The weather forecast was for the hottest day of the year with the thermometer reaching maybe 32 degrees but this didn't deter the thirteen people who arrived at Mellor Brook for this 10 miles walk. Setting off along the road to reach the A677 we soon reached the first of our field paths. All went well until we came to the short, walled - in section leading to Old Doozes farmhouse. On the recce we had no trouble with this but today was a different matter - the brambles and the nettles had grown and taken over a 20 yard section and we were quickly rubbing our legs which had been stung quite a lot. (Brownie points - if indeed I had any - were quickly lost!)

A mixture of country road and fields took us down through Alum Scar Woods, which provided a welcome bit of shade,before continuing to reach the River Darwen at Hoghton Bottoms where we had a short drinks stop. Afterwards we crossed the railway, went up though more woods and walked under Hoghton Tower and down the drive to reach Hoghton Village Hall where we had our lunch stop.

Lunch over, we walked through fields to Bolton Hall, descended to the river and followed it to Samlesbury Bottoms. At the top of the steep road out of here we stopped again for another brief drink stop and carried on to Hoolster Farm where there was an outside tap and the people there kindly let us fill our water bottles up. We finished by walking along Park Lane ( the bridleway, not the posh one!) to arrive back at the cars for 2.30pm.

I think everyone would agree that, although the walk was a comparatively easy one, we had done enough in the heat and were glad to finish, the temperature in the car being 31 degrees.

To see who came on the walk please press the photo below

To look at all the photos please press Here