Five walkers (sadly no dogs, as the route went through some "no dogs" access areas) set off from School Lane car park by Stocks reservoir, encouraged by both national and local weather forecasts which had promised a dry day with "plenty of sun". The chilly mist didn't discourage us as we were certain the sun would burn it off. We took easy footpaths along part of the "Stocks Reservoir Circular" route, up to New House, then down across the Hodder and then left the "Stocks Circular" to meet the Slaidburn to Bentham road, where a half mile of tarmac led us to Greet Bridge, and a shooting track up the lower slopes of White Hill. The mist was still down and views limited to the immediate environs of our path. It was also damp enough to ensure most of us had wet hair, but not actually raining, (but of course we all had faith in the met office and knew that the views would be wonderful by the time we reached the summit of White Hill). The way steepened and we shortly left the shooting track to traverse through alternating bog and heather before dropping to Far Costy Clough where we enjoyed a coffee break until the midges muscled in. A short, steep, heathery pull took us onto the plateau of White Hill, where it was about a half mile of more bog and heather to the top. The view from White Hill was white, and any breathtaking panoramas had to be imagined.

We now had a fairly easy walk alongside the fence to the Cross of Greet at the summit of the road we'd met earlier. A gentle but boggy climb followed to the site of Raven's Castle (setting for an old John Roby story), where we turned to follow the County Boundary along to Ravens Castle Mark 2 (the top of Catlow Fell) and then a lunch stop under a little overhang on the Cold Stone, where, for the first time, we became aware that the possibility of a view was opening up (although not the fantastic one of Yorkshirte's 3 Peaks which can usually be enjoyed from up here). There was also the promise of possible sunshine, as we could see a patch out to the west. The promise wasn't actually fulfilled, although Glynn found out from a phone call that it was a glorious sunny day in both Preston and Accrington.

Lunch eaten, we carried along the County Boundary to Bowland Knotts and then along to Knoteranum, White Swan Moss and the Resting Stone, before leaving the County Boundary and turning downhill along Gisburn Forest fence and across the aptly named "Ash Clough Swamp", after which a better path took us towards Whelpstone Crag. Then it was all easy walking on forest tracks and paths back to the cars. All in all, it was a day of poor views, damp bogs but good walking and excellent company and chat. Many thanks to Helen for taking photos.