HOLLINGWORTH LAKE, MANCHESTER
SUNDAY, 28TH OCTOBER 2007
Coach Leader: Philomena Walker
Coach Leaves at 5.00 pm
Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.TODAY'S WALKS
Strenuous Leader: Jimmy Need Distance: 11 miles
We start today's walk by making our way past the lake. Then, don't laugh, we make our way up Benny Hill towards Blackstone edge. From here we follow the Pennine Way over past Windy Hill then down towards Piethorn Reservoir which then leads on to Ogden Reservoir. We then skirt Spinney Woods before making our way back to the lake via Rakewood Viaduct.Moderate Leader: Philomena Walker Distance : 8.75 miles
A steady climb to a rocky ridge (Blackstone Edge). We start out from the visitor centre, through birch woods, past Owlet Hall; paths here can be a bit neglected but following path above stream flanked by thorn bushes we come to Shore Lane Farm. The upward pull starts from lane alongside farm house and continues along well worn Roman road, up to the Aiggin Stone. Here we will have a well earned rest and decide on where to have lunch (depending on the weather). We can sit on the rocks or find shelter. Apart from a patch of rough moorland, the descent is on paths and tracks, taking in some lovely views along the way. At Hollingworth Fold we go down the lane towards the lakeside and pick up the path around Hollingworth Lake. If rain, the rocks at Blackstone Edge will be slippery, so extra care will need to be taken there.Leisurely Leader: Derek Lee Distance 7 miles
We leave the Visitor Centre via the Country Park, gradually climbing 400 feet as we turn south on the Pennine Bridleway along the slopes of Clegg Moor with views to the west over the Lake. After crossing the M62 we have another, stiffer, 300 ft climb up Nicholas Pike and then turn west overlooking Ogden Reservoir. From here it is mostly downhill through Tunshill to the southern shore of the lake, ending with a lakeside walk back to the Visitor Centre.Easy Leader: Berni Platts Distance: 4.5 - 5 miles
We start at the Visitor Centre and walk towards Ealees and through Cleggs Wood. We then pick up the canal path at Littleborough and walk to Smithybridge where there is a slight incline. We are going to stop here for our lunch break, overlooking the lake. After our lunch break we will finish our walk following the path around the lake back to the Visitor centre.NOTES ON THE AREA
Hollingworth Fold is mentioned in deeds dated 1278 where it is referred to as Holyenworthe. There are several old stone built dwellings, including a Victorian school chapel, since converted to a home, and the 'Iron Church' which stands close to the site of the old Hollingworth workhouse. The buildings in the Fold date back more than 250 years and are a reminder of the importance of Old Hollingworth as a busy centre of local activity.
The moors and hills around Hollingworth Lake were riddled with small coal pits and quarries. The slag heaps from these mines can still be seen at Syke. Syke Farm dates from 1758, the name meaning Homestead by the River.
The viaduct carrying the M62 east to Leeds dominates the valley to the south of the lake. The motorway was completed in 1972 and is the highest in England.
The rocky outcrop on the skyline to the north east of the lake is Blackstone Edge. The stone here is not really black, but gun-metal coloured with substantial deposits of white silica. 'Blackstone' is a corruption of Blatchstone (bleached stone) edge. The Blackstone Edge 'Roman road' is still a controversial structure. Long accepted as such, it became the subject of much argument in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The paved section appears suddenly at about the 1000ft level, 16ft wide, climbing steeply (nearly 1 in 4) to the crest of the ridge. There is little doubt that the road existed during the time of the Roman occupation and would have formed part of a route from Manchester to York or Ilkley.
The Rochdale Canal was first proposed in 1766, but it was not until 1794 that construction began. By the end of 1798 it was complete from Sowerby Bridge to Littleborough and Rochdale, and reached Manchester in 1804. It was the first trans-Pennine canal and by far the most successful. Built to take barges 70' long by 14' wide (rather than the traditional 7' "narrow boats") it's peak years were the 1880's when it carried around 750,000 tonnes annually. Traffic declined after 1920 but it was not until 1952 that the trans-Pennine section was closed to navigation. Now it has been restored, and boat travellers can once again experience one of the most spectacular canal journeys in the country.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
NEXT RAMBLE.Sunday 28th 25th November 2007. Prestatyn, North Wales.
Leaders: Strenuous: Jackie Gudgeon, Moderate: ????????????????, Leisurely: Sue Daniels, Easy: Sue Beeley.
Bookings Derek Lee. Cheques to Skelmersdale Rambling Club.
Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, Railway Road, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.
Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week would be nice. Thanks. Those who have the technology can e-mail your notes - please use the address on the Contacts page.
SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB
Saturday, 10th November 2007. Rivington, Lancashire.
Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.45 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am.
Bookings: Yvonne Turton.
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP
Sunday, 4th November 2007. 10.30 am. Botany Bay Circular from Botany Bay car park, Chorley. 9 miles.
Wednesday, 14th November 2007. 1.00 pm. Rufford Church. 5 miles.
Sunday, 25th November 2007. 1.00 pm. Tarlscough Moss from Burscough Bridge Station. 5 miles.
CLUB NOTES
COACH FARESPlease note, starting with the ramble to Hollingworth Lake on the 28th October 2007, coach fares will be £8.00 (£10.00 for non members).
RUCKSACKS
Please store rucksacks, poles etc in the coach luggage compartment. It is the coach company's rules that rucksacks etc are not brought into the coach, and this should only be waived (with the prior permission of the driver on the day) for those two or three people who are getting off the coach at places other than the main dropping off points.
Please remember that the rucksack rule is for our comfort and safety on the coach. Most members find it easy enough to bring a smaller bag on to the coach containing those things which are needed 'on the coach', and this requires only a little bit of thought when packing in the morning. Thanks.
Also, the custom of putting rucksacks into separate compartments for the journey home seems to be working quite well - remember, side boot for Skelmersdale, back boot for Ormskirk, although we appreciate this may not always be possible when the side locker is a very small one.
Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else's stuff. Thanks.
LOST PROPERTY
Left on the Betws y Coed bus: two pairs of waterproof trousers - please contact Derek to arrange collection. Left on the Malham bus: a "sweatshirt" zipped cardigan, stone or beige coloured. See Jackie.
© Skelmersdale Rambling Club 2006