After the Walk March 2025
Wednesday March 26th. Definitely no pie today. 11 miles. Leader: Gerald Dentith.
A select seven folk met just outside Threshfield for a perfect Spring day. It’s easy to forget how glorious the Dales can be when you haven’t been for a while.
We proceeded through Linton and Thorpe to lunch at Brunsall Bridge, where some found the range of cakes on offer in the café too tempting. We followed the beautiful River Wharfe up to the bouncy suspension bridge at Hebden, where the more intrepid (mostly the ladies) tried out the stepping stones as well.
Then to popular Grassington, and with some ingenious twists and turns back to the start. A day with the tiniest lambs in every other field and the curlews back inland and declaring their territory overhead. Just one thing to frown at, a worrying moorland fire in the distance, I do hope we don’t see too many of them this year.
Many thanks to Gerald for an excellent walk in the best company.
Nick
Sunday March 23rd. Hayfield Hoof. 19 miles. Leader: Steve Clark.
Five of us enjoyed the walk from Boden Bridge, Hayfield. We set off in spring like conditions walking past Kinder Reservoir and up William Clough only to experience winter as we walked along the edge of the Kinder plateau – mist with 50m visibility and a cold NE wind to boot. As we walked runners competing in the “Edale Skyline” race shared the path with us near Kinder Low.
Dropping down from the Kinder edge we took our first break of the day and later warmed up taking in South Head. Once we started our ascent of Chinley Churn we were back in spring conditions and layers were shed. We descended via some quiet country lanes to the Peak Forest canal at Furness Vale. Walking along the towpath we had our second stop of the day. Setting off once more we arrived at Torrs Riverside Park, New Mills. This is the site of a fantastic deep gorge with rock cliffs and criss crossed by viaducts with the river Goyt running through its bottom. The Millennium Walkway was visited and admired – see pictures.
All that remained was to walk along the Sett Valley Way, through Hayfield and back to the cars for 4 30.
Steve
Sunday March 16th. Saddle up in Bowland. 15 miles. Leader: Steve Gilleard.
At 10am on 16/03/25 Fifteen walkers from East Lancashire LDWA set off from the village of Chipping. The weather was dry and cold 5 degrees and the forecast for the day remained dry with light winds.
We started off initially by following the Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail across fields before leaving it to follow the wide track to Saddle End Farm. After the farm, open moorland on open access land was soon gained as we started climbing up towards Saddle Fell 470m on a good and distinct path.
After Saddle Fell which has no defined summit we crossed the moor above Wolf Fell and across some boggy ground to reach the summit of Fair Snape Fell 510m with its Trip Point, Cairn and Fine Shelter. The weather was very clear and we were able to admire views west to Blackpool Tower, NW to the Lakeland Fells, SE to Winter Hill, NE to Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales and South to the Mersey Estuary. Taking advantage of the shelter we took a drinks break for 15 mins.
Walking South and following the dry stone wall for 1.25 miles we reached the Summit of Parlick at 432m. Passing through a gate we stopped briefly to admire the views across the valley past Chipping to Beacon Fell and Longridge Fell. Rounding the summit shelter we walked the path on the other side of the wall to regain the path that we had earlier walked between Saddle Fell and Fair Snape Fell.
From the Cairn and information board overlooking Brown Berry Plain we now crossed an area of Peat Hags which fortunately were very dry due to the recent dry weather and are currently being improved for walkers by the addition of stone flags, to reach Fiendsdale Head.
From Fiendsdale Head we now started to drop down into the valley stopping at 13.45 for lunch along the way.
Leaving the Open Access area we then crossed fields and a couple of footbridges to reach Bleasdale Church. From the Church we followed the nature trail across fields around the village. Some Hares and Roe Deer were spotted along the way.
Following Field paths for around 4 miles and passing through Blindhurst Farm where a short break was taken for sweets ( Liquorice Allsorts, Fruit Pastilles and Chocolate Santas ) we reached journeys end, Chipping at 16.45.
15 miles
3023ft of ascent
Steven Gilleard
Click on the link below for Howard's photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DZM3thq1wVrpU7BS6
Wednesday March 12th. Valley of Stone Walk. 9.5 miles. Leader: Andy Griffin.
Meeting at Station Road, Broadley, our walk followed the route of the closed Rochdale to Rawtenstall railway line along sections of the former track bed, adjacent roads, and public footpaths. A large part of the old line has now been built on, but lots of the original retaining walls and embankments are still visible.
The walk headed north from Whitworth to Bacup before turning west towards Rawtenstall. Lunch was taken at Stubbylee Park. After Stacksteads, we walked through the reopened railway tunnels that pass through the narrow Glen gorge towards Waterfoot.
After Waterfoot, the path becomes more urban nearer to Rawtenstall town centre, and we finished at the bus station to catch the bus back to the start. The walk was 9.5 miles long and 11 people came along for the walk,
Andy Griffin
Wednesday March 5th. Mossland Meander. 15 miles. Leaders: Christine Cocks and Isobel Graham.
The group consisting of 21 walkers set off from Bents Garden Centre Car Park at 10am. Very soon we crossed Warrington Road and headed south to the village of Culcheth. This early section of the walk crossed fields and farmland and went under the Liverpool to Manchester Railway which was the worlds first steam powered inter-urban railway built to transport both goods and passengers. Opened in 1830, the 31 mile stretch of railway marked a revolution in trade/travel that spread across the entire world. Its construction took 6 years and presented huge engineering challenges including traversing 4 miles of bog across Chat Moss.
On arrival in Culcheth we made our way to Newchurch Parish Church for a short refreshment break in the very well tended grounds.
Continuing in a southerly direction we continued again across fields and farmland crossing the M62 motorway via the island at Junction 11, arriving at Hollins Green in time for lunch. Some of the group purchased food from the village Community Shop and ate their lunch at the tables/seating area in front of the shop. This very well stocked store recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. The rest of the group gathered around the village duck pond for their lunch.
After lunch we headed in a northerly direction, crossed the B5212 at Glazebrook and the river Glaze to join section 17 of the GM Ringway (Leigh to Irlam) which includes parts of the Salford Trail and Glazebrook Trail. This section took us over the M62 motorway again, past Great Woolden Moss on our left before walking around Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve. Once a peat bog this land was saved from peat extraction in 2012 and is slowly being reclaimed by nature and colonised by numerous species including birds, lizzards and crickets etc.
A little further on and towards the end of the walk we passed Light Oaks Hall on our left, a grade 11 listed building dating back to 1657, then went under the Liverpool to Manchester Railway again and along good tracks arriving at the Car Park at 3.30pm.
The weather remained dry and sunny all day and the mileage was just under 15 miles.
A nice walk on a nice Spring day.
We hope you all enjoyed it.
Christine and Isobel.
