Group Walk

Northern England

West Lancashire

22ml.

9am

Meet at the large layby on the A646 between Burnley and Todmorden by Ratten Clough Wood – no charge. Nearest Postcode is OL14 8QT. W3W: ///heap.whirlwind.juggler It can be found on the right just after the single-track bridge with traffic lights on the A646, which crosses the railway. It only takes around 30 minutes from the Preston end of the M65. It is best to come off at J9.

The route starts with a steep climb out of the Cliver Gorge heading south keeping to the border of Lancashire with firstly Yorkshire and then Greater Manchester for around eight miles. If the weather is half decent it is a great moorland walk. We then descend into the village of Whitworth in the very SE corner of Lancashire with its church and square. Another climb follows up on to Rooley Moor and then Top of Leach, the highest point in Rossendale with trig point and commemorative stone.

We descend into Bacup via Lee Quarries with its sculptures. The final leg heads up the Irwell valley but on other side to the Irwell Sculpture Trail picking up a further two trig points including Thieveley Pike and also the source of the Irwell. From the second trig point we then descend down into the Cliver Gorge again which brings us back to the cars.

This is a hard walk with 3,365ft of ascent so please be prepared and the pace taken will be sufficient to complete between 5 and 6pm. Not all of this walk has been fully recced yet so please re-read these details before you set off in case of any significant changes! No Dogs.

Neil Harwood Tel: 07711932969