The Pictures:- 

Here lies a calamity as when I got back and checked my pictures, all the photos, from getting on the train in Whalley taking us to the start in Blackburn, to almost the end of the walk, had somehow been deleted from my camera. I know they had been there earlier because I periodically do a check. Whether the problem stems from my much used camera, the also well used memory card or whether it was human error I don't know. The latter is unlikely as deleting pictures requires a series of actions it is almost impossible to do in error. Nevertheless below is what remain:-

You may be able to work out who was on the walk if you click on the following picture:-

To view the other remaining pictures click 'HERE' then on the first picture to view in full screen. Click on small arrow on right to continue.

The Walk:-

Walk leader - Ian Wardle. Informative talks enroute - John Evenden.

Distance - 11 miles

Number on walk - 19

Weather - Rain for a time around midday.

 Blackburn to Whalley 11 miles

  ‘A long-distance walk through Alfred Wainwright’s life from Blackburn to Haystacks’

 19 members turned up, including one new member, to walk the first of the 5 stretches of the Wainwright’s Way we will be walking this March. We all met at Blackburn railway station from where we crossed over the road to have a walk around Blackburn cathedral, before setting off on the trail.

 The walk through Blackburn was certainly an eye opener and for some reason we attracted quite a lot of interest from the locals, with passing drivers shouting comments as they passed or tooting their car horns!

 We soon reached the house Wainwright lived in on Audley Range, where we stopped just to give a thought to the fact that this was where the Wainwright story all began. From here we walked on and dropped down onto the Leeds & Liverpool canal, which we followed for a couple of miles. It was quite noticeable how the quantity of litter and rubbish steadily decreased the further from Blackburn we walked!

 From the canal we crossed very muddy fields up to Tan House and then across more mud as we climbed up to Boston Plantation. Even the track down to Dean Clough reservoir was extremely muddy and by the time we had dropped down to the reservoir the rain had really kicked in so we decided to stop here for lunch under some trees where we were able to get some shelter.

 From the reservoir we followed more muddy tracks up to the outskirts of York were we joined Old Nab road.  The rain had now stopped so we were able to appreciate the views across the Ribble valley and over to Longridge Fell, where we will be walking next week. It was now mostly road walking all the way back to Whalley.  What a delight to have some solid tarmac to walk on!   

 Everyone enjoyed the walk despite the weather and mud! 

Ian 

Thanks Ian for sending me this report and for leading the walk. Thanks also to John (E) for entertaining us with informative snippets of interest during the walk. I'm sure we are all looking forward to the forthcoming stages.

Stan