16 group members eventually got together at Doffcocker Lodge car park for the start of this walk – some of them, due to sat-nav guidance, having been on an exploration of the surrounding area before finding the parking area. We began by going round the lodge continuing along Old Hall Lane and High Rid reservoir to Wilson Fold Farm. A short climb (good job it was dry – otherwise it would have been like going up a stream!)brought us out near Georges Lane and a further climb up Matchmoor Lane before turning left passing the large quarry and then turning right along the track to our lunch stop on the edge of Smithills Moor.

Lunch over, we continued over Smithills Moor passing the Winter Hill TV station to take the path (not marked on the map) alongside the boundary fence, crossing Counting Hill, to eventually pass Smithills reservoir and descend to Coal Pit Lane. We carried on descending to Barrow Bridge where, descent over; we had a climb up with Old Links golf course on our left. After crossing the golf course it was a fairly short way back to the start which we reached just about 2.30pm after an 11 mile walk in dry, but quite cool weather although the sun did put in a brief appearance towards the end. 

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

 To see the photos please press Here then click on the first picture followed by the arrow on the right hand side