16/08/2026 Coach Walk - Hadrian's Wall (Housesteads)

8:00 start with 17:30 return

Note: Tickets for the Autumn Social Event will be available on this coach. See separate entry in the list for more information about the Autumn Social Event.

A Walk - The Wall: Greenhead to Sewingshields Crag with Dave Colbert

12.25 miles / 19.7 km with 2790 ft / 850 m Total Ascent

What on earth persuaded the Emperor Hadrian to construct this wall from the Solway Firth to the North Sea and then secure naming rights?  Our usual sources are strangely silent on this matter, so we must turn to contemporary scribes such as the well-known Romano-British influencer Mancus Scouseä Woolybac for inspiration.  He claimed that the wall, its milecastles and forts arose from rebellious legionnaires protesting about poor transport links to and accommodation at the Empire’s edge.  If they were to see off the pixies, the legionnaires demanded something better than chariots and tarps, so the wall was built, but whether better transport was forthcoming is a moot point, particularly with regard to catering.  Woolybac reports that two visiting dignitaries had a particularly rough time getting there: “Caesar aderat paté, Pompey adsum iam; Caesar sic in omnibus, Pompey sic intram.”

Our hike today follows the central section of said Wall along the Whin Sill, an intrusion of igneous rock known as dolerite that forms a rough, north-facing escarpment.  We start from Greenhead, heading eastward from Holmhead over Walltown Crags to Burnhead, thence along Cawfield Crags to Winshield Crags (at 345m or 1,131ft the highest point on the Wall), Peel Crags and Sycamore Gap, continuing above Crag Lough to Hotbank Crags and Housesteads.  We conclude with an out-and-back to Sewingshields Crags.  Almost all of the walk is on the Pennine Way and Hadrian’s Wall National Trails.

B+ Walk - Hadrian's Wall and the Pennine Way with Stuart Arnold

10 miles / 16 km with 1200 ft / 365 m Total Ascent

It may take about 5.5hrs to complete the walk but one thing is certain the views overall are quite spectacular. We start our walk from Housesteads and quickly join Hadrian's Wall. After about 1/2ml we leave the wall and head north along the Pennine Way, to the edge of the Northumberland National Park. We turn west passing Greenlee Lough National Nature Reserve, through East/West Stone fields and Greenlee Plantations. We now head back to Hadrian's Wall via Gibbs Hill and Hound Hill.

We reach the wall at Turret 39b. Now we walk appropriately 3mls along the Wall back to Housesteads for a brew, beer or tea.

B Walk - Greenhead to Housesteads linear with Meriel Nutter
 miles / km with ft / m Total Ascent
No details available.

C Walk - Housesteads to Greenlee Lough Nature Reserve with Dorothy Dobson
6 miles / 9.5 km with 500 ft / 150 m Total Ascent

I am sorry to say that I haven’t reccied this walk, but as long as we keep our eyes on the wall, we shouldn’t get lost!  We leave the coach to pass the Information Centre before taking a steep uphill path to Hadrian’s Wall. We walk alongside the wall for a short while before joining the Pennine Way where we begin a gradual descent to  join the path at the Nature Reserve. Here we walk on the south side of the reserve to West Hotbank before retracing our steps to the Wall and back to Housesteads for refreshments.

02/10/2026 Autumn Social Event

 

October

Start: 7:00pm Prompt

Slide Show, Quiz, Raffle & Hotpot Supper.

Tickets cost £12 which includes a Hotpot Supper or vegetarian option (Cheesy Butter Pie), plus a choice of desserts.

There will be a slide show of photographs from club walks, a fun quiz and a Raffle.

Drinks including tea, coffee and alcohol can be purchased on the night.

The venue will be The Longton VM Sports & Social Club, School Lane, Longton, Preston PR4 5ZA starting at 7.00pm.

Tickets available from Committee Members, or email gensecpdwc@gmail.com for details of how to buy tickets. (Vegetarian option available if notified when buying ticket). 

10/09/2026 Thursday Car - Hoghton Beamers Trail

September

Start: 10:30am 

B Walk - Hoghton Bottoms and The Beamers Trail with Lynne Rowett
8 miles / 12.5 km with 900 ft / 273 m Total Ascent

Meet at Chapel Lane, Hoghton PR5 0RY ready for the usual start time of 10.30am - please park on the straight stretch of road after the houses but before the bridge over the railway.

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The Beamers Trail forms part of the much longer Witton Weavers Way.

The walk takes us firstly by the boundary wall of Hoghton Tower, over the railway line and then down to Hoghton Bottoms where we join the Beamers Trail. Initially we will be walking by the River Darwen then through open fields to reach Pleasington Priory from here we drop down to Witton Country Park (a legacy of the Fielden family) for lunch and a toilet stop. We then continue up through the woods and skirt around Billinge Hill before arriving at the Wainwright Stone, we will stop here to take in the views. We then drop down through the fields to return to the river at Hoghton Bottoms then retracing our steps in part to return to the cars.

A lovely walk through hill and dale, fingers crossed for a nice day.

07/09/2026 Committee Meeting

September

Start: 7:00pm until 9:00pm

Committee Meetings are held on Mondays

Start at 7:00pm and finish at 9:00pm.

All members are welcome.

We meet at the Over 60s Club, Priory Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0AR.

30/08/2026 Sunday Car - Great Eccleston

August

Start 10:30am

B Walk - Great Eccleston with Chris Airey
7 miles (11.25 km) with little climbing

Meet at St Mary's Church, Hall Lane, Great Eccleston (Sat Nav: PR3 0XN), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

Walk through the village down to Cartforth Bridge, onto the river bank then over the footbridge to Hagg Lane, passing Wild Boat Farm and Turnover Hall Farm, then back on the riverbank to The Grapes hotel (detour to point of interest). Return to Great Eccleston via fields and riverbank.

19/08/2026 Stroller - Location

August

Start: 10:30am

TITLE with LEADER
2 to 3 miles with little climbing  

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc.

No details available.

13/08/2026 Thursday Car - Haslingden Grane and Rossendale Way

August

Start: 10:30am 

B Walk - Haslingden Grane and Rossendale Way with Susan Douglas
7.5 miles / 12 km with 991 ft / 302 m Total Ascent

Meet at Clough Head Quarry Free Car Park (BB4 4AT) off Grane Road Haslingden ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We climb up Nab Hill then drop down into the valley between Calf Hey and Ogden Reservoirs. We go up Musbury Heights on the other side and along the Rossendale Way then back down along the end of Holden Wood reservoir. For our return we go back up the other side of the valley to skirt Haslingden Moor, again on the Rossendale Way, then drop back to the car park. The walk passes the spoil heaps of the old Musbury Heights Quarry. The chimney (restored in 2004) is part of the scrubbing mill where flagstones were dragged round to smooth their surface. The finished stone was brought down the hillside in tubs supported by a steel rope, on a long, straight incline. There are fabulous views of the valleys and surrounding moors.

02/08/2026 Sunday Car - Beacon Fell

August

Start 10:30am

C Walk - Beacon Fell with Stuart Arnold

6 miles (9.5 km) with 700 ft (210m) Total Ascent

Meet at Beacon Fell main car park ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We will park on the main car park at the top of Beacon Fell. From here we will walk to the top of the Fell to enjoy the views of the magnificent countryside. From the top we will drop down to Rigg Lane and then descend through fields to Wood Acre and Watery Gate before crossing more fields to Lower Core. We then go up a track towards Blindhurst. On the way up the track the farmer has set up an ice cream parlor which we can all enjoy. From Blindhurst we drop down towards Bleasdale village hall and then down to Higher Brock Mill. From here we walk up to Wickens Barn and up a track to Sagars Farm and Heatherway before our ascent back onto the Fell.

 available

19/07/2026 Coach Walk - Eyam via Peak Forest

8:00 start with 17:30 return

Eyam (pronounced eem) is a beautiful village in the Peak District. This is lovely, varied walking country, with steepsided, limestone dales, gritstone moors and edges, and pretty villages, but with plenty of evidence of quarrying and mining from a more industrial past. 

Eyam is most famous for being the “Plague Village” as when the Black Death reached the village in 1665, the villagers isolated themselves to avoid it spreading to the surrounding areas. For those with the time and energy, there are many plague related sites in and around the village and a museum (last entry 3.30pm).

Perhaps more importantly to tired, thirsty walkers there is a pub in the village, The Miner’s Arms, and several possible sources of tea and cake (some of which close at 4pm).

Note: Tickets for the Autumn Social Event will be available on the coach. See next post (below) for more information.

A Walk - Dales, More Dales & Silly Dale with Dave Colbert

13 miles / 21 km with 1250 ft / 380 m Total Ascent

What’s in a name? Our hike today starts on the A623 at the small settlement of Peak Forest (no peaks, no forests) and heads south-eastwards to Dam Dale (no water), continuing into the increasingly impressive limestone canyon of Hay Dale and Peter Dale (who he?), and so to Monk’s Dale and Miller’s Dale.

Extensive, forensic research by Dr Bente Kanin-Vakmester from Tromso University led him to speculate that the well-known medieval stravaiger Geoffrey Chaucer got lost hereabouts on his infamous pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, and that in these latter two dales a couple of his raucous tales were first recited (read the Miller’s Tale if you dare). Apparently, Chaucer was notorious for navigational clangers as he didn’t know how to use his GPS device. This is absolute nonsense according to Professor Bewaldeth from the University of Snittlegarth, who claims Miller’s Dale was probably a sanctuary for one particular resident of Camberwick Green fleeing the endless feuds between Trumpton and Chigley.

The Monsal Trail (previously the Midland Railway main line from Manchester to London) facilitates our passage of Miller’s Dale through Litton Tunnel (516yds) and Cressbrook Tunnel (471yds). Leaving the Trail at Upperdale, it’s now a long but gradual climb northwards through Cressbrook Dale (otherwise known as Glen Cabbage) to reach Wardlow Mires (no bogs) and Silly Dale. We then head to Eyam by way of Foolow, but please beware the dreaded lurgy when we get there, or would that be the perygl (Pogle in old English).

B+ Walk - Mandarins and Mallards with Meriel Nutter
9 miles / 14.5 km with 900 ft / 275 m Total Ascent

I did a version of this walk early April 2025 but hopefully both will still be around if you keep your eyes open, clue - by the river!

From Eyam, toilets in car park, south and east down through village taking road, track, then path south west near pub. Up and over The Cliff (not hard) down to Stoney Middleton and its interesting octagonal church. Depending on services we may be able to have a quick peek inside. Passing church take path east to Knouchley Farm and down to River Derwent. Follow Derwent Valley Heritage Trail north along river to the bridge at Grindleford. Find the tricky little paths that cut out the busy junction and steep blind bend, joining Sir William Hill Road going north west to road on right. (We could continue up the road here.) *Turn down the road to join path up to Eyam Moor at Leam. Follow path south then turn west to go up to stone circle and Stanage continuing south west to trig point near Sir William Hill. From here roads and paths back to Eyam will depend on time and weather but hopefully we can have a look at Mompessons Well.

B Walk - Follow us to Foolow and Beyond with Stuart Arnold
9 miles / 14.5 km with 1000 ft / 300 m Total Ascent

Walking out of Eyam we take Tideswell lane and follow the footpath on the RHS which leads to Foolow.

We walk through the village and take the path to Stanley House and Wardlow Mires.

Now we start a steady climb to pass Peter's Stone and then drop down to Wardlow.

Out of Wardlow we take the path towards White Rake and then join Black Harry Lane to pass round the lake at Blakedon Hollow to Black Harry Gate. (I hope the gate is open!)

We carry on down the lane which leads us past Hawkenedge Well and then onto the road through Eyam Dale back into Eyam.

C Walk - Eyam Circular with Barbara Malloy and Sylvia Rymer
5 miles / 8.86 km with 570 ft / 175 m Total Ascent

We can learn something of the history of Eyam on this walk.

From the coach park (toilets!) we walk down to Main /Church Road and turn left into the village. We will pass the Jacobean Eyam Hall, the village stocks, plague cottages and the medieval St Lawrence’s Church where villagers bravely quarantined themselves to stop the spread of disease. At the village green we take a right turn at Lydgate to Stoney Middleton on a pleasant undulating path, passing a plague grave and a boundary stone.

On reaching Stoney Middleton, we turn right along a cottage lined street to St Martin’s, an octagonal 15th century church. There are seats here and we can stop for lunch. Leaving the church, we turn right into the lane housing the ‘Roman Baths’! We continue to the end and take the left-hand fork climbing steeply but steadily up ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ for about half an hour to New Road and then upwards to Top Riley. From there we continue along the lane, passing the Riley Graves (NT) and downhill back to Eyam.

15/07/2026 Stroller - Garstang

July

Start: 10:30am

Garstang with Roy Smith
2.5 miles mainly flat

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc.

Meet at the car park by the river ( High Street car park, Garstang, PR3 1WZ ) for 10:30 start.

The walk incorporates, track, field, woodland glade and road walking and we shall be passing the ruins of Garstang Castle on the way.

After the walk we shall be eating in the café at Barton Grange Garden Centre ( PR3 0BT ). This is a ten minute, 3 mile drive on the way back to Preston.