Leader: Jeff Parr

Number on walk: 14

Weather: Fine

Length: 13 miles

The walk was based on the short route of Scarlett’s Stride, a former challenge walk named after General Scarlett, who was the Commander of the Heavy Brigade at the battle of Balaclava in 1854 and who is buried in the churchyard of St. John’s church in Holme Chapel.

On the best weather day of the week, we proceeded via Hurstwood and Cant Clough reservoirs through the man made landscape of the hushings, scene of the lime burning industry dating back to the sixteenth century. Over the Long Causeway, through Cold Clough wind farm and along the Black Scout ridge, where we were treated to an atmospheric cloud inversion in the valleys, before a winding grassy track took us down past Dean Farm, but not before rescuing a sheep that had become entangled in a fence. From the outskirts of Portsmouth, now came a steady climb on the other side of the valley along the Burnley Way, unfortunately the fine views of earlier, disappearing as we ran into mist on Heald Moor and the Thieveley Pike ridge.

The misty and sometimes squelchy conditions stayed with us to the trig point, where we stopped for a group photo. Then when dropping down through the lovely landscape of Dean Scout, the clear conditions had returned. Continuing on tracks above Holme Chapel along the Burnley Way, most of us observing the unfamiliar sight of a barn owl away from its nocturnal habitat. Others caught sight of a kestrel hovering overhead. Soon passing through Walk Mill, Lancashire’s River Calder was accompanied for a short distance, the river continuing from its source on the slopes of the Cliviger Gorge, on its way to finally emerge opposite Hacking Hall to merge with the River Ribble.

All that was left now was a short wander into Towneley Park, up through the wood to Cliviger Laithe and tracks down to Foxstones Bridge and back to the lovely hamlet of Hurstwood. Thanks to Brian for providing the photographs which can be seen 'here'

For those who take an interest in the area, the following link provides a fine walk, along with accompanying historical and geological information and fascinating facts –

http://ures-burnley.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Cliviger-Gorge-Packhorse-Trails-Circuit.pdf

Jeff