30th September 2008

Helmshore Afternoon Walk - Rossendale, Sunday 14th September

Changing from an evening walk to an afternoon walk, I did wonder if I might not get anyone, especially as some of the route was a repeat of the 2006 evening walk that I'd done. However, upon turning up at Helmshore Textile Museum, I was surprised to see 15 adults…….and 4 dogs (all well behaved). Heading out from the museum, we headed along a riverside walk and started our walk around Holden Wood reservoir. Whilst the ground was very wet and boggy underfoot, the route was well trodden and we all made it onto a part of the Rossendale Way beneath Musbury Heights.

Walking up through Fairy Glen, we passed several other walking groups all making the most of the better-than-anticipated weather on the day. Again, it was wet underfoot and slippery on places, but we all made it safely to the top. From here we could see Hoglowe Pike ( a local landmark) and good views up Haslingden Grane. From here we walked across a peat bog area, using stepping stones in places, then along an old tramway that seems to be on the edge of nowhere offering some of the best views of the valley, and soon came into the old quarry complex where members will recall, from a previous walk, the old chimney had been rebuilt several years before. Continuing through the quarry, along old tramways, we exited the area and commenced our partial descent back towards Helmshore.

At a suitable junction in the path, three of the group (and 2 dogs) decided enough was enough, and made their way back down to their cars. Taking a different path, we started our climb back up towards the paths leading up Musbury Tor (our local skyline landmark). Following a diagonal path across the side of Tor (instead of the near vertical one Victor and I had gone directly up a few weeks previous), we walked back along the ridge to the point where we could see all 25 wind turbines on Scout Moor across the valley.

Heading back down, past the experimental farm in the lee of Musbury Tor, we walked down a tarmac road and past some of the bigger hours that Helmshore has to offer (some with reputed prices in excess of £1m). Arriving at the pub just after 5:00pm, after an approximate 6 mile walk, the remaining walkers enjoyed a few pints of ale, including Timothy Taylor's Landlord, and the Bowland Brewery Sawley Tempted.

Another good walk, though a few did suffer with their knees as more ups and downs than usual. Thinking of another walk, possibly in mid-October. Watch this space…….

Stuart McDonald