Sunday September 21st. Peelers Orphans. 23 miles. Leader: Nick Halford.

Fifteen of us met by the mousetrap at Burr’s park for a day of perfect walking weather, having nicely missed the recent very heavy rains. First through Bury to Elton reservoir, then curving north to Affetside and Hawshaw, through lush and vibrant green fields and blue sky. Sadie got to stroke a friendly alpaca, whilst Jaqui and I were more taken with the goats.

Up to the ‘top path’ at Lark hill, we then snaked around below Holcombe moor until climbing via the horrible stony path to Peel tower. On the way we had to cross Red brook, fuller than usual, where those with poles passed them back to the ones who hadn’t, and all was well. Lunch was taken at the day’s high point, Harcles hill.

On to the edge of Helmshore then curving round to travel back south by the Irwell valley, passing Nuttall park and Summerseat.

At one point we found ourselves in a field of long grass in water deeper than our boots, but everyone sloshed through without complaint, the good weather helping. Thank you for everyone's company on the day.

Nick

Wednesday September 17th. Eccleston Excursion. 14 miles. Leaders: Isobel Graham and Christine Cocks.

Thirteen walkers set off from Eccleston on a wet Wednesday morning. The start of the walk took us down Bradley Lane to Bradley Hall farm.  From there we passed through several fields, one of which was occupied by some very curious cows who escorted us across the field to the stile.  We continued to follow the River Yarrow crossing over the flood defense barrier, built in 2017 following the floods of Boxing day 2015 when Croston was flooded.

On reaching the village we sat in the picturesque surroundings of St Michaels church for our morning break. By now the rain had eased and the weather continued to improve. We left Croston following a minor road and then followed farm tracks over fields to reach the river Douglas and the village of Rufford.  We had our lunch break in the grounds of the church hall.

On leaving Rufford we crossed the Ormskirk to Preston railway and then joined tracks and paths through farmland, passing several fields of sunflowers.  We reached Eccleton and finished the walk in warm sunshine at 4pm.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

Christine and Isobel

Wednesday September 3rd. Padiham and Huncoat Round. 14 miles. Leaders: Chris and Eddie.

With the threatened forecast of heavy rain all day, 10 hardy walkers turned up at Hapton to brave the elements. In heavy drizzle and with the surrounding high ground enveloped in mist, the waterproof-clad walkers (and Otis, the border terrier) left St Margaret’s church car park to make the wet and slippery ascent through the woods and quarry-workings to the summit of Hameldon Scouts. Remarkably, shortly after reaching the top, the drizzle cleared and mist lifted to expose the carpet of red heather adorning the now-rejuvenated steep valley sides of Huncoat Quarry, lying beneath Windy Harbour.

Dropping to the Kings Highway we then climbed up and traversed ‘The Coppice’ to settle for morning break at ‘The Monument’. There we enjoyed panoramic views of Accrington and Burnley.

Descending through Peel Park woods we crossed Accrington Cemetery and through community woodland to reach the village of Huncoat. There the village stocks proudly boasted that the existence of the community was first recorded on 1068. Lunch break followed soon after, at the elevated Huncoat war memorial, looking out over the Calder Valley.

Calling at the Huncoat Peace Garden we found a memorial stone to a sadly departed old friend of the walk leaders who was publicly recognised as having done much for Huncoat and for walking in general.

After crossing the M65, the party followed the Leeds-Liverpool canal in high spirits and in sunshine with swans swimming by. Individual thoughts and reveries were shared in light-hearted conversations like, ‘how do canals flow?’ or ‘are these blueberries or sloes?’. After descending to the River Calder and Padiham the group followed the Padiham Greenway for afternoon break at the rather grand Lowerhouse Lodge fishing lake. There, seated around a little memorial garden dedicated to some expired anglers, the humour and banter took a nose-dive as the assembled walkers discussed the uses (and pleasures) of rubber and of recreational drugs respectively.

After a section of canal we concluded the walk back in Hapton. Whilst there was the odd shower during the day, causing the party to see who could get their waterproofs on and off the quickest, the day had remained surprisingly largely sunny and warm.
The day ended with us having had an enjoyable walk from which we came away weary - but with perhaps slightly more in-depth knowledge of a few somewhat esoteric subjects.’

Chris and Ed.