Mellor Brook, Nov 24th
In pouring rain, with not much better forcast for the rest of the day sixteen hardy souls met at Mellor Brook for a walk over Mellor Moor, visiting some of the local halls and an easy stretch by the river.
Immediately on turning into the first field we knew that the underfoot conditions were going to trying. We headed firstly up the only real climb of the day past windmill hill and onto Mellor moor to look at the non existant view from the old "cold war" obsevation post. A steady down hill took us past Moor Edge and onto Saccary Fold, tracks and field paths led us down to the A59 which we crossed and made our way to Ribchester Rd. a good farm track led us to Showley Hall with all it's derelict farm equipment ( a real contrast to the halls which were to follow).
A steep up and down through a clough brought us to Oxendale Hall, where the footpath crosses the whole frontage of the hall, giving good views of a very attractive building. Two more cloughs had then to be navigated, slipping and slideing both going down and climbing up. We now reached the river and crossed in front of Osabaldeston Hall befoe walking down stream for a couple of miles. Leaving the river we crossed a flooded wood before climbing upto Burr Green the last of the halls. More very wet field paths took us through Balderstone and Bowfields to pass by Sykes Holt (the supposed new site for Thwaites brewery). We then just had to recross the A59 at the new enterance to British Aerospace to find ourselves back in Mellor Brook.
Thank's a lot to all who came, it can be a very pleasant walk in better weather conditions, and a special thank's to Doreen for taking the photographs.
To see who came on the walk please press the photo below
To see the rest of the photos please press Here
