A walk from Sabden. You may think with trepidation, ‘That’s going to be hilly’. However, our leaders Keith and Sheila had chosen wisely. The walk certainly did start from Sabden but was nowhere nearly as strenuous as going up Pendle Hill would have been. This was very fortunate as our June walk was on one of the hottest days of the year and this year June had been the hottest on record. Some of our group did not turn out because of the heat, while others were on holiday, so there was only a small group of us that set off from the village below Pendle along the valley towards Newchurch. All went well for a while until we rose up on the side of the hill below Padiham Heights. Here the long spell of hot dry weather had dried up the boggy paths and one or two were extremely difficult to negotiate. This took considerable time and slowed our pace down even slower than usual, but as the day was hot and humid it was perhaps as well. We found a nice spot for lunch with views looking right across the valley to Pendle and then pushed on towards Newchurch before crossing more boggy land and then gaining height as we rose slightly up the side of the big hill herself. Here we had to wiggle about a bit as the path we had planned to take was very overgrown so we had to go a little higher but still managed, eventually, to arrive at Sabden Fold. From here there was a track with lovely shaded trees which went on quite a while and then across a few fields and downhill back to Sabden. A lovely walk, leaders, you must do it again some time.

In July we had the walk you have all been waiting to hear about: the one where the leaders got lost. Bas and Pauline were really our leaders but Bernard and I had taken over as Bas had been having problems with his knee. He has now had the operation and is on the mend.

Anyhow the walk was from Ickomshaw, a small village near Cowling, just across the border in Yorkshire. It has originally planned to take in Cowling Pinnacle, built to celebrate the battle of Waterloo, and also Lumb’s Tower, built by a Mr Lumb, who lived across the valley, to prevent any more disasters taking place because of his wife’s evil eye, or so the story goes.

However, we thought the climb up to these two towers was a bit too steep so Bernard and I decided to take a lower path beneath the towers. This was quite strenuous enough and we found it quite a pleasant walk. The day was warm and there was a pleasant breeze. We made it down to Glusburn, where we ate our picnic and then crossed the main Colne to Airedale road. Then it was up again on the opposite side of the valley to follow our path back towards Ickornshaw. We did quite well for most of the way until we found ourselves in a field where there was no exit stile. After bumbling about for a few minutes we realised we had missed crossing a bridge a while back. Fortunately, Steve, on of our party, had eagle eyes and had seen the second bridge not far back so we were able to cross that one and rose up a slope somewhat disoriented, where we climbed a stone stile. From here we were able to find our way back to our intended track and were soon back at the cars.

It shows just how easy it is to mistake the track. We met a party of Duke of Edinburgh trekkers the following day who were lost at White Coppice. I really felt for them.

There were very few of us on our August walk from church along the canal bank, up Jampots Lane, under the M65 motorway and over to Abbey Village. It was a very pleasant day but it was also the funeral of one of our church members so numbers were down. Nevertheless our leaders Cath and Peter had planned a good seven miles plus walk so it was up to some of us to participate. With being a small group we were soon at Red Lees farm enjoying looking at their collection of slightly exotic animals. At Abbey Village part of the group decided a bus back to Feniscowles was an easier option so it was an even smaller group that carried on to have lunch by Rake Brook reservoir. We found a pleasant and comfortable place to site so it was hard getting moving again afterwards. Then it was across the reservoir and up the hill to Higher Hill farm, down by the pinfold, along Chapel Lane and across several fields, most of them reasonably dry, until we were once again passing under the motorway and heading back to Feniscowles. It was a lovely walk with some lovely views so well done leaders. Please put your names down for another walk next year.

At the end of August Sue and Ian led our usual annual Bank Holiday Saturday walk. We started by going through Mercer Park at Clayton le Moors and after various wriggles and wiggles we ended up in the Memorial Park at Great Harwood. Here we passed a while for a rest and to admire the flowers humming with bees before heading up the hill towards Bowley Scout camp.

The sun was out fully by now and there were some lovely views all around. Arriving at Bowley our leaders decided it was time for lunch and they couldn’t have chosen a better place as there were plenty of picnic tables and even proper chairs with backs to lean against. We perhaps sat a little longer than we should but eventually had to start again and this time headed downhill to follow the river Calder towards Read. Following a lovely tree-sheltered old railway track and then part of the Leeds-Liverpool canal we eventually made it back to Clayton le Moors where Ian and Sue welcomed us to tea and an expansive array of cakes, scones, jam and cream. Definitely the best part of the walk. We were able to relax in the sunshine and really enjoyed ourselves. Well done the both of you, we don’t mind at all if you would like to do it again!

Jill Croft.