Tuesday 24th. September - Haslingden Grane

Starting from the Visitor Centre we headed down, skirting the once abandoned Grane village and across the embankment of Calf Hey Reservoir. We then made our way round the head of the reservoir and up to join the track, which once was the road linking Haslingden with Blackburn. At the remains of what once was the relatively prosperous farm of Alley Cross, (During WW2 some escaped German prisoners of war were re-captured here) we changed direction and headed up on to the moors, past the old quarry workings at Boardman Close, and across to Hog Lowe Pike. 

                                                                                                                                                                           On Hog Lowe Pike

We then cut across the moor to the ruin at Causeway End. Shortly after that we joined the Rossendale Way, which took us round the head of Musbury Valley, before cutting off to our lunch break by the prominent rock on Musbury Tor. 

                                                                                                                                                            Lunch break on Musbury Tor

Conditions were such, some of us would have been happy to sit there all afternoon. However we had to progress, so down we went into Musbury valley and up the other side to the farm at Hill End. From there we headed down into the Grane Valley and, after crossing the embankment of Holden Wood Reservoir, we re-joined the 'Old road to Blackburn', the line of which we followed up to the old Grane Village and shortly after that our cars.

A 10 mile walk in summerlike conditions. How long will this lovely weather last?

Stan.