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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Sunday, 7 May 2017

Pendle Hill from Downham 6th May 2017

Downham at the start of the walk.
Our first encounter of happy lambs.
"Where's mum?"
Lots of lambs, but no ewes in sight.
Pendle Hill as we crossed Great Coppy.
Ahead our route up Big End, Pendle Hill.
At the trig point on Big End.
At the Scout Cairn on Pendle Hill.
Bluebells in Longlands Wood.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1900'.
Time: 4 hours 36 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.
 We set off from Downham, expecting it to be dry and quite breezy on top. In fact it was quite a strong cold wind, but at least it was more behind us rather than in our faces.
 We decided to complete the walk in clockwise direction, the opposite way round to that which we had done on all previous occasions. This was a good decision and we both agreed that this was by far the best way to do the walk.
 As we left the village, we saw several Swifts screeching around one of the farm buildings, the first Swifts that I have seen this year.
 The outline of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire could all be seen in the distance, but distant views were always somewhat misty.
 As we started to climb across Pendle side, we were hoping to find a sheltered spot for lunch, but unfortunately this was the side exposed to the wind.
 On Big End and Pendle Hill the wind was even stronger and the Met Office forecast of a temperature feeling like about 3 Celsius was probably pretty close.
 This wasn't a good day for the Quakers to have a rally on the top in protest over Fracking, hanging about on the top for everyone to arrive wasn't a pleasant experience.
 We managed to find some protection from the wind by sitting behind a wall just before the wind shelter on Pendle Hill, but we soon realised that the even stone walls aren't totally wind proof!
 On our final trek across Pendle Hill towards the Scout Cairn, Mike managed to trip over, banging his knee again a rock and cutting his hand, but thankfully able to carry on.
 We arrived back at Downham as we had left it, in warm sunshine, a pity we didn't have it as we crossed the top.
 Birds seen or heard today, Swift, Barn swallow, Jackdaw, Rook, House sparrow, Common blackbird, Common chaffinch, Winter wren, Blackcap, Common kestrel, Common pheasant, Meadow pipit and Skylark, but alas no Dotteril or Golden Plover to be seen.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Helter Skelter in Frodsham, where Liverpool Organic Brewery's 24 Carat Gold went down well.
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