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.
We organise a monthly Sunday coach trip with four different grades of led walks to suit a range of ages and abilities. Our coach destinations include The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and other scenic areas. We also provide local walks travelling by car. The next coach trip should be at the top of the list below, followed by upcoming local walks and historic walks, both in reverse date order
30/08/2026 Sunday Car - Great Eccleston
August
Start 10:30am
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 - Wheelton
August
Start: 10:30am
2 to 3 miles with little climbing
Each Mid-Week Stroller walk has a destination providing a venue for drinks /
snacks / meals etc.
Meet at the top end of Whins Lane, Wheelton, PR6 8HN, near the junction with the A674 Blackburn Road for the usual start time of 10:30am. Parking is available on the roadside and in a small layby on Whins Lane.
The walk is mostly along the canal towpath with a little road walking.
Refreshments will be at The Dressers Arms, 9 Briers Brow, Wheelton, Chorley PR6 8HD.
Please pre-order from the menus below by the day before the walk by contacting The Dressers Arms directly. They have a booking at 12:30pm in Barbara Gilbert's name.
Phone 01254 830041
Email - info@dressersarms.co.uk
13/08/2026 Thursday Car - Haslingden Grane and Rossendale Way
August
Start: 10:30am
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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
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.
09/07/2026 Thursday Car - Adlington
July
Start: 10:30am
8 miles / 13 km moderate
Meet at small car park off Park Road opposite White Bear Marina (Sat Nav: PR7 4HZ), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
No further details available
06/07/2026 Committee Meeting
July
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.
05/07/2026 Sunday Car - Croston
July
Start 10:30am
C Walk - Croston Village Centre with Barbara and Alan Gilbert7.5 miles (12 km) easy walking
Meet at car park off Out Lane which is the medical centre car park (Sat Nav: PR26 9HJ), ready for the
usual start time of 10.30am.
No further details available
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