| Huncoat Trail - Part 2 |
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Date : 20th August 2009
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Leader : Sue Larder |
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Report by : Sue Larder |
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Photos © : N/A |
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For the second section of the Huncoat Trail evening walk, 5 intrepid walkers set off from Plantation Street car park at approx 18:35. Walking up Plantation Street past Owl Hall and at a point where the path divided, we took the right hand path which led us up past Spire Farm, taking a left turn at the end of the path we walked past High Riley Cottages, the oldest building in Accrington being erected in 1628 and home of the Riley family for over 500 years, we followed the kink in the road which took us under the motorway and continuing up the top section of the farm track. At the top we climbed the stile and continued to rise up the field paths until we reached the Kings Highway.
At this point we turned left walking past Mitchells reservoir we continued along Kings Highway until we reached a waymarker on the right, climbing over the stile we walked to the end of the path. At this point we stopped to admire the almost 360o view which took in Peel Tower, Darwen Tower, great views of Whalley Nab, Longridge Fell and Beacon Hill in the distance, following round to Pendle Hill, Padiham Heights, Burnley and beyond. We were fortunate in the weather as after having heavy rain during the day it was a clear evening.
At the end of the path we turned right and negotiated a precarious path around the edge of the hill, crossing a stream we followed the route through the old stone quarry workings. We then took a left turn following little more than a goat track down round the side of Hapton Scouts, looking left we were rewarded by a hillside of beautiful purple heather which came into sight as we descended and also admired the sunset. Following the path round to the right and the Yellow painted signs and waymarker we came to the top of Burnley Wood, climbing the stile we continued down through the wood coming out onto Burnley Road, crossing the road and turning left, we walked along the road negotiating 2 roundabouts under the motorway until we reached the Griffin Head Pub.
We crossed Burnley Road again at this point and walked up the lower section of the old Kings Highway until we reached the motorway which cuts it in two, we then turned right and followed the path alongside the motorway going past the parking/viewing area and climbed until we reached the top of the coppice. After stopping to catch our breath and admiring twinkling street lights which were just coming on, we turned left following the line of the fence, climbed the stile and walked down the top of edge of the field until we reached the farm track. Turning right we continued down the path until we came back out onto Plantation Street, again walking past Owl Hall which was rather spooky at this point as it was getting quite dark. We finally arrived back at Plantation St Car Park at approximately 9.15pm.
