14/11/2019 Thursday Car - Rivington Pike and Winter Hill

B Walk - ‘There and back to see how far it is’ with Dave Thornton

8½ miles (13.5km) with 1035ft (315m) Total Ascent

Meet at Rivington Hall Barn Car Park (Sat Nav: BL6 7SB Map Ref: GR 633145), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk starts using stony tracks to ascend through Lever Park and includes Lord Leverhulme's ornamental gardens. After following a zig-zag route we head northwards to the western slopes of Rivington Moor which we climb in an easterly direction to reach the summit which should afford stunning views of the surrounding countryside. After passing the TV mast we follow the summit road to Pike cottage and return to the car park via the tower on Rivington Pike.

If there is low cloud I have an alternative walk planned which will include the tower and Rivington reservoirs.

03/11/2019 Sunday Car - Clougha Pike

B Walk - Clougha Pike with Stuart Arnold

8 miles (12.9km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

Meet at Jubilee Tower, Clougha Access area (Sat Nav: LA2 9HJ), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

This is a circular route starting and finishing at Jubilee tower on the Trough of Bowland road about a mile out of Quenmore. We will not be climbing Clougha Pike as on a recent recce the underfoot conditions were atrocious. If the weather is fine and we have had a dry spell I could be persuaded but it is unlikely. Instead we will walk down through Westfield house round Damas Gill reservoir and on to Booth Hall Farm.

On this tour of the Quernmore area we will cross Damas Gill at Heversham House, Sparrow Gill at the bottom of Waste Wood and Smithy Beck at Borwicks before our return back through Westfield House. This is an interesting walk in an area probably not covered before and therefore should be of interest to all.

20/10/2019 Coach Walk - Eyam via Snake Pass

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Higger Tor and Froggatt Edge with Dave Colbert

12 miles (20km) with 2350ft (720m) Total Ascent

The River Derwent meanders its way south from Ladybower Reservoir overlooked to the east by a lengthy gritstone escarpment, part of which we will traverse on this walk.

Starting from Hathersage we first climb to Higger Tor, turning south to the hill fort of Carl Wark on Hathersage Moor and Toad´s Mouth Rock. It´s then through the Longshaw Country Park, where our route crosses the line of the 3.5 mile Totley Tunnel, second longest on the UK´s rail network, to reach Froggatt Edge. This leads to Curbar Edge and a steep descent through Curbar village to the River Derwent. A short length of river walking takes us to New Bridge, from where we head westwards to Stoney Middleton and Eyam. 

B+ Walk - Peter and the Boundary Stone's with Kevin Poole

10 miles (16.1km) with 1150ft (351m) Total Ascent

Starting in Eyam we head west following a lane through a maze of drystone walls. Foolow and Silly Dale :) are avoided by turning south to Wardlow past the landmark Peters Stone. We gain higher ground, pass Hey farm and on to Longstone Moor. At Stoney Middleton a short climb takes us past one of the famous Boundary Stones and back into Eyam for refreshments and the coaches. 

B Walk - Plagiarism with Chris Cook

8 miles (12.87km) with 1000ft (304.8m) Total Ascent

We walk through Eyam, passing Bradshaw Hall to Tidswell Lane where we find a track across fields to Foolow. Arriving in Foolow we bear right at the Bulls Head to climb a long slow hill on the road to Bretton (unfortunately the footpath we should have taken has been closed due to a sink hole!). We bear left at the Barrel Inn at Bretton where we have superb views all around before taking a path down to Stoke Ford. From here we climb over Eyam Moor to Sir William Hill Road where we gradually descent to the historic and picturesque village of Eyam.

Hopefully there should be enough time to look around here.

HAPPY DAYS!

C Walk - Eyam via the Derwent Valley with Joyce Bradbury

6½ miles (10.46km) with 532ft (163m) Total Ascent

Leaving the coach at Hathersage (free unisex toilets) we follow the Derwent Valley Trail on minor roads and field tracks to Grindleford. We cross a main road here then more field tracks and a roughish stretch through a wood bring us to Froggat Bridge. We now have to get up to Eyam.(Pronounced eem). First we have a rather steep climb on field paths to a busy road. We cross the road and follow more field paths to Stoney Middleton. From here we continue along a track which rises steadily to Eyam.

Many of the older buildings here have plaques giving the number of deaths and survivors during the village´s self-isolation during the plague. There are two cafes and a pub at the beginning of the village but the distance given is for the coach park at the far end.

16/10/2019 Stroller - Witton Country Park

Witton Country Park with Barry Hayhurst

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 in the main entrance car park (Sat Nav: BB2 2TB), then afterwards at at the Houghton Arms , Withnell (Sat Nav: PR6 8BL).

Witton Country Park is situated within 480 acres of woodland, playing fields and farm land.

From the car park (charge applies 50p to £1.50) we head towards the Pavilion, toilets available. Passing the Arena athletics track. From here we cross playing fields to cross the bridge over the River Darwen and follow its course joining a short section of The Witton Weavers Way, encountering some “ornamental art work” on our way to Butlers Bridge. Crossing fields we cross over Tower Road walking along the edge of woodlands next to playing fields into a short section of woodland through to another field. Which eventually brings us out to “The Wits”, an adventure playground which the more adventurous of us can spend sometime being “adventurous”. In the mean time the rest of us will make our way to the old stables and coach house (the only surviving parts of Witton House) to see the animals. From here we make our way to the ornamental lily pond via an avenue on Yew trees (that need some attention), eventually making our way back to the car park .

10/10/2019 Thursday Car - Brinscall

B Walk - Brinscall with Dorothy & Chris

7½ miles (12.7km) Undulating

Meet at Brinscall Baths (Sat Nav: PR6 8QU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

We leave Brinscall taking the tracks and footpaths to the village of Heapey then we head towards White Coppice where there is a lovely cricket ground. Leaving here we go half way up Great Hill as far as Drinkwaters then along a good path back to Brinscall.

Happy Days!

06/10/2019 Sunday Car - Darwen Tower

B Walk - Darwen Tower (Jubilee Tower) with Roy Smith

5¼ miles (8.4km) with 550ft (167m) Total Ascent

Meet at Roddlesworth Information Centre (The Country Café), Tockholes Rd, Tockholes, Darwen (Sat Nav: BB3 0PA), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk today is a circular walk starting from the Roddlesworth Information Centre. This very pleasant walk visits the deep wooded valley of Roddlesworth and then climbs to the airy heights of Darwen Moors and Darwen Tower. It takes in the ruins of an old manor house and, if you have a good head for heights and appreciate a stunning view of Lancashire, there is the 86 ft Darwen Tower to climb.

We start by heading away from Darwen Tower and enter the woodlands of the Tockholes Plantation. Within the woods we will be able to wander around the ruins of the Manor House, once owned by the Hollinshead family. We now walk uphill to the track that takes us along the flank of Cartridge Hill. Towards the top of the hill we are able (weather permitting) to view a panorama of the Lake District mountains and North Wales. We leave this track and head north on a trail that takes us to Darwen Tower. Here if you wish you may climb the tower, which was completed in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria´s Diamond Jubilee. We now make our way downhill, along the Witton Weavers Way. Turning off the Weavers Way we complete our walk along field tracks back to our start point.

22/09/2019 Coach Walk - Great Langdale

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Langdale Western Circuit (Prophetic Trance and Delight) with John Parkinson

12 miles (19.3km) with 3100ft (936m) Total Ascent

"What enormous mountains are these behind me" said Romantic Lakes Poet Samuel Coleridge in 1802, "I lay in a state of almost prophetic trance and delight".

Perhaps in this manner we set out from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, with a brisk hike up The Band to clear the cobwebs before we reach the summit of Bowfell with a short scramble. A short trek via Ore Gap takes us to Esk Pike. From both summits we can view every major group of fells in the Lake District. Down to Esk Hause before a climb through a boulder field to Scafell Pike, England´s highest summit. From here we take the Corridor Route to Sty Head then passing Allen Crags and Rossett Pike and onto the Cumbria Way to return entranced by the delights of our hike. 

B+ Walk - High Raise & the Langdale Pikes with Colin Manning

6¾ miles (10.9km) with 2700ft (822m) Total Ascent

Today´s walk is a throwback to the one I lead in 2011, which went down hugely well with all who came with me. Whilst more climbing than normal for a B+climbing, it is a short one, with plenty of time to co plate, and is one of the classics of the Lake District including 7 Wainwright Hills.

We start our walk from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and immediately begin our ascent towards Loft Crag via Mark Gate. Once we reach the base of Loft Crag we are between all three of the Langdale Pikes. We go up Loft Crag (2231ft/680m) and follow the path round to the base of Pike O´Stickle (2326ft/709m). Pike O´Stickle involves a bit of a scramble but it is only a short climb. This option can be omitted in bad weather or for anyone not wishing to do it. From here we head for the highest of the Langdales, Harrison Stickle (2415ft/736m). This summit does not require any scrambling and is a most impressive peak. This is the second highest point of our walk and the hardest work is now done.

After a short stop or possibly lunch break (time depending) we head down a short distance to our next peak, Pavey Ark (2297ft/700m), atop the challenging Jack´s Rake. We now cut back to head for Thunacar Knott (2372ft/723m) before our final notable ascent to the summit of High Raise, the highest point of the walk at 2500ft/762m. A short stop here for photo opportunities and refreshment before turning back to head for our final summit, Sergeant Man (2395ft/730m). Now it´s all downhill. The path here starts well enough but becomes less clear until we reach the tarn, so care will be taken to keep together so that we don´t stray from the route. Once we reach the tarn it is a rocky, but scenic, descent down the side of Stickle Ghyll waterfalls to the coaches and refreshment.

B Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel via Cathedral Cave with Barry Mather

7½ miles (12km) with 1100ft (335m) Total Ascent

Leaving Skelwith Bridge we pass Skelwith Force and after crossing the footbridge over the river Rothay we join the Cumbria Way to Park Farm, then on to Colwith Force. Staying on the Cumbria Way we head for Stang End then visit the spectacular Cathedral Cave. After crossing Slater Bridge we have a gradual ascent passing Dale End on the way to Baysbrown Wood and on to Oak Howe. Crossing Great Langdale Beck we head to N.D.G. Hotel for some well deserved refreshment.

C Walk - Paths well remembered, then a bit further with Joyce Bradbury

5.98 miles (9.6km) with 432ft (132m) Total Ascent

We leave the coach at Skelwith Bridge and take the usual path past Skelwith Force to Elterwater. We cross Langdale Beck, then up to the quarry and along the path to Chapel Stile. A probable lunch stop here before we climb briefly away from the road to follow the Cumbria Way to Oak Howe before the rough track up and over to Side House. No need for haste as we have plenty of time. (If anyone wishes they could leave us here and follow the path down to the coach.)

We now leave the Cumbria Way to follow a permissive path south westwards below Side Pike. (Two good but large stiles I´m afraid!) We then turn northwards to drop down through a wood and a camp site to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel before following the beck back to the coach. 

18/09/2019 Stroller - Avenham and Miller Park

Avenham and Miller Park with Allan and Joan

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 South Meadow Lane (Sat Nav: PR1 8JT), then afterwards at The Fleece Inn, Penwortham (Sat Nav: PR1 9XD).

12/09/2019 Thursday Car - Chipping

B Walk - Chipping with Chris Cook

9 miles (14.48km) Undulating

Meet at Chipping car Park - Charges apply (Sat Nav: PR3 2QH), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

After passing the Duck Pond we set off in a northerly direction, across fields to Birchen Lee, Park Gate, Dinkling Green Farm and then turn east onto Tunstall Ing and New Laund. Here we head south over New Laund Hill to Fair Oak, passing round Knot Hill and back into Chipping.

This walk has some lovely panoramic views of our Lancashire countrywide from start to finish.

Happy Days!

08/09/2019 Sunday Car - Blackpool

B Walk - The 3 Piers with Chris Airey

7 miles (11km) with no climbing

Meet at Ventor Road, Blackpool (Sat Nav: FY4 1JN), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

The walk will be along the prom including the 3 piers and return by tram, fares apply.

We start at the Pleasure Beach and end in Cleveleys.