Christ Church, Longridge

After a number of local walks, we decided, this month, to spread our wings somewhat and explore a little of the splendid countryside on the Lancashire / Cumbria border. Our meeting point was where the A65 crosses the Lancaster canal. The turnout was a splendid dozen plus two dogs and from here we headed south, [...]

The March walk was a circum-navigation of Longridge, using one of the excellent guides’ published by the council, but with some modifications. Instead of starting and finishing in the town centre, we kept entirely on the “Loop”. Starting from Grange Towers, at the bottom of Hacking Drive, with the coach house used as a changing [...]

The November walk should have been a pleasant eight mile trek around low-lying farmland between Pilling and Knott End, returning along the sea wall. However, the endless rain the previous week and a forecast of heavy rain and gales provided us with something a little different. Having parked by the sea wall at Fluke Hall, [...]

The object of this month’s walk was to explore some of the numerous footpaths in the area between Grimsargh and the east of Preston. Starting in the centre of Grimsargh, our group of six headed eastwards and picked up a footpath that took us along the back of the old reservoirs, now drained and reverting [...]

The Fylde Plain used to be an extensive area of marshland that started to be drained in the late eighteenth century and is now regarded as one of the most fertile areas of farm land in the country. Our walk this month was centred on the pretty village of Elswick and our small group of [...]

For some time, Jim has considered a walk following this minor water course from its source at Longridge to Preston’s Haslam Park. Savick Brook eventually enters into the River Ribble and is the entry point for the Ribble Link, which connects the Lancaster Canal to the national canal network. This proposal was met with some [...]

Only four ramblers turned up on a beautiful Saturday morning at Chipping Village Hall, setting off through the village turning left to Chipping Lawn Farm where sheep are milked for cheese manufacture. From here the group took the track to the north towards Park Gate, then on to a footpath to the left at Leagram [...]

Only five ramblers assembled at the car park in Slaidburn on a day of uncertain weather. Setting off over the Hodder Bridge and taking the footpath on the right to Broadhead Farm, then west alongside Easington Brook to Harrop Hall, the group climbed up to Smallden Lane. Turning right, and using the next bridleway on [...]

If a Prestonian had undertaken just one hike in their lifetime, it would probably be to Nicky Nook, such is the popularity of this fell. Not only is the walk popular, but it is also exceptionally scenic. Not even the carving of the M6 through the middle of it has diminished its attraction. Starting from [...]

This month’s walk, led by John Dixon, was, as usual, one of his Yorkshire adventures, but this time a little closer to home. Starting from the Plough Hotel at Wigglesworth. (The Plough IS Wigglesworth, the place is so small), our party of five plus two from the Bolton section started walking up-hill past the hotel [...]

This walk started at Wheelton (with 8 people and 2 ‘four footed’ friends) from the car park at the Dressers Arms. This establishment has been around a lot longer than any of the participants – in fact it was “The Inn on Friars Brow” in Oliver Cromwell’s time and commemorates Cromwell’s persecution of the Roman [...]

The walk for this month, led by Veronica, was a pleasant seven mile tour of the countryside to the west of Garstang. The weather turned out to be pleasant and less cold than recently. Starting from the main car park in Garstang, our little party of six and two dogs headed out through the village [...]

Haskayne is a small village between Ormskirk and Southport located on the Leeds & Liverpool canal. Over the years, we have walked many miles along the towpaths of this canal but this is probably as far to the west as we have been, some fourteen miles from the centre of Liverpool. Starting from the Ship [...]

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. Despite the rain four ramblers met outside the Church willing to brave the elements. It was decided to abandon the 8 mile walk in the Garstang area. To please the two dogs, we drove to the Longridge Fell, parking at the Quarry and walked through the forest for nearly 4 miles. The [...]

On Saturday seven ramblers met in a car park in Hornby, having been promised by the Met Office a dry window in our normal rainy weather. Setting off towards the Wenning Bridge, turning right into a farmyard, and following a farm track initially alongside the Wenning viewing Hornby Castle, then swinging to the right to [...]