Leader: Pete Lang

Number on walk: 10

Distance: 17 miles

Weather: Awful!

10 members took part in the walk, 9 of whom met in the car park at the start. The weather forecast for the day was pretty grim and didn't disappoint with light drizzle starting almost immediately as we set off.

The route took us along the popular path, past the Step Back and onto Darwen Moor where we met our tenth member John Cowburn who had walked across from Darwen to meet us. On crossing the moor the weather quickly deteriorated into light rain and then became heavier as we walked past Lords Hall, with the conditions under foot being extremely wet. From Lords Hall we took the small footpath crossing the front of the moor and then at the first finger post turned right with the objective of finding the memorial for a Polish pilot who crashed on the moor shortly after WW2. This is quite difficult to find and is located down a faint track off the main path at grid ref SD 691 191. The memorial is in the form of a cross, with a plaque and inscription reading," In memory of Herbert Noga, a Polish pilot of Squadron 316 who died in a Mustang plane crash on 29-07-1945". The cross is accompanied by parts of the fuselage from the stricken plane. Little is known of the reason for the crash or of the pilot Herbert Noga, who was later buried with full military honours in Layton Cemetery at Blackpool.

From the crash site we then headed downhill to Cadshaw, where we crossed the A666 and then did a circular of Entwistle Reservoir where we stopped for lunch. At this point two of our party retired from the walk making their own way back. Once refreshed we then headed back across the A666 and over Turton Moor where we picked up the Witton Weavers Way. It was then downhill past the carpark on Crookfield Road and across the A675. We then had quite a steep climb on boggy paths up to the summit of Great Hill where surprisingly there was a short respite from the rain and time for a brew. It was then all downhill, in more rain, in a circular route across Wheelton Moor and Withnell Moor, before crossing the A675 again just above Abbey Village. This just left the scenic stretch through Roddlesworth Wood and the stiff climb back to the start. 17 hilly miles in total and a very wet day. Thanks to all who braved the weather !