Walk Leader: Gaynor Wilkinson

Distance: 11.3 miles

Number on walk: 22

Weather: What a gorgeous day for walking and so thought 22 LDWA members.

First, we took advantage of the free car parking facilities on Walker Fold Car Park, Bolton BL1 7PT, and then proceeded to follow the fabulous gravel paths laid by the Woodlands Trust towards Burnt Edge. The sights were amazing and the information stone resurrected by the Woodland Trust explains what we were viewing.

The path was followed towards Crooked Edge Hill and the Two Lads. Continuing across the moorlands with Rivington Pike to our left we stopped at Winter Hill to view the memories of the Winter Hill Air disaster from 1958 and the Scotsman Stump memorial of George Henderson a 20-year-old Clothman from Blackburn, who was murdered back in 1838.

We encountered a long, craggy descent to San Marinos on Belmont Road, where we lunched on their picnic tables. The group temporarily split at this point, one group joined the West Pennine Way from San Marinos Car Park towards Eagley Brook, while the 2nd group took a slightly gentler approach to Eagley Brook where both groups convened and continued through the beautiful woodlands towards Dunscar Golf Club. Once reaching the Golf Club we followed the lane up towards Horrock Fold and continued on our way through the ground of the Smithills estate stopping at Smithalls Hall to take in all its splendor.

The final leg of the walk took us up Smithills Dean Road, to the footpath left, and proceeded to Barrow Bridge, we climbed the 63 steps back to Walker Fold Car Park for well-deserved refreshments from The Cakery.