February 13th - Haigh Country Park, Wigan

This is an easy 4 mile walk along a section of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and around part of Haigh Country Park. It may be muddy in places, so boots are recommended. There is a teashop in the Park, where drinks and snacks can be purchased, or you can bring your own lunch.

Patrick

Sunday 17 October - Ramsbottom to Rawtentsall and returning by train

Next Sundays walk will be one of the perenial favourites, led by myself and David, a pleasent 4 - 5 mile walk along the River Irwell from Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall across fields and woodland. It also includes one of the biggest outdoor photograph frames your ever likely to see.

It is an easy walk mostly on flat ground but boots advised as it could be muddy.    

Meet at 12.30 at Ramsbottom railway station (outside the ticket office). At the end of the walk at Rawtenstall we will take the train back to Ramsbottom (either 3.25 or 4.15 depending on arrival time in Rawtenstall)

Its a weekend for diesel enthusiasts on Sunday so I'm assuming we'll be travelling back on diesel as opposed to steam.

There is a cafe in Irwell Vale church about half way along which serves coffee and hopefully scones/cakes but feel free to bring sandwiches.

Derek and David 

September 5th Goyt Valley

A fairly short walk of 5 or 6 miles in the Goyt Valley, starting just beyond Whaley Bridge and going around Fernilee Reservoir.

The first and last parts of the walk are through fields that may be damp or muddy. Much of the walk is along easy paths, with just one or two steeper sections.

There are no pubs or cafes en route so a packed lunch is recommended. But there are a number of pubs around Disley, that should provide a suitable stopping-off point afterwards.

Richard

Sunday 8 August - Littleborough/Todmorden and the Rochdale Canal

This is an easy going 5 mile walk from Littleborough to Todmorden following the route of the Rochdale Canal through Summit and Walsden. We will follow the canal along the tow path which rises through a series of locks to the village of Summit and then descends down to Todmorden, with excellent views of the valley, railway and industrial heritage of the area. A good resting place is at the Summit pub where Sunday lunch should be available and a good space to eat sandwiches by one of the highest locks in the country at 600ft. The journey back to Littleborough will be a short train ride from Todmorden station, trains leaving at five minutes to the hour.

Arthur and Sid

Middlewood Way - Sunday 1 August

This is a six mile walk around the Marple area.
It begins along the Middlewood Way, then crosses fields and the Macclesfield Canal to join Marple Ridge. From the Ridge there are fine views of both the Pennines and the Cheshire Plain. We will stop for lunch (about 2.00pm) at a pub along the way but food service could be slow so you may wish to bring sandwiches. The walk continues down to and along the Peak Forest Canal. The final section is through the centre of Marple back to the starting point, where there is another pub (but no food after 4.00pm).

Phil & Phil

Hollingworth Country Park - Sunday 18 July

This Sunday's walk is approximately 6 miles around part of Hollingworth Country Park, Milnrow, Rochdale (OS Explorer OL21, GR 939153). It is a generally easy walk, but there are a couple of uphill sections, one of which leads to the corner of Blackstone Edge, a longer, steady climb, crossing a Roman road and offering tremendous views back towards Manchester. The latter section of the walk can be omitted if the group would prefer to add on a circular of Hollingworth Lake instead. The terrain is good, but there may be one or 2 muddy sections IF there is any substantial rain beforehand, so walking boots may be needed on the day (hopefully not!). There will be a stop en route to rest and allow people to eat a packed lunch. At the end of the walk there is a good cafe at the visitor centre and several cafes/shops/bars in and around the Lake.


Patrick   

Pictures from Knott End and the Brine Fields 11.07.10

Just after the made our way from Knott End out into the surrounding countryside, 

making our way through on of the local farms on our route.

Making our way away from the farm we were afforded this wonderful view 

across wheat fields with the South Lakes in the background.

Making our way along the Wyre Way skirting the Brine Fields on the left 

and the Wyre estuary flood plain on the right.

Getting to the end of the Wyre Way.

 The majority of the group assembled at the end of the Wyre Way.

Break stop at Hole 10 on the Knott End golf course (1)

Break stop at Hole 10 on the Knott End golf course (2)

 Hackensall Hall. This is an important historical site in the area. A large hoard of Roman coins were found near the hall. Later, the Vikings were active around the coast. The name Hackensall is derived from the Norse Viking name Hakon. Towards the end of the 11th century the hall was the seat of The Lord Manor Of Preesall, and served as a fort to resist further Norse incursions. The present hall was built around the 17th century, although the remains of a chapel of rather great antiquity have been found in the grounds.

Making our way from Hackensall Hall towards the last leg of the walk 

across the Golf Course and back to Knott End Golf Course Club House.