17/05/2023 Stroller - Astley Park, Chorley

Astley 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 at “The Evaders” memorial garden adjacent to the car park on Hallgate, Chorley (Sat Nav: PR7 1XA), then afterwards at “The Astley” public house, just across the road from the car park on Hallgate.

From the Evaders garden we make our way to Dog Trap Wood, continuing along the perimeter of the park to the Park road gates before heading to the Sensory Gardens and War memorials.

From here we take a little detour and pay a visit to Pets Corner a social enterprise scheme run by The Brothers of Charity, where they have “fluffy animals”, tortoise, reptiles ect; (a small donation to the upkeep maybe required).

We now retrace our steps back to Great Wood following the course of the River Chor. On leaving the woods we make our way to the newly re-stored Grade 1, 17th century Astley Hall, its lake, Walled (Victorian) garden and coach house.

Throughout our stroll look out for many various varieties of flora and fauna eg: Bluebells, Wood Anemone, Marsh Marigold and more along with Mistle Thrush, Tree Creeper, Jay, Goosander. Or catch a fleeting glance of a Kingfisher or Sparrow Hawk.

Just a reminder that the woodland paths could muddy, so remember to wear the appropriate footwear.

After our Jolly jaunt around the park all are invited to retire to The Astley Village Inn (across the car park) for a little refreshments, if you wish.

14/05/2023 Sunday Car - Rivington & The Wellington Crash Memorial

B Walk - Rivington with Roy Smith

5½ miles (8.9km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent

Meet at the lower barn i.e. The Great House Barn, Rivington (Sat Nav BL6 7SB), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

From the lower barn we head northwards along the side of Lower Rivington Reservoir. At Rivington we enter field paths and make our way to and walk along the eastern side of Yarrow Reservoir. From the northern end of the reservoir we head uphill winding our way until we reach the War Memorial.

After a short break here we head northwest to Jepson´s Gate, where we meet a minor road and follow it downhill to a recognised viewpoint overlooking Anglezarke Reservoir. Some more road walking takes us to woodland and country tracks, which lead us back to the village of Rivington. From here we retrace our steps back to our starting point.

11/05/2023 Thursday Car - Tarleton

B Walk - Tarleton with Barbara Gilbert

6½ miles (10.5km) with flat walking

Meet at Car Park back of Spa (Sat Nav: PR4 6TU), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

No details available.

30/04/2023 Coach Walk - Llangollen

April

8:00 Start with 17:30 (5:30pm) Return

A Walk - Eglwyseg & Moel y Gamelin with Dave Colbert

13½miles (22km) with 3,450ft (1,050m) Total Ascent

Starting from the centre of Llangollen, we cross the Afon Dyfrdwy and storm the hill fort of Castell Dinas Bran. A trail that purports to follow the dyke built by some ancient bloke called Offa (although Professor Bewaldeth from the University of Snittlegarth begs to differ) will then take us north below the tremendous limestone ramparts of Creigiau Eglwyseg (the Dales has nothing on this scale) to Plas yn Eglwyseg, where the long climb to Bwlch Oernant (Horseshoe Pass) begins; beware of bikers at the summit.

At 577m / 1,893ft Moel y Gamelin is the highest point on Maesyrychen Mountain, itself the highest of the Bryniau Clwyd. The leisurely descent to Rhewl precedes a short climb to Llandynan to avoid too much tarmac bashing. We then return to Llangollen along the canal towpath from Berwyn, although for a fee you could catch a steam train. Mwynhau!! 

B+ Walk - Castle & Canal with Stuart Arnold

13 miles (20.9km) with 1070ft (326m) Total Ascent

We leave Llangollen along the canal and by the river Dee as far as Valle Crucis abbey (Valley of the cross), near to Eliseg´s Pillar, a 9th century medieval cross. We then join the Clwydian Way southwards to Castle Dina´s Bran. This medieval castle sits on the site of an Iron Age hill fort with great views from the top.

We then press onwards to Offah´s Dyke path in a south easterly direction on a panoramic walk through Trevor Hall Wood to Trevor where we cross the river Dee with a view of the aqueduct above and to the left. When we reach Froncysyllte we cross the canal and return on the dramatic aqueduct 1000ft long and 226ft above the river Dee. We join the Llangollen canal back to our starting point.

The aqueduct is one I have long wanted to see and walk across and I hope you will all enjoy the experience.

B Walk - Canal, Abbey & Castle. with Alan & Barbara Gilbert

8 miles (12.87km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent

Leaving Llangollen we cross the bridge spanning the river Dee heading towards the Llangollen Canal. Here we turn left making our way to Horseshoe Falls. We then take a path to Llantysilio Church (with an option to have a look inside the church). We then make our way signposted to Velvet Hill, which we skirt before dropping to the road and Vale Crucis Abbey where we can stop for lunch (there are toilets here). Passing through a Caravan Park by the Abbey to cross a bridge and up a flight of steps to continue along a track before climbing up to the 13th Century ruin of Castell Dinas Bran with spectacular views. After descending back to a signpost which takes us back into Llangollen for some well earned refreshments.

C Walk - Meet the boys Hercules, Harley & Tobias with Joe Brennand

6 miles (9.7km) with 475ft (145m) Total Ascent

From the coach we walk to the wharf then take the canal tow path to Pentrefelin, then onto the remains of valle Cruise abbey and onwards to abbey cottage. Following the historic trail to Bryn Hyfryd we join the Offa´s dyke path pasting Tan-y-Castell before going round the hill of Castell Dinas and back to the wharf were we will meet the boys?

There is a cafè and a nice cream tea is available, also teas and coffees, or just a walk round the shops - approx 6 Miles

19/04/2023 Stroller - Rivington

Rivington and Yarrow Reservoir with Roy Smith

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 Rivington Café car park (Sat Nav: BL6 7SE), then afterwards at at the Café, Horrobin Ln, Rivington, Bolton. Map grid reference: SD625144 .

Please Note: This is NOT the Great House Barn café but the Rivinton Café opposite the school in Rivington village.

Walk distance: 3 miles with very little climbing.

Starting our walk from the café we walk along a track at the easterly side of the Upper Rivington Reservoir. The track eventually leads us to the Yarrow Reservoir and a minor road which we now take downhill to Anglezarke Reservoir. From here we now take the track along the westerly side of the Upper Rivington Reservoir back to Horrobin Lane. A short walk along the lane gets us back to our start point.

16/04/2023 Sunday var - Brinscall

B Walk - Brinscall with Dorothy Dobson

6½ to 7 miles (10.5 to 11km) with mainly flat walking

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

Apart from two short steepish climbs it is relatively flat and an enyoyable walk!

From Brinscall we walk for about a mile through a nature reserve before eventually reaching the A675 north of Abbey Village. Still in the same direction we follow the path to then head south into a wood which I hope will be covered in bluebells! Then through fields and a good track to reach Hare and Hounds where we have splendid tracks to the reservoir. Depending on the weather the walk can be cut short here otherwise we go round the reservoir and back through Abbey Village to retrace our steps to Brinscall.

13/04/2023 Thursday Car - Ribchester

B Walk - A walk through history around Dinckley with Dorothy Dobson

 7½miles (12km) with little climbing.

Meet: From A59 crossroads (traffic lights) turn left towards Ribchester on B6245, the Car park (no post code) is on the left almost at bottom of hill, ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.

During this walk we pass three beautiful Elizabethan Manor Houses.

We head up the road to go in fields to Bolton Hall then to Park Gate to reach A59. After 100 yards we turn north west through fields to Dinckley Grange. Here we do a stint of road walking down country lanes to reach Aspinalls, where we head north to take a path towards Dinckley Hall. We reach a wooded path by the River Ribble and continue along it for about a mile all the way to Salesbury Hall. From here it is once more road walking to Ribchester Bridge and pass the last Manor House, New Hall, before reaching the car park.

02/04/2023 Coach Walk - Keswick via Thirlmere

8:00 start with 17:30 return

A Walk - Springtime Scramble with John Parkinson

11.9 miles (19.2km) with 2857ft (871m) Total Ascent

We start the walk on the A591 at The Kings Head at Thirlspot leaving behind the Thirlmere reservoir which helps slakes Mancunian thirst via 83 miles of engineering wonder.

An early scramble over Brown Crag will warm us up as we head for the summit of Whiteside. Turning north along the Helvellyn ridge we ascend Raise before descending down to Sticks Pass and a trio of Dodds. These undulating hills, formed of volcanic rock 450 million years ago, we tick off in turn - first Styborrow Dodd, next out to Watson´s Dodd, then the final ascent to Great Dodd. From there we descend across Matterdale Common, briefly joining the Old Coach Road before heading north again to finish at Scales where we await the coach from Keswick.

B+ Walk - Stile End summit 447m (1467ft) via Braithwaite village with Stan Park

11 miles (17.7km) with 800ft (244m) Total Ascent

At the summit of Stile End, you are rewarded with stunning 360 degree views of the north-western Lakes. The ascent starts from the lovely village of Braithwaite, a steady climb but fairly steep in parts. The path to Braithwaite, via Portinscale, is a pleasant trail through countryside.

B Walk - High Rigg & the Stone Circle with Stuart Arnold

 8 miles (12.9km) with 1250ft (381m) Total Ascent

We will start the walk at Legbuthwaite on the A591.

We start climbing immediately to Wren Cragg and on to Yew Cragg. From here it is a fairly comfortable undulating path to High Rigg. We then take a nice grassy path down to the Youth Centre at St John´s in the Vale.

We will then visit the Stone Circle before making our way back to Keswick for a well earned beer or cup of tea.

C Walk - Keswick and Castlerigg Stone Circle with Barbara Gilbert & Jan Atkins

5-6 miles (8-9.7km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent

The walk starts in Keswick where we cross over the river Greta via a bridge between Upper and Lower Fitz Park and then along part of the railway path and leaving it to continue upwards towards Castlerigg Stone Circle where there are 360 degrees views. Along a track crossing A591 to enter fields before entering woods where there are views of Walla Cragg and Derwent water.

We may add a small addition to the walk time allowing which I think we will have and then returning to Keswick for a much needed cuppa.

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.