After several attempts, (people will keep moving about!) 22 heads and 6 dogs were  counted when we met up at the Crown Point car park for the start of this Tuesday walk led by Glenn Williams.

We began by taking one of the good new paths which led over Dunnockshaw Community Woodland and down to Clowbridge Resevoir before heading uphill to arrive at Compston’s Cross. Originally this was called the Gambleside Western Cross but was re-erected in its present position by Alderman Samuel  Compston of Crawshawbooth and from which it gets its name today. The original cross was probably from the 13^th century and was at the crossroads of two tracks, one from Whalley Abbey and one from Preston to Heptonstall.

The Rossendale way /Pennine Bridleway was followed eventually turning right into Water, a small village in the Rossendale  valley.From here we walked up Dean Lane  before turning right and heading through  very long grass and rough moorland to reach the trig point, at 409m, on Small Shaw Height where we had our lunch stop. It was hard enough for us walking through the long grass so how the small dogs, Tommy and Maisie, managed I don’t know but manage they did and didn’t seem bothered at all by it.

The afternoon saw us going along Dean Heights to cross a minor road and then the main road leading into Bacup. A short section of the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail (Regrettably  we never saw any sculptures ) came next before   heading up again to the second trig point of the day at Thieveley Pike. A steady descent along Deerplay Moor brought us out on the Burnley Road and shortly afterwards we reached a spot where we were given the option of a short route back to the cars or continuing a further couple of miles.  The majority opted for this loop which took across White Hill and a short climb up the fell before reaching the car park. Unfortunately , after what had been an otherwise  good moorland walk, the rain had decided to come down and we came back to the cars in a very wet state indeed.