| Winter Wanderings |
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Date : 20th December 2009
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Leader : David Hill |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| Posing in a snowstorm | |
A covering of snow made Hyndburn Ramblers Mince Pie Christmas Walk even more special for ten of its members. The leader, David Hill, distributed the home-made mince pies to all the participants before starting out from Healey Dell on the northern fringe of Rochdale. The group were soon heading uphill towards and through an area called Nar and the nearby Nar End. A corner stile into a field took us eastwards past a drained reservoir and, just as the snow started to fall, we started a small descent down to a gate. After a brief chat with a local we took a lane uphill over Lousy Hillock and followed it to the right to go past the ‘Pot House’ which was a former school building that became a pottery before it became a private residence. Our leader then duly informed us his grandfather once lived in the very building!
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left:
Going through Nar End |
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right: The Pot House |
At the end of the lane we took a stile to cross a field towards Rydings Farm where, after a quick chat with the farmer, we took an enclosed and overgrown lane off to the left to go up to a gate. The snow was still falling as we proceeded with the wall on our right but a stop was called as this was an ideal location for a group photo in the snow. With this out of the way we continued on to join a track which would lead us directly into Wardle, passing an unfortunate Santa on the way! The current village of Wardle is not in its original position as it was relocated to make way for Watergrove Reservoir off to the north.
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left:
The unfortunate Santa |
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right: A real christmas tree at Wardle |
The snow had stopped briefly at this point and as we left the village via Wardle Fold we were all wondering if it would start again. We followed the tracks and lanes round to the outskirts of Shore and, shortly after passing the early 17thC Shore Hall, our answer arrived with the steady fall of snowflakes once again. As we continued on to our lunch stop at Watergrove reservoir there was no let up in what was to prove to be the heaviest snowfall of the day.
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left:
Snow covered track through Wardle Fold |
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right: Shore Hall |
After lunch we took Ramsden Road up and away from the reservoir before a stile led us into a snow covered, tree lined, scenic route around the northern tip of the water. Our next point of note was Brown Wardle Hill. On a normal day our leader said he would have gone over it but due to the inclement weather we would be going round. There was still some ascent but at least it was of the more gentler variety. The snow stopped and a break in the cloud showed a glimmer of blue sky and, as we rounded the edge of Lobden Golf Course, the sun broke through. With our long shadows we continued on to start our descent down, past the church (with its many effigies and gargoyles), past the rope swing (which one of us couldn’t resist trying out) and on until we had a refreshment stop at the very welcoming Red Lion.
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left:
Through the scenic winter trees |
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right: The sun doth shine |
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left:
The church near Lobden... |
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right: ...and its gargoyles |
Reluctantly we had to leave the open fire and venture back out into the snow, which was once again falling, to begin the final leg back to the cars. We went down the road to cross the A671 and continued down to join the disused railway for the final mile. On the way we passed three carved figures which looked quite at home standing in the snow at the side of the path. Before long we were at the viaduct over the valley of Healey Dell and everyone had a brief pause to look over the edge. After going down the steps at the far end it was but a short trek up a lane before we arrived back at the vehicles covered in about two inches of fresh snow. The leader was thanked and all agreed it had been a truly Christmassy Christmas walk.
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| The Red Lion | |
