Sunday December 21st. Winter Solstice. 16 miles. Leader: John Shortt. 

This was a walk on the shortest day of the year, finishing just before sunset.

Seven walkers set off from Jeffrey Hill for a 16.1 mile walk through Bowland.  The route took us over Longridge Fell and through Chipping.  Part of the route followed the Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail. 

The final section was a particularly steep climb on Jeffrey Hill to finish back at the cars just before sunset.

John

Wednesday December 17th. Ast sin mi Dad? 14.5 miles. Leader: Hilary Scott

A grim weather forecast didn't deter 9 hardy souls who gathered at Cutacre to remember the 344 men and boys who died in Pretoria Pit on December 21st 1910. Leaving the park we walked in their footsteps to look at the memorial at the base of the pit area. It's a sobering testament to the ages of the people involved. We walked around the woods where the pit was and across fields to Hall Lee Park in Westhoughton. 

Morning break was in Ditchfield Gardens where there is another memorial and then across to the Church where there is a mass grave for the unidentified men. Along to and through the golf course and over a closed bridge to enter Borsdane Woods. Always a lovely walk through here and across more fields to Wingates with the smell of Stateside food production in our nostrils. 

Lunch was taken in St John's Wingates and we looked at more more graves and a poignant memorial to the Tyldesley family with a father, his two brothers in law, and four sons who were killed in the mine. 

We then followed the line of the A6 back to Cutacre with a mix of track, field and road walking. We were back before dark and it had stopped raining before morning break so that was a bonus. The ground was incredibly muddy though, the water table is so high now.

Thanks to all who came and remembered.

Hilary.

Sunday December 14th. Christmas Cracker. 9.5 miles. Leader: Roger Jackson.

The annual Christmas Cracker walk ably led by Roger before a meal in Rivington Tearooms. 18 people walked all morning in the rain, a real soggy affair around Rivington including a visit to Liverpool Castle. Lots of banter and good cheer though, a little rain didn't dampen our spirits. The collection at the meal raised £125 for Prostate UK.

Thanks to all who came. 

Monday December 8th - Friday December 12th. Ghyll Head 2025.

The Annual visit to Ghyll Head was the usual good fun plus an eating and drinking fest. You are never hungry on a trip organised by Viv!

Tuesday saw storm Bram blow in so there was only one thing to do. Off to the Masons Arms at Strawberry Bank for a drink! We walked on the lanes there and back and even they were flooded in places. The fields were sodden and the streams at full pelt.

Wednesday was a 14 mile walk led by Lakeland Group. 14 of us started for a roller coaster from Lindale over to Cartmel and return. On the way we visited the Pudding stone which was reputed to turn around at midnight. It's now built into a wall to stop this happening. Cartmel was as lovely as ever and some made the most of the goodies on offer at the village shop. IT was just turning dark as we returned to Lindale. Thanks to Lakeland Group for taking us out.

Thursday was a walk to Windermere and back taking in 3 Wainwright Outlying fells. 8 started out but 3 left in Windermere for a shorter walk than the 15 miles on offer. Again, it was very wet underfoot but the company made up for that.

The evenings had various entertainments on offer including pass the parcel, dingbats, a quiz and the now customary Beetle Drive. Lots of amusement and the homework for next year is to learn how to throw a die clockwise!!

Thanks to Viv for organising and to all who came for cooking and generally joining in. See you next year.

Below: Fun at Ghyll Head

Walk with Lakeland Group and the Mason's Arms.

Bob's walk to Windermere

Wednesday December 3rd. BNB walk. Burrs, Norden and Back. 14 miles. Leader: Steve Clark

12 of us on the walk. Weather: dry; a few brighter periods; 3 – 7C. 14 miles and a modest 380 metres of ascent.

There are three car parks at Burrs Country Park and as I drove down to the designated meet car park, Ed was coming from that car park. The police had closed the access to the car park – sadly somebody had apparently fallen from the road bridge. We re-grouped around another car park. We set off at 10. Use foot bridge after checking the designated car park for any others.

Exit the Country Park and use a bridge to cross the M66 and then over Walmersley golf course. Drop into Deeply Vale and encounter some aggressive cows with calves. Backing away from a cow that was going to butt me I tripped and fell on my back. I was quickly on my feet again as others shoo’d the beast and kept it from charging a second time. Note to self - take cows with calves seriously.  We pass by Ashworth Moor Reservoir and soon after at 12 o’clock take the first of two breaks.

We now followed the Rochdale Way to the outskirts of Norden. Turning south, still on the RW, we followed Naden Brook and part of the valley know as Gelder Forest. We then followed a path on the rim of the steep sided Ashworh Valley. We took a second break above the valley. Walking across fields we came to another bridge over the motorway and re-crossed the M66. Making our way to Limefield we re-entered the Country Park, to finish walk at 3 40. Well within daylight.

A history note. Stewart pointed out some old coal mining features. Further information is available at https://www.heywoodhistory.org/2014/01/the-dirty-history-of-coal-mining-in.html

Steve