church loop via dunkenhalgh and rishton

This route is suitable for a family. I took my clan (wife, daughter's aged 10 & 13) on this. It is relatively flat in East Lancashire terms, exploring local water ways and countryside. Total distance 6.5km, total climbing 57 metres. It took us 1 hour 30 mins.(a steady pace with a few photo stops)

I started by St James's Church in Church. Set off in a clockwise direction crossing the Liverpool-leeds canal turning right and then following the footpath that goes away to the left.

Follow my route above for the full route

Points to note along the route, on going under the motorway bridge with the Hyndburn brook on your left, follow the path (can be a little muddy) till you cross over the river at a bridge. Now you can either follow the path ahead or wander off to follow the river course to your left. If you choose to follow the river course you will (or keep your eyes peeled off to the left from the main path) you will spot a steep Weir which is a nice waterfall. This a about a hundred metres from the main road junction. The main road must be carefully crossed and then followed upto the left towards the edge of Rishton. As you enter Rishton turned right down the minor lane passing some allotments on your left.  When you reach a few houses turn left following the road to a dead end and then head straight across 3 fields to meet the canal. Crossing styles and keeping some allotments on your right on the way.

Now turn left and follow the canal, here you will see interesting wildfowl and when the canal narrows you will cross over the motorway on an aquaduct. Shortly after this before a bridge you turn left and follow the cycle way back to church (for a longer alternative you can continue to follow the canal rather than turn off). Once back at the initial canal bridge it is worth crossing the bridge taking the path down to the right and then underneath the bridge  you have just crossed to find the spot halfway along the Liverpool-leeds canal.

Enjoy!

Upper Huncoat Trail (Hameldon Scouts)

This walk explores huncoat before heading up hameldon scouts and finally the coppice. In total it is a 9.5km walk and I would allow 2 hours 30 minutes to enjoy the complete circuit. I did over 300 metres climbing when completing the route.

If the full walk is not for you; areas to explore I recommend include;

Spout House woodland, huncoat - In the heart of huncoat, a nice common to explore. Access either from Bolton Avenue or Higher Gate Lane.

The Peel Park and Coppice - amazing views can be had from the monument with many paths through the woodland upto it.

Hameldon Scouts - it's a climb upto them but atop the scouts nice views can be had northwards of pendle and the Ribble valley (see photos below).

The walk (see my route below) - I completed the route in a clockwise manner starting and finishing at the Whitaker's pub on Burnley Road. 

I basically followed the Huncoat trail (an alternative publication that can be found on internet). I completed the Upper section crossing Burnley Lane, Huncoat between the 2 sections. The Huncoat trail way markers are useful to find the way around the trail. One tricky area to navigate is coming up out of Hapton Woods as you ascend after a few hundred metres near what's seems to be the top of the cliffs. There is a choice of paths one that goes straight on up (looks more major path) or another to the right (this path runs initially not gaining any more height around the cliffs). This is the path to take. When the path eventually climbs onto the top of the scouts. This is a worthy brew/view stop! See photos of view.

I took an earlier in the walk detour up huncoat war memorial again to gain good views.

I would like to acknowledge in this blog the creators of the full Huncoat trail whom have given me the concept of my walk and to in particular Roy Chetham whom produced this and others walks. As well as producing good weather statistics regards are local area. Worth a check out of his website. He may have passed a way but I thank him for influencing me.

accy to the deserted valley

This walk was a long one 16 km or 18km if you bag rushy hill trig. For those who do not want venture so far out of Accrington and oswaldtwistle, I will before we start highlight a few pleasant spots.

Woodnook water/Priestley clough - rather than take the old railway path from nuttall street, go beyond the derelict land and take the minor road, past a couple of caravans and houses (says private near end) you will now have a path that follows a wide stream to your left, there is a nice kind of waterfall about a hundred metres up on your left (over the fence). If you cross at the bridge of the stream further along and follow the path left you can follow the path back to nuttall street for a nice 1km circuit.

Jackhouse reservoir, this sits above oswaldtwistle (on my map it is the reservoir that I circle). You can get close to the reservoir (please don't go in, I am a firefighter and have seen a number of good swimmers unfortunately have there bodies recovered from these areas). There is a woodland loop you can go on above the reservoir.

The view from Rothwell heights/bedlam - if you carry on up the path from the woodnook water as shown on my map, once above the Accrington riding school you will be afford excellent views of East side of Accrington. This viewing spot locally is only second for me to the views gained from the monument  near the top of the coppice.

To the walk..., follow my route as shown on route map, I completed it in a clockwise direction. Points to note - just beyond bedlam you will at first have a well marked trio of footpath signs(take the one that goes straight on) after this you will come to a few properties. My photo below shows the gate to take.

I have decided to take the 3 trig point opportunities to bag on route. Following the plotted route. First trig - I plotted to go along the b road (no pavement) then up to the left of a house on the footpath beyond a gate is the trig point. If you choose not to do this go straight on at the cross roads.

Whilst going over the Moors you can climb to the top of thirteen stone hill across the moorland (no trig point but on a clear day views of Manchester can be obtained).

Second trig -rushy hill trig - I have not plotted this one on the route but to bag the trig. You carry on the footpath you are already on rather than turning right. You will come to an old brick built bunker. Hop the fence here (it's a small but barb wired top fence)and walk upwards to nice bright white trig then return the way you came to rejoin the route. 

Another tricky footpath to spot is after jackhouse reservoir in the Hoyle bottom area. Turn right off the minor road you have followed for a while down another minor road with quickly a house is a head. Go over the wall to your left keeping a fence to the right of you.

The third and final trig point is accessed by crossing a gate and heading up on top of the field (beware sometimes cows that in herds, can chase you off protect this trig!). I dropped down and hopped a fence in the corner to continue on my route. You can alternatively follow the road around or bag the trig and go back the way you came to the gate.

To complete the full route including the 3 trigs I would allow 5 to 6 hours. There is 500 metres climbing to be done throughout the route.

If you fancy a refreshment break, along the rossendale way section of the route (follow the helpful signs for this bit). You can turn off to your right just after a quarry/reservoir dropping down through a plantation of trees to arrive at clough head cafe (it is up most days of the week).

Keep enjoying our countryside.

laund clough

This is a short walk but takes in a hidden gem of laund clough that runs between Accrington and baxenden. I started the walk opposite the entrance to Oakhill park on Manchester road. Dropping down onto a footpath. Follow the path keeping the stream on your left, you wonder through a nice woodland with the stream and a couple of mini waterfalls on your left as you go. After around kilometre as the valley narrows. Take the bridge cross the stream and keep within the valley till the end. You come out on Southwood drive, turn left and then take the footpath to the right after around a 100 metres. This takes you to the back of houses aftera hundred metres or so take a path up to a farm style building. This enables good views towards Accrington and northwards beyond. Take the minor road down to the left this takes down the open land then through a small industrial area (not the most picturesque area of the walk) and leads you back on to Manchester road. Turn left uphill and you will back at our start point. For bonus enjoyment cross the road and have a wander in Oakhill park, enjoy the duck pond, war memorial and play park for children.

I would allow a 45 mins to an hour to enjoy the walk without the Oakhill park section. The walk is 2 and a half kilometres with 93 metres climbing.

great hameldon hill via gamblers caves

This walk is the classic route from Accrington up great hameldon hill.

We start at the top of plantation street, entering Arden hall woodland. This is a nice easily accessible woodland, with birds and the footings of the former Arden hall. Make your way through the woods to join back up with the cobbled road. Follow this for a few hundred metres then taking the footpath off to your left. After a hundred metres just before the stream/brook take the footpath to your right alongside the stream. Look out for the small waterfall on your left a hundred metres or so as you walk along. The path leads to a path junction. Take path/minor road straight ahead not to the reservoirs (it does cross the stream though) but then at the next junction take the left/major path to the left. This takes you under the A56. Once under the dual carriageway follow the road up to the left as it then bends right just after take the gate/style to your left up the slope before the farm(see photo above). This crosses a minor rail track and then crosses another wall. You now have Moleside moor just above you. Follow the path to the right keeping the wall on your right.

After a few hundred metres when the wall turns right, follow the straight ahead heading up towards a sunken reservoir. Join a path (the kings heighway) turn right for a hundred metres. There will be a stile to your left by the far corner of the sunken reservoir. Go over this and then take the path that goes up to the right. Here you find the gambler's caves quarries. There are a couple of pretty impressive caves within here if you carefully look around.

Once explored head back towards the sunken reservoir but further along. 

You will come to a wall junction with a stile. Cross this stile and then take the path which heads up hameldon hill to the left. Carry on up this fairly straight path to reach the summit of great hameldon. Bag the trig. You have climbed 240 metres in ascent to reach here if starting at our start point!

Now take the more minor path/not always easily distinguished down in a 90 degree angle to the left from where you came up. After a few hundred metres down a quite steep slope go slightly left at an obstacle point junction. Then you will reach the kings highway main footpath going across.

Take the path that goes ahead to the right and then a minor path going left forward but not the one that goes left slightly back on yourself. From here follow my route back to join the main path near the farm to go under the A56. As an alternative route down. I suggest you turn right and then left. Following a footpath past some reservoirs on your left. Then lower down turn right and follow a path which keeps woods to your right and some more open meadow land to your left. You get nice views of Accrington town ahead of you. The path comes out at a modern housing estate. Go straight on down elmwood close and a short path before turning left towards Arden field along an uneven road, where the circuit is complete.

The route is approx. 8km and I would allow 3 hours to enjoy the walk allowing time to explore Arden hall, gamblers caves and a celebratory snack at great hameldon trig!

Church and Clayton waterways

This adventure takes us to a relatively flat area. No hill starts required, a rarity in the accringtonia area!

The walk starts and finishes at the canal bridge at the bottom of St James's Road, Church (from the bridge is a nice view of the countryside between Church and Rishton). Cross the footbridge and turn right initially following the path alongside the Liverpool to Leeds canal, after a 100 metres the path forks of to the left (there is a footpath sign). Follow this across the lush countryside for around half a kilometre until you meet a brook than runs into Hyndburn brook this goes under the M65 along with our path, the path then crosses the brook. From here I left the path and followed the winding brook to my left for a few hundred metres until I came to the minor waterfall just before the main road. At the main road go straight across on to another footpath that hugs the edge of a wood and gives good views of great harwood and beyond. After around a kilometre the path ends. Here you turn right and head into a pleasant park (Mercer park), walk through this in the direction of the church. At the end of the park go past the Church and a lamp post in the middle of the street (follow my route map). Go to end of this street take a right and then left to end up at the Liverpool to Leeds canal. Turn right along the tow path. Follow this till you get to the end of the towpath on the main road. Fear not! The

tow path is accessed again via turning left staying on pavement crossing the road bridge over the canal and taking the path down on to the continued tow path. Follow this along the canal for approximately a mile, as you arrive in church there are some benches if you a want celebratory swing of tea or water and nearby a marker post showing the half way point on the canal. After this take the path up to the left and you are back at the start of your journey.

Travel distance 6 kilometres and I would allow 1 hour 30 mins to enjoy the walk. 

oswaldtwistle

So I set off from Accrington to discover the best open spaces oswaldtwistle had to offer.

Starting from abbey street accrington, I headed through accrington town centre passing the town hall and market hall (2 fine buildings to admire, along with the historical information benches to read in this area). From here we head left up out of town passing a skate board park before taking the right road in front of an old large yet well maintained mill building (globe centre, scaitcliffe st) at the train track we join the path to the left following the path alongside the train track for a mile, keeping straight ahead with the train track on our right hand side at any junctions. This eventually go down a small road to bring us onto a major road, near church & oswaldtwistle train station. Cross the road and turn left and walk along a short way taking are second road to the right (tinker brook). This path leads to tinker brook nature reservoir, one of the jewels on oswaldtwistle's crown. A stream, 2 large reservoirs and nice woodland. Following my route initially take the higher path (outside a fence) but cut down and a small way back on yourself to see the viewing platform to enjoy the birds of the larger reservoir. Leave the local nature reservoir and turn left along a lane which runs alongside then over a brook. At the main road cross over turn left and then soon turn right past the war memorial. Go straight up this road (rhyddings st) to enter rhyddings park. Enjoy an clockwise wander around this park exiting at the top right (there is a good play area for children in this park). You are now on Fielding lane, turn left for a few hundred metres and then take the minor road path (signposted Town bent) (just before plough pub).

After a few hundred metres take the path into the open field to your left, this path comes to a t-junction, turn left keeping the stream on your left, the minor road will bend right at little. When the minor road comes to a across roads, turn left and follow the path up to a corner entrance into the woods this is jackhouse reservoir (another jewel), if you turn right and then take the next path on the left. You can get close to shore edge. After this complete a lap of the reservoir enjoying another woodland walk. From here I exited just after a bench and good viewing spot of the reservoir. Following the minor country roads and paths back to Accrington town centre. An excellent view can be had along Rough Hey Lane (on the day I went you could see the bowland fells and even Ingleborough.

The whole walk is approx. 12 km long and took me 3 hours. It involved around 200 metres climbing.

Even if you cannot do the full walk sites I recommend a visit along the way include Accrington town and market halls, foxbank and jackhouse nature reservoirs, and rhyddings park. Enjoy!