|
| A Brolly Good show |
|
Date : 22nd July 2009
|
|
Leader : Norman Thorpe |
|
|
Report by : Phil Bedson |
|
Photos © : Phil Bedson |
|
|
 |
|
| Towards the Two Lads cairns | |
A mixed forecast for the day did not deter 12 members of Hyndburn Group from embarking on a walk from Belmont. Leaving the car park of the Black Dog our leader for the day, Norman, took us down a small lane opposite to join up with the Egerton Road which was followed until we came across the first stile off to the right. We crossed the field down to arrive at a footbridge over the eastern tip of the nicely named Ornamental Reservoir which led us into a wooded area. The path was to wind its way through the trees all along Longworth Clough, past the overgrown ruins of an old mill building, until we arrived at the place marked simply as Oak. The weather had thankfully stayed dry up to this point and as we crossed the golf course the talk was of a dry day ahead. A stile into a field took us up to Gate Farm, a little north-west from where we should have been but at least we were on the right path. A drink stop was undertaken at this juncture and whilst everyone enjoyed the respite from walking a friendly goat made himself known.
|
 |
left:
Woodland walking |
 |
|
|
right: The friendly goat |
A good farm track took us south-east past Fernhill Farm and on towards Cubbins - it also took the goat in the same direction. Comments about there being enough old goats within the group seemed to fall on deaf ears. The animal was determined to stay with us and only the intervention of a kindly lady with a horses bridle prevented it from doing so. From Cubbins a field path took us round the edge of both a small reservoir and a housing estate before we reached the main A675 road.
We crossed to a lane past some modernised and converted farm buildings before a track off took us through a grassy meadow. Somewhat out of place in the middle of the meadow sat an old rail cart, probably from a quarry or something of that ilk, marked Dewhurst Cote. It’s livery of bright orange showed that someone was looking after this piece of local history. We continued on past Tippett House until we found ourselves at the side of the splendid looking Dean Gate Farm, yet another piece of historic architecture that looks like someone has designs on but alas not the means.
|
 |
left:
The quarry wagon |
 |
|
|
right: Grand Designs at Dean Gate |
We crossed directly across the road to go along the lane and almost immediately a steady rain began to fall. As some stopped to don their waterproofs a sudden realisation that others weren’t prompted this particular walker to notice the sudden abundance of umbrellas!! Yes, sure enough, not just one or two, but two-thirds of the group were carrying brollies!!! As the rain became heavier and we trudged along the track past Sheep House Farm it became evident that a certain TV celebrity called Nicholas Crane had a lot to answer for. We arrived at the picnic site earmarked for lunch just as the drops became so big and heavy even the brolly brigade sought shelter under the trees. Amazingly, within a couple of minutes, the rain had stopped and we ventured forth into glorious sunshine where lunch was had at the aforementioned picnic site.
|
 |
left:
The rains came... |
 |
|
|
right: ...and went |
Whilst eating a few of us had read an info board at the picnic site which mentioned the 63 Miners Steps and, after passing a row of cottages, we came upon the steps. A number of the Group set off up the steps but on arrival at the top our leader (who‘d cleverly stayed back a little) promptly summoned them back down saying they‘d gone the wrong way. So you can imagine the amusement amongst them when, just 50 yards further he declared he’d been wrong and we did, after all, need to climb the steps. We continued on via the well-defined path and found ourselves at Walker Fold Farm, immediately crossing the road to ascend a field over Walker Fold itself.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
The 63 Steps. Up.... |
|
....down.... |
|
....and up again!! |
The track over Burnt Edge made for a good pace and we could see our destination of the large TV masts atop Winter Hill before us. As usual on a Hyndburn walk though we promptly turned away from this view and went the opposite way to skirt the edge of the huge Montcliffe Stone Quarry. We crossed the moorland of Adam Hill and went straight up to the viewpoint of the Two Lads, large cairns which were probably built to help guide people over the desolate moor in times past. Our sights were firmly set on the masts now as we continued on the final leg and the forthcoming pint, but just as we started to descend down the other side the rain started once again forcing the brollies up and waterproofs on. In the end it didn’t last too long and most people got wetter feet due to the marshy ground of the final field. We survived though and once back at the cars, after a change of footwear, a beeline was made to the Black Dog.
|
 |
|
| The Black Dog, Belmont | |
| OS EXPLORER |
WEST PENNINES 287 |
START/FINISH POINT |
SD 674 158 |
| WALK LENGTH |
10.7 mls / 17.2 km |
TIME WALKING |
4 1/2 hrs |
| MAX HEIGHT |
446.78 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
153.51 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
531.18 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
531.18 mtrs |
This map is for reference only and MUST NOT be used to do the walk.
Please use the correct OS map for all these walks.
|
