May Merriment


Wednesday May 22nd. Musbury and Grane -Plodder's Walk. 11 miles. Leader: Mike Lee.

 

Ten walkers and three dogs assembled at the Helmshore Mill Textile Museum in bright sunshine, which lasted all day.

We set off along the track of the old Ramsbottom to Accrington railway line to Holden Wood. Then, crossing the Grane Road, we climbed to the Rossendale Way path running along the North side of the Grane Valley. On the way we passed through Mary’s Wood. This is a quite extensive wood planted and maintained by a local farmer in memory of his late wife.

Skirting the back of Jamestone Quarry we arrived at the Clough Head Visitors Centre and Café, where we had a leisurely stop for drinks and snacks. We then crossed the Grane Road again and descended to the North side of Calf Hey Reservoir before ascending along old tracks back to the Grane Road where it crosses the Rossendale Way.

We followed the Rossendale Way around Haslingden Grane and down to the end of Calf Hey Reservoir, where we stopped for lunch at the bottom of one of the streams that run into the reservoir from the moor above.

Fortified by lunch we made the steep climb up to the western end of Musbury Heights quarry, then walked the complete distance through the quarry to the chimney at the eastern end. For much of this distance the path follows the bed of an old narrow gauge railway used to carry stone from the quarry.

Turning our backs on the quarry, we descended into Hare Clough and the Musberry Valley and followed the stream down to the lower end of the valley. A short ascent then took us around the edge of Musberry Tor to Great House, from where we descended back to Helmshore and the Mill car park.

Thanks to everyone who came.

Mike Lee

 

Click here to view Peter's pictures.

 

 

Sunday May 19th. Two out of Three ain't bad. 18 miles. Leader: Andy Griffin.


The walk started from Ingleton community centre. Nine walkers and one dog set off up Ingleborough in damp overcast weather. We got no views of the hill during the ascent. After reaching the trig point we headed off down the path towards Chapel le dale but took the path that follows the western edge of Park Fell. The weather improved greatly and we soon got views of the valley and Whernside which was the afternoon's climb.


We dropped off Park Fell and took a path through Ribblehead quarry. This is a permitted path that is waymarked through the quarry and comes out on the Ingleton to Hawes Road opposite the pub and saves a considerable amount of road walking on Gauber Road.


After seeing only a couple of walkers all morning the path up Whernside was the complete opposite. Lunch was taken high on the hill in lovely warm weather out of the wind.
After reaching the summit the afternoon walk was a long walk following the ridge wall towards Twistleton Scar of around 5 miles. We completed the walk along Oddies Lane back into Ingleton. 18 miles 3600 foot of ascent. Thanks to everyone who came along.

Andy

 

Wednesday May 15th. Reservoir, Dog. 14 miles. Leader: Jane Hill.

On a beautiful sunny morning we set off from Lotties Cafe Belmont after a breakfast drink and early get together. Sadly it was too hot for dogs and we missed the company of Maude. Passing the Blue Lagoon we walked across the Moss to the footpath near Rivington road. Looking back we could see Delph Reservoir. We turned north to follow Spitlers Edge towards Great Hill and when looking to the horizon the sea was hidden by a heat haze. We stopped at the source of the Yarrow and looked down to Yarrow Reservoir. After the morning break we walked down to Piccadilly and then admired the east Lancs LDWA sponsored sign at Hollinshead Hall.   The bluebells were in full bloom as we walked round the first Roddlesworth Reservoir. We had a welcome lunch break at Vaughan’s cafe sitting outside in glorious sunshine with coffee and cakes.  Nick ordered the largest chip barm in the world and he had to watch out no one pinched any of it as he attracted a crowd. It did look good! 

Making out way back towards New Barn we could see Earnsdale Reservoir and a small body of water at Hawkshaw, Darwen. We stopped for some sweets on Witton Weavers Way overlooking Belmont Reservoir, and watched the gulls on the island in the middle. We came back to Lotties going past Ornamental Reservoir. The finish was at the Black Dog for those who wanted a well deserved drink after such a beautiful day. Thank you to everyone who joined me on one of my favourite walks. 

Jane

Pictures from Jane, Nick and Hilary.

 

 

Sunday May 5th. Village Link. 19 miles. Leader: Barbara Shelton.

 

This 19 mile route was devised by the Bury Rural Inequalities Forum and links six of the area’s most historic villages: Nangreaves, Greenmount, Ainsworth, Affetside, Hawkshaw and Holcombe. There’s a link at www.village-link.com where you can see the route description containing lots of historical information.

Twenty two walkers, including a goodly sprinkling of new faces, left Nuttall Park to ascend Jacob’s Ladder and on up to Grants Tower, to reach the first village, Nangreaves. On passing the Lord Raglan pub (now sadly closed), we were approached by a young couple in distress whose car had a flat battery. Many willing hands gave them a push, as well as instructions to the driver about how to bump start a car!! Well done everybody!

Descending from Nangreaves, we crossed  Walmersley Rd and the East Lancs railway near Summerseat to reach the second village, Greenmount, for the coffee break. Passing Tower Farm, we had a potted history of this fine building from Viv. Via a series of lodges we reached Walshaw then on past Lowercroft Reservoirs to have a well-earned lunch stop at the Duke William, Ainsworth, the third village (no time for a three course meal though!).

Retracing our steps past the Flemish weavers cottages the route then took us up to Affetside (number 4), our second ascent of the day. Turning right just after (not into!) the Pack Horse we descended into the Two Brooks valley and on to Hawkshaw (number 5), disturbing a Roe deer along the way, the second of the day. Skirting the army range (a third deer was spotted), we headed up to the ruins of Higher Ridge Farm for the afternoon break, with fine views of the upper Reddisher valley, a regular haunt of cuckoos.

Continuing our final ascent of the day we got a bit stretched out and lost the back of the group, but reconvened on Moorbottom Rd to push on up to Peel Tower, from where we had extensive views and a glow of satisfaction that it was all downhill from here (marbles were mentioned, Norman!). The last village was Holcombe, where the oldest game fowl show in the country used to be held.

Thanks to all who travelled from near and far to make it a great day.

Barbara Shelton

 

 

The pictures below are from Jane

Cannot find any images for gallery 5156

The pictures below are from Hilary

 

 

 

Wednesday May 1st. Trough Edge End. 14 miles. Leader: Andy Griffin.

Wednesdays walk was a 14 mile circular walk from Broadley in Whitworth. The route took in Lobden, Middle Hill and Hades Hill before crossing the county boundary into Todmorden where we followed the boundary fence to the trig point on Trough Edge End. The route then descended to Foul Clough Road before climbing around Rough Hill to Crook Moor where lunch was taken.
The route continued to meet the Pennine Bridleway above Shore. We followed the bridleway back to Lobden where we left the trail to descend Man Stone Edge towards Syke. Man Stone Edge is named after a large stone erratic which we visited. Supposedly there is a giants hand print on the stone and it was thrown to its current location in bygone times.
The route then took us through Healey Stones following the Rossendale Way back to our start point for a four o'clock finish. Sixteen walkers and two dogs completed the walk in fine weather.
Andy