2020 January to March
Little Switzerland
Thursday 5 February 2020
Distance: 20 Miles
Leader: Peter Godfrey
Eight of the Twelve
Beautiful Spring day in superb Calderdale and 12 people attended.
More photos of the walk from Pete - Click here
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Bowled Over
Thursday 20 February 2020
Distance: 20 Miles
Leader: Pendle Pete
SP Group
Starting on time from Newton CP with heavy rain for company and questions raised about our sanity, Ralph WY, John EL and three stalwarts from SP, Norman, Ron and Pendle Pete set out for a testing day.
Having noted flooding in the area, I decided to avoid the valley by the River Hodder as much as possible.
Working our way under the fells on Back Lane, behind Newton Village for a couple of miles, branching off at Laytham Farm and by uncharted paths eventually made our way up to Dunsop Head.
On the top now we had some shelter from a wall and the morning break, never did a hot drink taste better!
Further across and down into Whitendale, with water emerging everywhere.
Up a slippery slope due to landslip, around Middle Knoll and into the Brennand Valley with plenty more water to greet us.
A steady climb out and eventually over to the Trough Road and lunch by a barn for cover.
At last the rain began to ease, down the trough road through Sykes and at Langden Beck, joining a welcome flat path beside the river to Hareden Farm.
Up again by Mellor Knoll, where we met some people of fellow walkers, across the ridge under the shadow of the Bleasdale Fells and a fine view of the Hodder Valley below.
Some sunshine now for the rest of the day, accompanied by the occasional hail showers and still strong winds but now thankfully on our backs.
From the ridge path we entered a wooded area and again a I chose a detour avoiding the stepping stones at Whitwell.
Down to the Dunsop Road at Burnham Bridge and safely across, up onto Hodder Bank, through fields and down to the riverside path by the raging Hodder river.
Our only disappointment of the day, arriving back at Newton was to find the Pub closed due to the difficulties caused by the weather this month.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day, thank you all for your company and support, Pendle Pete.
More photos of the walk from Pete - Click here
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More Glories of Rochdale
Thursday 6 February 2020
Distance: 20 Miles
Leader: Andrew Underdown
SP group gather round our Gracie
Rochdale kept its glories shrouded in the mist for the first part of the walk - the sun broke through as we reached Hollingworth Lake. The glories flashed past us - the longest railway tunnel in the world when built (Summit), the earliest Pennine reservoir of its scale (Blackstone Edge 1798), the slenderest spire in Lancashire (St Thomas, Newhey), the largest working mill engine in the world (Ellenroad), the biggest box on the Kingsway Business Park (JDSports of course! ), the finest Town Hall (no exceptions ), statues of Gracie (pictured) and Dippy (coming soon) and excellent Rag Pudding or Cheese and Onion at the Greater Manchester CAMRA pub of the year (the Flying Horse). Goodbye for now from Visit Rochdale! Watch out for next year's walk Even More Glories of Rochdale! I think everyone enjoyed it so hopefully they'll come back for more.
Andrew
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Stanedge Saunter
Saturday 1 February 2020
Distance: 21 Miles
Ascent: circa 950 metres
Leader: Steve Clark
SP group below dam at Butterly Reservoir
The original start point, Standedge car park at Brun Clough, was changed for the better facilities offered by Marsden and so it was that 11 of us gathered outside Marsden railway station 15 minutes later than our usual walk start time of 8 30. We welcomed Paul who joined us from BBN LDWA.
Various Ways, Trails and Walks were followed: Kirklees Way, Pennine Way, Standedge Trail, Oldham Way, Pennine Bridleway, Station to Station Walk, Colne Valley Circular Walk
Special mention should be made of the wind: 50 mph was forecast and going over Millstone Edge (trig at 448m) 50 mph felt a realistic figure. The weather gave us heavy drizzle for the last 30 minutes of the walk and we finished around 4 20. Being wet by this stage we all opted for a quick exit from Marsden rather than stop for post walk refreshments.
Thanks to all for their company.
Steve
More photos of the walk from Pete - Click here
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Britania Coconuts
Thursday 30 January 2020
Distance: 22 Miles
Leader: Norman Johnson
Sniper's but no rear gunner
Better quality mud reconnoitred today than Norman’s Brighouse Brass walk recently, Lancashire’s finest around the environs of Bacup.
With a Lancashire shade of grey day but thankfully fine and a few new faces, a good romp round and banter to boot.
Pendle Pete
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Not Another Walk From 427
Saturday 25 January 2020
Distance: 20 Miles
Leader: Anne Web
Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Another healthy dozen on the second of Anne’s recently led walks. Heads were spinning at the end this one, from circle-navigation and ducking through three or four Golf Courses.
Pendle Pete
More photos of the walk from Pete - Click here
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This Time With GPS
Thursday 16 January 2020
Distance: 20 Miles
Leader: Peter Godrey
SP Group at Sowerby Bridge
Supporting Pirate Peter on his romp around Calderdale where, Carmel & Daisy, Ian, Ralph, Ron, Norman and ‘Pirate' Pendle Pete.
We thankfully got away with another fine day, despite the bad weather forecast. Typical Calderdale, plenty of up and down encountered.
Pendle Pete
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Rough & Ready
Saturday 11 January 2020
Distance: 20 Miles
Leader: Pendle Pete
SP Group at a windy Hoof Stones
With lousy weather predicted and a good few members unavailable, I was glad to see another five hearty souls at the start, on top of Thursden Valley at the CP. A fine start and good visibility was most welcome, always good to be able to start off dry.
So it was that Julie, Rocket Ron, Digital Peter Graham, Flat Cap Stephen, Frank and Pendle Pete, crossed the Thursden Valley in fine fettle and up onto the moor to join the Pennine Bridleway.
Over the head of Swinden Reservoir, down the side of Hurstwood Reservoir, across the dam of Cant Clough Res’ and joining the path through Shedden Clough.
At the Bridleway turn off out of Shedden, I chose to continue East over Crooker Hill and ultimately up to the trig at Hoof Stones and our first break.
Then it was due North and a good yomp for two miles over to the Gorple Track, dropping off right at Gorple Ruin to cross between Higher and Lower Gorple Res’s.
Making our way over to Raistrick Greave and more yomping over to Gorple Cottages.
Picking-Up on the Pennine Way through Graining Water, across the Hebden-Colne Road and over to the shooting track to cross the moorland for two miles and some more yomping.
It was at one of the shooting huts we enjoyed our second break, before the final leg over to Pendle’s very own Dove Stones, behind Boulsworth Hill, Southside.
Onto the oil road now, across the Colne-Hebden Road again and over Extwistle Moor to pick up the morning track again, back into Thursden and our transport home but not before a well earned sneck lifter, in the Hare & Hounds at Briercliffe.
Unbelievably the weather was kind all day despite the forecast, until we where leaving the car park, Brilliant!
As leader, I could not have asked for much more, thanks for your company and a very enjoyable day. We even had great views of Pendle Hill all the way.
(Most of the photos are from the recce)
Pete
More photos of the walk from Pete - Click here
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3 Oggi Oink
Thursday 2 January 2020
Distance: 19 Miles
Leader: Norman Johnson
Walk start and finish was Ogden Reservoir, Newhey, Rochdale. 7 of us on the walk. The weather was overcast, dry, cool and windy at times. Coffee after 8 miles above Watergrove and lunch at Summit locks. Finish for 3pm. Have a swift half in the Bird in the Hand, Newhey on the way home - thank you Norman.
Steve
More photos of the walk from Steve - Click here
