Wednesday November 26th. Tri Ressy Rover. 11 miles. Leader: Phil Chapman.

The Weather was kind to us on todays walk. Forecast Rain but stayed away for us 12 intrepid walkers.

Starting from the Jumbles Cafe we made our way along the shores of Jumbles to our first Port of Call for toilet & Coffee Break at the Barlow Institute. From there we dropped down to the Wayho Ressy made our way (passing some of Phil's HF Walking Buddies) along and up to the Stawbury Duck bypassing said Duck and down to the Entwistle Ressy where we had lunch at The Wader. Lunch over we then left the Entwistle Ressy and back to the Wayho on the opposite Shore.

Into Castletown and making our way to Turton Tower for our now famous " Hilary's Sweetie Stop". Only 10 mins then to make our way down and back onto the Jumbles and back to the cars for 3pm Job Done.

Good walk thanking all who came and the excellent Banter amongst us as always.

4 of us stopping at the cafe for drinks with Peter "Footing" The bill.

Phil

Sunday November 23rd. Two Moors and More. 20 miles. Leader: Stephen Hindley.

Despite the weather forecast a group of 8 stalwarts set off from Jumbles in full wet weather gear. After following Bradshaw Brook, we negotiated a fallen tree in Turton Bottoms before passing through Edgeworth then alongside the Wayo then Turton & Entwistle reservoirs. Our morning break was taken in the shelter of the dilapidated building near Cadshaw.

Heading onto Darwen Moor where some of the paths were running like streams, we continued below Jubilee Tower before dropping down to the Ramblers Country Café for our lunch stop where some of the group took advantage of the chance to buy a warm drink.

We were now on the return leg via Slipper Lowe & Catherine Edge where we had a brief respite from the heavy rain & even a glimmer of sun over Winter Hill. This however was short lived & as we passed through the Last Drop Village the rain turned to hail. We arrived back at the cars at 4pm just as the light was fading

Thanks everyone

Stephen

Sunday November 16th. All the way up to Peep o Day. 14 miles. Leaders: Chris Green and Edwina Hill.

Wednesday November 12th. Norman's Duxbury Quacker. 10 miles. Leader: June Reeder.

Twelve walkers left Duxbury Park following the river Yarrow before crossing very muddy fields to Coppull Hall then Pear Tree Farm.

A short stretch on a road before back to fields and crossing the main line railway to Hic Bibi Nature Reserve for morning coffee stop. We then continued through muddy fields crossing the railway again circumnavigating a very posh establishment before entering Worthington Lakes area (more mud).

We eventually got onto tracks then road heading for Adlington Park and lunch stop where Norman and Chris joined us.

The last leg of the walk was on the canal towpath before crossing the A6 and back to Duxbury Park where Norman treated us to a drink at the 19th hole.

June

Sunday November 9th. In Memoriam - 11th East Lancs (The Accrington Pals) 16 miles. Leader: Bob Kelly.

Wednesday November 5th. A Partridge in a Pear Tree. 13 miles. Leader: Ann Finnigan.

The Culcheth Expedition (with bonus partridge ?)

On Wednesday the 5th of November—cue festive jingles and a partridge in a pear tree—14 brave souls gathered at the back of the racecourse for a 13mile circular jaunt to Culcheth and the illustrious Partridge Lakes Fisheries.

Ann, our fearless leader, promised mud and danger. The danger? Crossing the East Lancashire Road. The mud? Well, we’ll get to that.

First hurdle: crossing the A580. Everyone made it safely, though Peter decided to audition  for Fast & Furious: Warrington Drift by sprinting across with milliseconds to spare.

Railway drama: We strolled past the memorial to William Huskisson, the first man to die in a railway accident. Sadly, the monument faces the wrong way, so unless you fancy playing chicken with a train, you’ll never see it properly. 

Path report: Flat, friendly, and mostly mud free. But then came the railway crossing. Peter, again, looked ready to star in Indiana Jones and the Last Level Crossing. I suggested someone hold his hand before he tried to outpace a locomotive.

Snack break: Ann produced homemade parkin (courtesy of her daughter) to mark Bonfire Night. Nothing says “remember, remember” like sticky ginger cake in the middle of a field.

Lunch stop: Partridge Lakes Fisheries. Sophisticated dining under a canopy, overlooking ponds where fish were probably laughing at us for walking 13 miles instead of just sitting quietly with a rod.

Mud watch: Ann had promised mud, and mud we eventually got—though only a polite sprinkling, like the park had dusted itself with cocoa powder.

Wildlife report: Willow Park offered plenty of birds, but the herons were clearly on strike. Perhaps they’d heard about Peter’s roadcrossing antics and thought better of it.

Final surprise: The weather. Dry, sunny, and warm. In November. In England. Truly the biggest miracle of the day.

Return: One last dash across the East Lancs Road (Peter resisted the urge to cartwheel across, thankfully), and back to the cars we went.

Overall: Great banter, minimal mud, parkin-fuelled energy, and a walk that felt more like a comedy sketch than a countryside ramble.

Ann with the help of AI.