Festive Walk and Meal to end the 2009 Season UPDATE

DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS CAUSED BY THE FROZEN AND SOLIDIFIED SNOW IN THE CHIPPING AREA, THIS WALK HAS HAD TO BE CANCELED, BUT THE MEAL WILL GO AHEAD.

The Coach will leave the car park at the back of Iceland at 11.30am to take us to the 'Dog and Partridge' for our Festive Fun.

George Mann was leading the B walk and writes;

          "I did a recce with my Son and the dog at Chipping for next Saturdays walk knowing from experience the problems of mud and frozen ground in that area. The underfoot conditions were trerrible with frozen snow and ice, even the car park was just a sheet of ice and it was extremely difficult to stand up. After passing the Chair Factory we headed up across the fields towards Burnslack but found it very dangerous and hard going as you had to stamp your heel into the snowiest surface to break through the ice crust. On getting to High Barn we found the road surface like a sheet of ice so followed the track around Ginney Hey before turning off to cross the fields to pick up the farm track to Chipping Lawn and back to the Town. It wasn't possible to walk on the track as the vehicles had just turned it into sheet ice and we made our way on the edges smashing our way though the crust to get a grip. I was the only one that fell but both of us and the dog had a few narrow misses. The main roads were alright but the side roads were the same as the farm tracks with the snow compressed into ice and any slope just an icy slide. 

        With the forecast for the rest of the week not indicating any improvement I spoke to Joan and it has now been decided to cancel the walks, and the coach not leaving from behind Iceland till eleven thirty going staight to the Dog and Partridge. "

Photographs taken by George on the recci

Festive Walk and Meal to end the 2009 Season

Our next walk will be our festive celebration at Chipping on

Saturday 9th January
2010

this will be followed by a special meal at the

Dog and Partridge

The coach will leave the 'Short Stay' car park behind Iceland at 0800hrs as normal

For spaces (waiting list), contact Shirley.

to view last years celebration at the same venues, click here

Photographs of the walks at Slaidburn

The sun was shining when we arrived in Slaidburn after a quick journey. The A & B parties were soon off while the C party waited for the cafe to open. We were fortunate that the rain kept off during the morning allowing some good walking in mild conditions even though the terrain was a bit tricky and despite the river being 2ft lower than 10 days ago, all walks had to adjust to avoid the worst conditions.

B party enjoying the sunshine at the start of the walk.

On the way up to Easington Fell.

A fine catch by the shooting party that we passed several times.

A pause as we near home to admire the view.

A 'moody' sky as the sun bursts through.


The B Party stop for a group discussion?


Hey our photograph is wanted, better put our best side forward.

We are still enjoying ourselves despite the mud.

November Walks from Slaidburn

The walks next month will be from the well known village of Slaidburn and will take place on
Saturday 14th November
There will be three walks;

• A Walk led by Jenny Matthias
• B Walk led by Beverley Kelly
  
• C Walk led by Terry Simmons

Please note that Slaidburn like the rest of the country has had a lot of rain, which is lying on the clay and peat soil. On 2nd November the ground was very, very wet. Please ensure that footwear is in good condition and wear gaiters if you have them

Weather Forecast for Blackburn (nearest weather station)

Slaidburn is a village and civil parish within the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England.

Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Slaidburn lies near the head of the River Hodder, within the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding National Beauty.

The civil parish of Slaidburn shares a parish council with Easington, a rural parish to the north of Slaidburn.^[2]

Farming is still a major employer, but the area attracts tourists – for walking in particular.

The parish church of St Andrew has a superb Jacobean screen and a fine Georgian pulpit. The brass band composer William Rimmer (1862-1936) composed the now-popular march, named Slaidburn after the village, for the Slaidburn Silver Band. A new village hall has opened to much fanfare and is being well used and of course we all know the hostelry 'Hark to the Bounty' the venue for many of our Christmas Meals, the last time being in January 2007 (but not this year).

For more information about Slaidburn's historic buildings and heritage, look at this description but note this is not one of the walks.

A Walk from Slaidburn

Leader: Jenny Matthias
Distance 11.5 miles
Total Ascent/descent: 1200ft

Although this walk is not difficult it is long and a good pace will need to be maintained because of the short day.

We will leave the car park and walk up the hill to the war memorial turning right along the Bentham Road. Over the bridge we take a footpath on the right across the fields to a farm road and cross the River Hodder up to Hammerton Hall Farm. We continue along the track to Black House Farm then we follow the farm road to Hole House Lane. Joining the road we see St James Church (rebuilt after the drowning of Stocks village for the reservoir). We follow the road for about a third of a mile. We have views of Stocks Reservoir.

At the car park we pick up a circular route around the reservoir, firstly through woods then rising to moorland passed New House (a ruin!) onto another farm track for Catlow Farm. We leave this briefly to take a path by the brook, Parks Clough Beck. Rejoining the farm road we follow it to the Bentham Road. Here there is about a mile and a half of road walking, mostly uphill! Finding a path again we head in a SE direction towards Croasdale Farm. A little way along the farm road we take the footpath across the fields with at least five stiles, sheep and cows until once more we reach the Bentham Road near the Bridge and we arrive back in Slaidburn.

B Walk from Slaidburn

Leader: Beverley Kelly (due to the unfortunate indisposition of Les Gibson)
Distance: 8 miles approx
Total Ascent/descent: 1140ft

Route Map:

We have a short steep climb out of the village with a good view of the valley. As we come over the brow of the hill, we catch sight of Easington Fell, then Broadhead Farm.

From hear it is a steady but not steep climb upwards through Skelshaw and then Fell Side, which seems to be shooting hospitality Farm with some unusual vehicles for traversing the landscape. We shall not be needing them.

The track continue around the side of Standridge Hill heading towards ‘Old Ned’ changing to a peaty walk on the last leg.

At ‘Old Ned’ we can survey and recognise a large variety of landmarks. Our way back is across open moorland to a faint track which opens up to an overgrown cart track across the moor passing a tarn. This may very well be very wet and boggy. As we continue downhill our views change and even in very heavy rain we had dramatic views

We head towards Newton and a fairly level walk, partly alongside the river and then past Dunnow Hall, which was recently renovated and back to Slaidburn.

Newton or New Town existed over 1000 years ago having been created by people moving down from higher settlements, such as Beatrix, requiring more water and a corn mill.

If the river is still flooded then we will walk along the minor road past Easington and back over Whiteholme to Slaidburn

C Walk from Slaidburn

Walk Leader: Terry Simmons
Distance: 6 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 502 ft

Route map:

'C' route is the purple one. Click on map to enlarge

We depart from the cafe near the car park after morning coffee and go through the village, passing the 'Hark to the Bounty' Pub, an old coaching inn. We carry along Back Lane, then right through woodland, crossing over Tenter Hill, through the farm of Myttons, then on towards Pains Hill Farm. Next we walk through Formby resident John Moores son's farm and the newly named Parrock Head Hall, down to Crawshaw's Farm and after 20 mins approx arriving in the village of Newton. Our route back to Slaidburn follows the contours of the river Hodder in time for a leasurely afternoon refreshments.


Hark to Bounty - The Hark to Bounty is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the village, dating back to the late 16th century. From about 1590 it was the site of the Halmote Court for the Forest of Bowland - the local court at which minor disputes were settled. The Inn was originally known as the 'Dog Inn'. It is said that the present name was given by the Rev Henry Wigglesworth in the mid-19th century. One day he heard the distinctive sound of his favoured dog barking among a pack of hounds, and exclaimed to his companions, "Hark to Bounty".

Photos taken on the walks at Betws-y-Coed

October Walks from Betws-y-Coed

Our Walk this month will be from Betws-Y-Coed in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales

on

Saturday 10th October

The coach will leave the car park at the back of Iceland at 8.00am. Visitors are welcome to join us by contacting a member or Holy Trinity Church Office (878913).

We last visited Betws-y-coed in April 2007, when we had a lovely day.
There will be three walks;

• A Walk led by Jenny Matthias - pending
  
• B Walk led by Bill Farr
• C Walk led by Norman Jones

Click on links for details, (if not there, will be published nearer the date).
For information about Betws-y-coed click here

Weather forecast for Betws-y-Coed

B Walk details (Betws-y-Coed)

Walk Leader: Bill Farr
Distance: 8 miles
Ascent: 1000ft (total ascent: 1300ft)

click on individual pictures to enlarge.

Starting from Betws-y-Coed, the first part of the walk is along country lanes in the beautiful Lledr Valley as far as Cethin's Bridge (1 hour).

The steep climb then begins (approx 45 mins) through the wood to reach Llyn Elsi Reservoir with wonderful views over Snowdonia
.

From Llyn Elsi the walk is over rolling countryside to the abandoned village of Rhiwddolion on the Roman road of Sarn Helen, before descending to the Miners Bridge (A5) from where we follow the riverside path back to Betws.


A varied walk, lovely views, with one steep climb on a path to be walked with care.

C Party Walk Details

click on map to see bigger image

Walk Leader: Norman Jones
Distance: 5.5 miles
Total Ascent:380ft

A riverside walk along the Afon Llugwy to the Swallow Falls. We start at Pont y Pair Bridge and remain close to the river as far as the Miners Bridge. The path to this point and on the later section to the Swallow Falls,is sometimes stoney,often spread with tree roots and will be muddy in places after heavy rainfall.
At Miners Bridge we have a short,130 yards, steep climb up to a minor road. We are on this for a little over 1/2 a mile before going off road for the undulating path to the well known Swallow Falls. Our return journey is the walk in reverse

B Walk Photographs Bala

We had a lovely day for the walk and with 21 walkers we were for once a bigger party than the C walkers!!After a steepish climb out of Bala through the woods, the ascent levelled off and it was pleasant walking with all round views and a bit of humour as one or two decided to fall into a narrow stream.

.
soon out of the woods and looking back at Bala

There were one or two stiles to negotiate.

The party after lunch prepare to move off.

The summer grasses in full bloom leading to a surprise view.

as we walk through a harvested wood

John shows us the way back to Bala.

for more photograhs click here.