Crown Point (Burnley). Tuesday 2nd. June 2015.

Pre-planning a walk to start on an exposed car park at the top of a hill is a bit of a gamble, as in poor weather conditions getting changed, both at the start and at the finish can, to say the least be a bit unpleasant. Having said that in June you would expect the odds to be in your favour. Unfortunately not so today, as strong winds and driving drizzle met us at the start, and gale force winds and a period of heavy rain accompanied us along the exposed ridge towards the end of the walk. But it was not all doom and gloom, because as we descended through the golf course to the splendid Towneley Hall, we were sheltered from the wind, and the drizzle became more intermittent. In fact as we headed upwards to Red Lees Road and through fields to Hurstwood, the sun came out and the walk took on a different aspect altogether.

We had our lunch stop shortly beyond Hurstwood, after which we continued upwards to Causeway House, then downwards in warm sunshine to the Ram Inn at Holme Chapel.  Shortly after that we parted company with Doreen and Gareth, who took a short cut from there, as they needed to be back to their car in good time. It was from here that the real climb started, as the lower slopes of Thieveley Pike hit us like a wall. There are always one or two racers, who seem to take steep climbs in their stride, but for us mere mortals the climb to the trig point on Thieveley Pike was a case of heads down and bottom gear all the way. This wasn't made any easier, as by now heavy driving rain was sweeping across, initially from our right then, as we approached the summit, full in our faces. As it happened the rain, but not the gale force wind, eased as we made our way back along the ridge to our cars.

There were 10 of us on what was a well thought out 11 mile walk. Thanks a lot Glenn, but let's see a bit more of 'flaming June' next time'. After all the walk leader has to be held responsible for the weather - doesn't he/she?????

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