After the Walk November 2022
Wednesday November 30th. Irlam Heritage Walk. 12 miles. Leader: Andrea Foster.
16 attended.
East lancs LDWA group.
Weather wise a fine day with no rain and a chilly start.
From Irlam Leisure centre car park we walked through Prince’s park following the old bed of the river Irwell. Returning on the opposite side we threaded through to Irlam Linear park passing the old soap works factory and the Manchester ship canal, arriving at Irlam train station for a morning Coffee and Toilet stop. Here we enjoyed the comfort of a fire and a room reserved just for us. Tempting as it was to stay here for the day, we ventured back outside taking in the information boards outside the station which are full of Irlam's rich industrial history.
We continued in the opposite direction on Liverpool road passing some allotments and then New moss wood. Crossing the M62 and over two fields with horses we had a quick lunch stop with hazy views of Rivington in the distance.
After this we picked up the Glazebrook trail and headed towards Little Woolden Moss. A quick tour of the moss and a 'spooky' story saw us on our way. Passing an interesting house full of strange garden ornaments we continued past fields of turf and over a bridge crossing the M62 again finishing back at Irlam Leisure center.
A grand day out. Thank you to all those who attended and fought their way through the traffic.
Andrea
Sunday November 20th. Colliers Wood but I wouldn't. 21 miles. Leader: Dave Walsh.
Ten of us set off from Cutacre car park, the weather was dry & pleasant. After a couple of miles following the tracks of the Country Park with good views of the Manchester skyline we crossed over the Southport to Manchester railway line & fields led us to the guided busway which leads from Leigh towards Manchester. We were only on the busway briefly before we took a quiet lane which took us over a slippery stile on to fields which led us to our morning break stop at Mosley Common.
We then continued along a former railway line which led us to Roe Green. We then entered Worsley Woods which was quite busy with families & dog walkers. Emerging from the woods onto Worsley Green we picked up the Bridgewater Canal & headed towards Leigh. After a few miles we left the canal & entered a small wood where benches provided our lunch spot.
Just before reaching the Mining Museum at Astley Green we went down a muddy track which led us to the East Lancs road. We crossed this & came upon four old Fire engines. We then picked up a path which led us to Colliers Wood. From there more paths led us to Lilford Park where we walked round the woods & then back on to the busway. From here a lane led us to Atherton where we had a quick break just before the town.
The skies were getting very dark & the rain started. Wet weather gear was quickly donned as the rain started to hammer down. Fields led us to the southern edge of Cutacre where the quickest route possible was taken back to the cars.
Thanks to those who attended,
Dave Walsh
Wednesday November 16th. Day Return to Track Junction. 15 miles. Leader: Tony Clark.
There were 15 walkers and one dog, Poppy, (who is probably still chewing on the fruit pastel that Paul had given her) that set off from the Last Drop Village on a cool but dry morning. We walked around and through Turton Golf course to Torra Barn and continued on a descent to join Witton Weavers Way before our first proper uphill of the day to the trig point on Cheetham Close. There is supposed to be a stone circle on Cheetham Close, but I’ve never seen it.
From the trig point we trudged over soggy boggy moorland before making a rather treacherous muddy descent to the A666, across the road and through woodland and took our “elevenses” break sitting by the babbling Stones Bank Brook.
Back on our feet we made our way to the Witton Weavers Way track and Catherines Edge, the track being very muddy and very wet in parts, but the East Lancs long distance walkers are a stoical lot and no one complained. We arrived at the Track Junction (XX Circuit check point) and it started to rain. So we all donned our waterproofs, girded up our loins for our second major climb of the day, continuing along the Witton Weavers Way track to the top of the moor for our lunch break.
The rain had now stopped as we sat down watching the wispy clouds disperse and sun battling to break through. Winter Hill reappeared and the views extended as far as the coastline. We were now half way and the afternoon’s route was less wet and mucky and there were no more significant ascents. A stroll in the park. We dropped down to Cadshaw and continued on Witton Weavers Way onto the Strawbury Duck via Edge Fold and stopped at the camping barn for our afternoon sweetie break.
On our way again we walked across the top of Entwistle Reservoir and alongside Wayoh Reservoir, which is one of my favourite parts of the West Pennine Moors, particularly at this time of year with the rich autumn colours of the leaves left on the trees and covering the ground. We passed through Chapletown and the grounds of Turton Tower and arrived back to the upper car park at the Last Drop Village for 4:20pm. It wasn’t yet proper dark as no one had put on their headtorch.
Tony
Wednesday November 9th. Tri Ressy Rover. 11 miles. Leader: Phil Chapman.
Sixteen walkers and four dogs met to walk around the North Bolton reservoirs of Jumbles, Entwistle and Wayoh. We were very lucky with the weather, it was mild with some sunshine. Just a few spits and spots of rain which produced a lovely double rainbow, worth the bit of moisture!
There was lots of colour in the trees and reflections on the waters which are starting to fill up again after the hot summer. There's still a long way to go though. Thanks to Phil for a lovely day.
Sunday November 6th. A Shorter Wheel. 19 miles. Leaders: Paul and Jeanette Banks.
7 walkers attended the walk taking in most of The Preston Guild Wheel. Despite a drizzly start, the weather was fair all day. The full Preston Guild Wheel is a 21 mile walking and cycling route encircling the city of Preston. The shortened Guild Wheel was 19 miles in length and missed out the busy A583, Riversway.
The walk started from behind the closed Shawes Arms in an anticlockwise direction around the wheel. We walked besides the River Ribble through Brockholes Nature Reserve and by Preston Crematorium before reaching Starbucks on Bluebell Way where some walkers purchased a take-out coffee. The Guild Wheel was then followed through Broughton and Lightfoot Green. Lunch was enjoyed at the Whistle Stop Cafe area where there were benches under a shelter.
On reaching Lea, the walk left the Guild Wheel to avoid the A583,crossing Ashton Park and proceeding through Preston Docks. The River Ribble was joined again on the Guild Wheel, taking us through Avenham and Miller Parks and back to the start. Being a fairly flat walk, it was undertaken at a good pace and we were finished for 3.30pm.
Paul and Jeanette.
Addendum.
Preston Dock is located on the northern bank of the Ribble Ribble. It was a former maritime dock located on the Albert Edward Basin which opened in 1892. It supported the Preston textile industry during the Industrial Revolution. During the first and second World Wars, it aided Britain's war effort, exporting munitions produced by local factories. Many of the historic buildings have now been demolished. The area is now mostly commercial and residential properties with a public marina.
