Winter Guided Walks - December 2022 to February  2023.

Click December 2022 to February 2023 to view the schedule.

Monthly Saturday walks in the North West - for more info click --- Kay Street Country Striders

Walk Reports - Autumn and Winter 2022

Monday 5^th December 2022

Southern Countryside Walk, Our Annual Christmas Walk.

This was our special Christmas walk with the option of lunch at the Miller and Carter Steak House, in Greenmount Village. The walk started, as usual, from The Old School, where thirty-one walkers headed for the Kirklees Trail, on a cold but sunny morning. On reaching Shepherd Street we turned right and made our way to Old Kays, crossing Turton Road and walking through the fields to Watling Street, Affetside. Once across the road we followed a track on our left, and after a short distance we climbed over a stile and followed a footpath to Old Ned’s Farm where we were greeted by a group of alpacas.

Alpaca welcome

Once across Tottington Road we headed up to Bowstone Hill and Hill End Farm. After making our way along some very muddy footpaths we eventually joined Bentley Hall Road. By this time, we were ready for our Christmas Treat, of warm mulled wine and fruit cake.

Bowstone

Bentley Hall Road

Christmas Treat

Once refreshed we turned left at Bentley Hall Farm and followed a footpath that led to Four Lane Ends, where we crossed Bradshaw Road, and after passing though a stile we headed to Birchen Bower Farm and on to Tottington.

Birchen Bower Farm

On arriving in the village we re-joined Kirklees Trail and explored a selection of the many paths which weave through Tottington Mill Wood, eventually following Kirklees Brook up to Tower Farm and then on to a well-deserved lunch at Miller and Carter, having covered 6.5 festive miles.

Kirklees Brook

Christmas Lunch

Wednesday 23^rd November 2022

Owd Betts, Whittle Pike, Paradise

On a very wet and misty morning twelve walkers met at Owd Betts car park and quickly decided that today’s planned route, up to Whittle Pike, would be too muddy and dangerous in the mist. We agreed a new shorter route to the small village of Red Lumb. From the car park we made our way to Ashworth Road turning right and walking passed the reservoir wall. When the road started to climb we joined a footpath on our left which headed across the muddy fields eventually arriving at a track leading to Top o’ Hill Farm. Continuing along the track we arrived at Edenfield Road and made our way down the road to Red Lumb.

After spending time discussing the history of the village, we joined a track leading out of the village and headed up to Naden Middle Reservoir were the mist kindly lifted for a few minutes so that we could see the reservoir. Following a path above the reservoir we headed in the direction of Knowl Hill, although at this point we could not see the hill as it was shrouded in the mist. Before starting the steep climb to the summit, we sheltered behind a stone wall to have our morning coffee.

Climbing to the summit

The trig point

Once we arrived at the trig point, we spent a few moments sharing memories of Gordon Foote as it was five years to the day since he died. Gordon was one of our original walk leaders who helped to plan the West Pennie Way. Miraculously as we spoke the mist started to lift, and after a few minutes we had views over Rochdale and beyond.

Remembering Gordon

Having already agree that we would only make it a morning walk, we headed back to Owd Betts car park, having covered 5 misty miles.

Monday 14^th November 2022

Monthly Walks to Complete the West Pennine Way: Clough Head to Musbury Tor.

This was the ninth of our ten walks to complete the West Pennine Way (WPW) and we started on a grey and overcast morning with twenty-one walkers, a record number for our long walks. We started the walk at the Clough Head Information Centre, where we took the path at the left of the centre and climbed steeply up Nab Hill to join the WPW.  Turning right we followed the way markers across Haslingden Moor, passing Jamestone Quarry on the right below us and after negotiating several muddy sections along the route, we turned right and headed down to Leys End Farm and The Grane Road.

Nab Hill

Haslingden Moor

Once across the road we walked down through the fields to the edge of Holden Wood Reservoir and made our way towards the steep slope, of the tramway up to Musbury Heights, but not before having to negotiate our way around a large black bull. The tramway was used to transport the stone, that had been quarried in Musbury Heights Quarry, down to the railway below. At the top of the tramway there is still evidence of the Scrubbing Mill with the old chimney having been rebuilt in 2004. Scrubbing is the process used to smooth the stone that was used for footpaths and building floors. After completing the strenuous climb, we sat in the old ruins to enjoy our coffee stop.

The Tramway

Coffee Stop

By this time the mist had started to descend, and we were thankful that we had previously checked the route. Following the WPW towards Musden Head we eventually arrived at the point that we were to leave the WPW and start our return journey. Turning left we followed the Rossendale Way, for a short distance before following a stone wall in the direction of Musbury Tor, which was somewhere in the mist. Successfully arriving at the summit, we sheltered in the disused quarry for our lunch stop.

Lunch Break

The Old Barn

After lunch we headed down the hill towards a very old barn and continued down into Helmshore where we joined the track along the old East Lancashire Railway that went up to Accrington. Once across Helmshore Road we climbed up to a path that passes, Holden Wood Reservoir and Ogden Reservoir and crosses over the WPW at the tramway. On arriving at Calf Hey Reservoir we headed across the embankment and back to Cough Head having covered 10 misty miles.

Tramway

Ogden Reservoir