The Ward Stone and More 22nd May 2010.

Mike D at the trig pont on Clougha Pike - photo by Dave J.

The Jubilee Tower on the Trough of Bowland Road.

Dave and Mike heading for Clougha Pyke.

A small Red grouse chick in hiding, but can you spot it?

Dave and Mike approaching the first trig point on the Backside of the Ward Stone. Martyn at the trig point on the Ward Stone. Once a simple track, now a motorway!

Looking up the Tarnbrook Valley towards the moors.

Distance:14.2 miles; (10.0 miles) Climb:1579' (1000').

Time:6 hours 13 minutes; On the move walking average:2.6 m.p.h.: Overall walk average:2.3 m.p.h. (1.7 m.p.h.).

Group:Martyn, Dave J and Mike D.

This was definitely a day when only mad dogs and Englishmen walk in the mid-day sun! We should have been on the coast cooling our feet in the sea rather than tramping across the moors with no shade at all!

Dave and Mike did the extra peak by going to Clougha Pyke before rejoining me at the first trig point on the Ward Stone.

Whilst heading for the Ward Stone on my own, I had the joy of seeing several families of Red grouse with chicks of various sizes.

Dave kept us going to almost feinting point, and lunch was only taken at 13-30. Cheese and onion on the menu with the cheese so soft it had nearly melted!

The downward track to Tarnbrook had been upgraded with hard core and now good enough for vehicles to use. No chance of loosing a glove in the peat by the waterfall any more!

I decide that walking uphill back to the car was not in my interest, so I decided to wait at Lower Lee while Mike and Dave went to bring the car back. Apparently Mike decided to do a bit of "power walking" of some sort and Dave had to do a bit of running to catch him up!

Overall a good walk. It would have been even better had the temperatures been nearer 15 Celsius rather than approaching 30 Celsius!

Birds seen or heard today included:Barn swallow, Lapwing, Curlew, Meadow pipit, Red grouse, Wheatear, Skylark, Lesser black-backed gull, Buzzard, Raven, Carrrion crow, Oystercatcher, House sparrow, Pied wagtail, Mallard and Goldfinch.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Priory Inn at Scorton where Bowland brews sampled were Nicky Nook and Sawley Tempted, the latter being preferred.

One of the group thought the best drink was a couple of pints of Pepsi!