The Pictures:-

                               Start of walk on Black Hill                                      Walk leader Chris unaware of camera     Walk leader Chris aware of camera.

To view all the pictures taken on the walk click 'Here' then again on first picture to view in fullscreen. Click small arrow on right to continue.

The Walk:-

Walk leader - Chris Seddon.

Distance - 10 miles

Number on walk - Variable! Start of walk 20, then 21 when John (T) joined us, then 19 as 2 members shortcutted back.

Weather - Sunny spells but cold. Hail shower later. Very dry underfoot.

20 walkers met at Black Hill on a cold but bright morning (later becoming 21). Turning our backs on Pendle and more familiar territory we headed south via Holly Hill and High Whitaker Farm to join a section of the Burnley Way. Grove Lane plantation, part of Burnley Forest where once coal mining took place, had spring flowers for us to enjoy as well as some sculptures and poems. A very short stretch of the Pendle Way was used before heading off to cross Moor Isles Clough in its delightful wooded, incised valley where we enjoyed lunch. This was  followed a little later by another steep stepped path down and up to cross Spurn Clough. Bluebells were a feature of both. Eventually we reached our most easterly point of the day at Old Laund Wood. Heading west our route took us by the Fence Gate to join a section of the Witches' Walk, recently featured on Countryfile. This took us passed Ashlar House where the suspected witches in the 1612 trials were examined by magistrate Roger Nowell of Read Hall. An unusual path took us through the barn of Lower White Lee farm on our way to Higham. We paused to watch the local schoolchildren maypole dancing, had a look at The Spout and talked about the meaning of the name of the pub, the Four Alls,  in the centre of the lovely village. From Higham we had our final ascent of the day, a rising traverse of the hillside to Copthurst  and beyond to the minor road and on to our cars. Having missed the showers all day we were caught in a squall of hail, but it soon passed over and was forgotten by the time we got back to the cars. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and it succeeded in introducing many to some new paths. Thanks for joining me.

Chris.

Thanks Chris for leading the walk and writing this report. Thanks also for entertaining me with a cat and mouse challenge as I tried to get take a picture of you! In the end I reckon honours just about broke even.

Stan.