www.pdwc.org

Vol: 26 Issue 11 30 September 2012

HOLMFIRTH via Ashton-under-Lyne Coaches leave Holmfirth at 5.30pm

FUTURE WALKS Coach Walks 8.30am start : 5.30pm return Sun 14 Oct Keswick via Thirlmere A: Colin Manning B+: Susan Grierson B: Tony Ingham C: Alison & Lesley 8.30am start : 4.30pm return Sun 11 Nov Delamere Forest / Beeston A: Graham Hogg B+: Dave Thornton B: Barry Mather C: Sheila Marsh

Thursday Car Walks 10.30am start

Thurs 11 Oct Witton Park – Walton-le-Dale return by bus B Walk with Jill & Bernard Croft Do not meet at Witton Park The walk now begins at Pleasington Playing Fields off Tower Road, Cherry Tree. GR 655 267 The walk is along the River Darwen and quiet lanes; about seven miles with minimal climbing. If the present weather continues there will be mud! We leave the car park and walk the Weavers Way to Houghton Bottoms. We then take a path to Bolton Hall, past Wild Bottom Wood, to follow the river bank to Samlesbury Bottoms. We then follow road and track to Roach Bridge before joining the river again to Higher Walton. Don’t forget your bus pass!

Thurs 8 Nov Beacon Fell B Walk with Dave Thornton Meet at the main car park

Sunday Car Walks 10.30am start Sun 28 Oct Downham B Walk with Tony Ingham Meet at the car park Sun 28 Oct Rivington C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at Rivington Hall Barn Sun 25 Nov Tarleton B Walk with Margaret Oliver Meet in Tarleton Sun 25 Nov Mawdesley C Walk with Bill Manning Meet in the village

Leaders required We really do need your help as leaders if we are to have a full programme of led walks next year. Please get in touch with Dave Colbert if you are able to assist. You can go on the club website to opt for walks or stick to the former method of pen and paper.

Please note – Walk details must be in 2 (TWO) weeks before each coach excursion.

Today’s Walks Today’s starting points: 1. A: Greenfield 2. B: A635, Wessenden Head 3. B+: A635 4. C: Holmfirth

Pots and Pans with Dave Colbert Grade. A Distance 14 miles / 22 km Climbing 2500ft / 760m

Be warned there are no culinary delights on this hike, it’s more “Can’t Cook Won’t Cook” than “Come Dine with Me” (or should I say walk)! Also, if you fancy a glass of wine before winter, you will need to consider another walk as we do not cross the Pennines, this being a circuit from the village of Greenfield. The cooking lessons start following a steepish climb to Pots & Pans, a rock feature high on Alderman’s Hill. We then head to Dick Hill (was he the Alderman?) and the trig point on Broadstone Hill before attempting to find the Famine Road, built in the mid 19 th Century as part of a job creation scheme and which stretches east across Moor to nowhere in particular, but should take us to the old route of the Pennine Way. We then descend past Rimmon Cottage into the deep cleft of Greenfield Brook, climbing out up Birchen Clough to follow the escarpment for some distance past numerous weird and wonderful rock sculptures to Chew Reservoir. A long trek above Wimberry Rocks takes us to Alphin Pike and a final steep descent back to Greenfield to await the coaches .

. Stopes Moor with Pete Stevens Grade B+ Distance 10 miles / 16km Climbing 1542ft / 470m

This is a walk of contrasts encompassing , woodland and reservoirs. There are good paths throughout with gradual climbing. Starting from the A635 approx 1½ miles before Holmfirth, we head for Hogley Green to join the HVC Walk (Holmfirth Valley Circular). Following this path we make our way to Digley Reservoir before continuing along Nether Lane to Goodbent Lodge. From here we cross Stopes Moor and onto Issues Road (track) where we get a panoramic view of the Holmfirth Valley and the surrounding hills. Joining the Way we drop down to the picturesque village of Holme before passing through woodlands on our way down to the Brownhill / Ramsden Reservoirs. Crossing over the dam we pick up the HVC walk once more leaving it again just before Moss Edge to drop down to Dobb and on to Hinchliffe Mill. From here we cross over the River Holme and continue along a river path, following it back to Holmfirth and the coaches.

Black Hill by the Pennine Way with Colin Manning Grade B Distance 8 miles /12.9km Climbing 700ft / 213m

Black Hill gets its name from the dark peat that was present near the summit giving the peak a black appearance. Recent restoration work means that most of this peat is now not visible on the surface though it can still be seen in patches. The route we take is a change to my original planned route due to it being too excessive for a B grade. It is now a very manageable B walk We start today's walk from Wessenden Head beside the A635. From here we head directly up the moor to Black Hill (1902ft/582m) on a mostly well laid path. From the summit we retrace our steps a while to turn off and descend to a farm road path to the village of Holme. From here we take a path leading through woods to reach Brownhill and Ramsden Reservoirs and continue along a quiet scenic country road, all the way to Holmfirth. Don't forget to visit Sid's cafe, Norah Batty's house, Compo's basement and Auntie Wainwright’s shop.

First of the Winter Beer Walks with Derek Lowe Grade C Distance 7 miles / 9.7km Climbing 600ft / 183m

Setting off from the swimming baths, where the coaches will be parking, we start our walk on the Netherthong Road. A footpath on our left begins to climb until we reach Upperthong. (Breather time!) We now drop down to Uphill Bank before another climb takes us to Booth House where it begins to level out until we reach Carr Green and the drop down to Upper Stubbin. We now follow the Riverside Walk to Holmfirth and continue along until we reach the coaches. The alternative is to have a drink in Holmfirth first, before heading back to the coaches. Please help to keep the coaches clean by removing muddy boots. Please check that you have all your belongings and take newspapers etc. away with you. Thank you.