www.pdwc.org

Vol: 26 Issue 13 11 November 2012

DELAMERE FOREST / BEESTON Coaches leave Delamere Station at 4.30pm

FUTURE WALKS

Coach Walks 8.30am start : 4.30pm return Sun 9 Dec Grasmere A: Kevin Poole B+: Allan Benson B: Margaret Oliver C: Joyce Bradbury

Sun 6 Jan Windermere via Lyth Valley A: Graham Hogg B+: Barry Mather B: Bill Manning C: Leader required

Thursday Car Walks 10.30am start Thurs 13 Dec Anglezarke B Walk with Colin Hunt Meet on the road at GR620155 Thurs 10 Jan Chipping B Walk with Dave Thornton Meet at the car park

Sunday Car Walks 10.30am start 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

Sun 23 Dec Heskin C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at the Farmer’s Arms A 6 mile / 9.7km walk with little climbing

From Preston take the road to Leyland then take the bypass road towards Southport and Croston. Turn right at the T junction then first left onto the B5250 to Eccleston. Go through Eccleston and you come to Heskin. The Farmer’s Arms is on your left. Park on the car park at the side of the Farmer’s Arms, Heskin.

From the car park we head down Heskin Lane and take the footpath across the lane to Little Wood and Big Wood where we follow a road to Bradley Hall. Here we take the footpath past Wood End Farm and on to Commissary’s Farm where we go over the M6 and down the side of the motorway to Charnock Old Hall. We take field paths through Dam Wood then cross back over the motorway to go past Park Hall. We cross Heskin Lane and follow field paths to Bimson’s Farm where we turn right down a lane to arrive back at The Farmer’s Arms.

This is the venue for our Christmas Dinner this year. The menu is a three course meal – starter, Christmas meal and Christmas Pudding - £8.95. Sign up on the November and December coaches and pay for the meal on the day.

Following the open debate at the Annual General Meeting and the Committee Meeting in Octo- ber, where the continuing heavy losses on the coaches were discussed, the Club Membership for 2013 will rise to £6.00 and the coach fares, from January, to £12.00 (£6.00 for Junior Mem- bers). This means that, if anyone books for the Jan uary Walk, now or in December, the cost will be £12. Christine will begin collecting Membership subs. on the December coaches.

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

Today’s Walks

Today’s starting points: 1. B+: 2. C: Hatchmere 3. A&B: Tiverton

Sandstone Trail & Rawhead with Graham Hogg

Grade. A Distance 12 miles / 19.3km Climbing 1640 ft / 500m

To my knowledge, the club hasn't visited the area around Beeston before, so today we have the opportunity to walk part of the Sandstone Trail. We leave the coaches just south of Tiverton on the A49. Following the Union Canal towpath we initially head west in order to link up with the Sandstone Trail. The trail now takes us in a southerly direction towards . The castle is one of the most distinctive landmarks in , perched on a crag almost 100 metres high. The building of the castle was begun in 1225 but, long before that, the site is believed to have been used as an Iron Age hill fort. From the castle, we continue along the western flanks of the Hills. We eventually arrive at Rawhead, our highest point for the day at 745ft/227m, hopefully affording fine views across the Cheshire plain. Return to Tiverton, will be a variation of our outward route, and hopefully there will be time for a drink whilst waiting for the coaches .

Sandstone Trail and Pale Heights with Dave Thornton . Grade B+ Distance 10 miles / 16km Climbing 755ft / 230m

Starting at Frodsham we climb the headland and follow the escarpment around to join the Sandstone Trail. This passes through Snidley Moor Wood, along Alvanley Cliff and Simmond's Hill, before crossing Manley Common to enter . Keeping to the Sandstone Trail we leave the forest on the south side and follow it towards Nettleford Wood. We then climb to the highest point on the trail, Pale Heights (577ft / 176m), then follow paths not shown on the map and a track to the coaches at Delamere Station. This is a gentle B+ walk, mainly along good paths.

Tiverton to Delamere with Barry Mather Grade B Distance 9½ miles / 15.3km Climbing 900ft / 274m

We get off the coaches just south of Tiverton along with the A party and follow the westwards to Wharton's Lock. There we head north along the Sandstone Trail. We start a short climb to Primrosehill Wood, then downwards, passing Hangingstone Hill, to Delamere Forest Park.

Delamere Forest with Sheila Marsh Grade C Distance 6½ miles / 8.4km Climbing very little

This walk, along forest tracks and country lanes, is almost entirely flat with slight undulations. We start at Hatchmere and very soon are on leafy tracks in Delamere Forest.The second half of the walk involves some walking in country lanes. We finish at the Visitor Centre and Delamere Railway Station where there are refreshments and toilets.

This year the Club Meal will be on the slightly earlier date of 1 February. Once again it will be at the Derby Arms in Thornley. Further details in the next issue.

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.