologise to anyone with similar feelings. It was a necessary evil.
It was then across to the Bomber Memorial via Simms for lunch. The humidity meant that we were not the only ones feasting, as the midges were trying to eat us.
Effectively from Wilderswood, we had been following the route of the White Bear Way and we continued to Jepson's Gate and passing High Bullough Reservoir to overlook Anglezarke Reservoir. Continuing to the end of the reservoir at our most northerly point, and up to Healey Nab where an unscheduled stop was taken before heading over the M61 to join the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath near Cowling. From then it was a nice flat walk to reach the road up to Fredericks where the majority of us took the opportunity of ice cream. They now so a £10 10 scoop ice-cream but none of us were following the lets put on two stone diet.
Now the interesting bit. Taking the footpath through a fairly quiet Chorley Golf Club, we nearly lost some of our more experienced walkers on exiting the car park who had got ahead of the leader (Mr Trust again!) I don't think the footpath down to Long Lane gets much usage : walking poles came into use to clear the brambles. we were soon on the western shore of Anglezarke Reservoir and thence onto "The Street" overlooking Upper Rivington Reservoir and along Horrobin Lane, retracing early steps of the Red Rose 100 and back to our cars.
Thanks to everyone who joined me and I hope the familiarity of much of the route didn't detract from their enjoyment.
For those who like to know such data, the walk was 18.3 miles (29.5km) and included 1733ft (528m) of ascent. You will have used in the region of 2,500 calories. Total time was 7hrs 17 minutes but actual moving time was 5hrs 56 minutes for an average speed of 19 mins 25 secs per mile (12mins 4 secs per km) or slightly faster than 3mph. I don't know how many calories our four-legged friends used but I believe they were all ready for a quiet evening.

Gordon

Photos by Hilary Scott :