19/03/2023 Sunday Car - Longridge

B Walk - Quarries, Railways and Reservoirs with Tony Ingham

6 miles (9.6km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

Meet at Longridge Civic Hall (Sat Nav: PR3 3HJ ), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk passes five of the seven reservoirs in Longridge and the Tootle Heights and Lords Quarries. It also follows part of the quarry railways and the Longridge - Preston line.

Leaving the Civic Hall we make our way to Lords Quarry through Willows Park and along the railway embankment. Next we take in Lords Lane, Chipping Road, Croft Farm, Halfpenny Lane and Green Nook Lane before crossing the track bed of the Longridge-Preston Line to reach Mardale Playing Fields. From there we proceed to Daniels Farm, Preston Road and Pinfold Lane to reach Alston 3 Reservoir (disused, now a nature reserve with viewing areas) before walking between Alston 1 and Alston 2 Reservoirs.

We then pass Higher College Farm to get to Spade Mill 1 and Spade Mill 2 Reservoirs and climb up alongside them to Tootle Heights Quarry. We then drop down to the tunnel under Higher Road which gave rail access to the quarry. From there it is back through Willows Park to the Civic Hall.

15/03/2023 Stroller - Ashton Park

Ashton Park with Bob Tognarelli

2 to 3 miles with Little Climbing

Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks / snacks / meals etc and starts at 10:30am.

Meet at the car park on Pedders Lane (Signed posted), Ashton-on-Ribble (Sat Nav: PR2 1HL), then afterwards at the Ribble Pilot on the docks (Sat Nav: PR2 2YN).

We will walk around the Hall then keeping to the middle of the park, head towards Larches Wood. Now we walk the streets to get to the green fields over looking Riversway. A quick tour around the fields then we retrace our steps back to Ashton Park and the cars. Then it´s on to the Ribble Pilot and lunch.

Some parts of the walk are expected to be muddy, since it March, so good footwear is advised.

09/03/2023 Thursday Car - Goosnargh and Barton

B Walk - Goosnargh and Barton with Tony Ingham

7 miles (11.27km) with very little climbing.

Meet at the Village Hall (parking and toilets), Church Lane, Goosnargh. (Sat Nav: PR3 2BH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the village hall we make our way west along Goosnargh Lane which leads to a bridleway going north to Goosnargh Lodge. We continue north on public footpaths to Park Head then it is south west on a track to Barton Old Hall Farm and onwards south on a bridleway to Barton House. Here we rejoin Goosnargh Lane and head back east partly through fields and partly on the Lane itself to the village hall.

05/03/2023 Coach Walk - Castleton via Peak Forest

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Win Hill and Mam Tor via Ringing Rodger with Dave Colbert

 12½miles (20km) with 2,850ft (870m) Total Ascent

Recent investigations by Professor Bewaldeth from the University of Snittlegarth have cast doubt on the established view that there is a firm topographical explanation behind the name of the rock formation known as ‘Ringing Roger’. Professor Bewaldeth asks us to consider just who was Roger, why did he need ringing and by whom? He has concluded that Roger may actually be an extra-terrestrial long since lost on the wild and lonely moors of Kinder Scout, but you may decide differently if you come on this hike.

We start from the village of Hope with a direct assault on Win Hill (463m) via Twitchill Farm, continuing north-westwards along Hope Bank to Hope Cross, from where we climb across Crookstone Moor and onto the southern escarpment of Kinder to the Druid´s Stone and Ringing Roger (perhaps Roger was a druid?). A steepish descent via The Nab will take us down to Edale and across to Harden Clough for our third major climb to Mam Tor (517m). It´s then down to Castleton via Hollins Cross and Hollowford Road, and hopefully time to debate the truth about Ringing Roger! 

B+ Walk - The Great Ridge with Sue Banister

10 miles (16km) with 1400ft (425m) Total Ascent

We head north from Castleton on Hollowford Road then east past Losehill Hall to Spring House Farm. The climb then begins to the summit of Lose Hill (1561ft / 476m) and a walk along the tops past Hollins Cross and on to the summit of Mam Tor (1696ft / 517m) which is our highest point today.

We drop down and head south to Windy Knoll, past Oxlow House and Conies Dale to arrive at Conies Farm. A beautiful woodland track takes us up along Oxlow Rake and north to join the Limestone Way through Cave Dale back to Castleton (parts of Cavedale are a bit tricky underfoot).

B Walk - Castleton & Mam Tor with Chris Cook

7½ miles (12km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

We leave Castleton past Cave Dale and onto to Limestone Way passing the disused mines and Rowter Farm. We cross the road to Windy Knoll and on to Mam Tor. From there we carry on to Hollins Cross ( on a well paved path ). From there to Lose Hill ( time permitting ). If we don´t have time to get to Lose Hill the distance will be 6 miles.

HAPPY DAYS.

C Walk - Hope for the best! with Dorothy Dobson

6¼ miles (10km) with 450ft (137m) Total Ascent

Todays walk is in the shape of a figure eight.

Starting from the visitor centre (toilets), we follow the main street to eventually turn east, past an old mill to the river - Peakshole Water. We walk by the river for half a mile then we go over a railway crossing to reach Pirdale Road and Hope village. From here we begin climbing towards Losehill and at this point should have excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Passing along paths we pass by Losehill Hall, where the remains of a Medieval hospital have recently been excavated. We now head back to Castleton to cross the town to take a footpath to Goosehill Road and climb gradually towards Speedwell Tavern. From here we head north to Dunscar Farm and walk along a path flanked by walls, to follow a rough track to reach Castleton.