Eighteen people and four dogs set off from Childer’s Green car park just after 10.00a.m. on the Huncoat Trail with a perfect May morning as the sun was already warm and with the promise of a hot day ahead. The party headed first for Hameldon Woods, which form part of the Forest of Burnley. On leaving the woods we went up a gradually increasing gradient  heading for Hameldon Scouts, which are disused stone workings, and from there to Windy Harbour where we encountered a small wet patch, the only one on the entire journey. Being a very clear day, we saw the entire landscape from Padiham in the east, Pendle Hill, the Ribble Valley and over towards Preston.  From there we proceeded onto the ancient road known as the King’s Highway. As we headed for Slate Pitts farm we went through a stone “squeeze stile” which could be a bit challenging for the average 21^st Century figure such as mine!  Crossing the Accrington Easterly bypass via the underpass, the group traversed the area of parkland known as “The Coppice”, which was bequeathed to the Borough of Accrington together with Peel Park by William Peel of Knowlmere in 1909. At his monument in Peel Park we had a panoramic view of Accrington and the surrounding area. A gradual descent towards Burnley road followed, which was crossed immediately, then through Accrington Cemetery and Crematorium towards Huncoat Bank and War Memorial where we stopped for lunch.

Returning to the centre of Huncoat  and the Peace Garden, where, set in the wall is the Barroclough date stone of 1768. Crossing the road we then headed down a single file track past Higher hill house  and then entered Spout House Woodland, a newly planted area of deciduous trees, mainly oak and beech. Dropping down the fields we quickly came to the level crossing at the bottom of Huncoat and crossed the railway using the footbridge. Almost immediately, we turned right, into the wooded area  which was the site of Huncoat Colliery, which closed in 1968. Dropping down towards Clough Brook and across the footbridge, passing close by the RSPCA sanctuary, and then onto the Leeds and Liverpool canal bank (the canal was opened in 1801). We followed the canal bank for approximately  1.75 miles, and were fortunate enough to see a variety of ducks with their new offspring and a couple of swans with their cygnets.

We left the canal at Higher Shuttleworth Bridge, crossing over the canal and on past Shuttleworth house, then through the fields towards the M65 motorway, crossing beneath it using the underpass, and from then towards the main East Lancashire railway line, crossing it via the footpath. The railway was opened in 1848. From here it was a short distance to the car park where we started out from. 

To see the photos taken by Ken and Julie please press Here then slideshow