Chris had found a new venue for the start of this 10 miles walk and 11 group members turned up at the car park at Newton for the start which took us along a short section of the River Hodder before heading uphill and eventually on to a good track at New Laithe to emerge on the Waddington to Slaidburn road. We turned right shortly afterwards on the track to Smelthwaites where, on the hillside above us, a pheasant shoot was taking place. The beaters and guns were out so we didn’t lose any time getting to Padiham Barn and descending to the river on a route which was familiar to everyone who used to do the Halloween Happening event.

By now the sun was coming out and we had a very pleasant lunch stop at Slaidburn before making our way through woodland on the Lancashire Witches trail to Myttons then turning south to Parrock Farm. The weather was very warm for November and some of us shed a few layers now before arriving back at our cars at 2.10pm after a very agreeable, well-led walk.