Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club monthly walk

Walked along the canal bank to Dean’s at Withnell Fold then up to the Sports and Social Club to meet the others for the Withnell Fold monthly walk. The weather was clear blue sky and hardly any wind. Just right for a brisk walk out on the moors. It was previously decided to go further afield this time so the objective was Great Hill, making this the longest walk so far. We left the cricket field just after 1pm and headed up the road to Oakmere Avenue, or Flag Lane as it is known locally. Continuing up to Snape’s Heights there were great views to the west and across Morecambe Bay to the dark outline of Black Combe 80km (50miles) away. Stuart kept asking where Great Hill was but it wasn’t visible from where we were. As we passed Pike Lowe Farm it was possible to see initials of two of the Parke family. The first H.T.P (Herbert Thomas Parke) and the second T.B.P. (Thomas Blinkhorn Parke, Herbert’s father). Passing through the housing estate we descended Withnell Fold Old Road to School Lane, Brinscall. As we walked to the start of Well Lane I pointed out to those interested where the Chorley to Blackburn railway line used to pass over the road and also where Brinscall’s cinema, the Regal, used to be.

School Lane Brinscall and the railway bridge in the early 1900s

The Regal cinema in 1949

At the top of Well Lane we stopped for out first rest and another opportunity to admire the views. The distant peaks of the Lake District were just visible and also the distinctive flat topped outline of Ingleborough 56km (35miles) away. There were many farms on these moors in the 19th century but they are all now just ruins. The last with a roof on is Ratten Clough and it was clearly visible to the NE. Immediately adjacent was the ruin of Whittles which is now nothing more than a few stones being reclaimed by the grass and heather. The main group set off again at a fast pace heading along the track to Drinkwater’s. I was walking with Stuart and Janice and decided make a short detour to show them the ancient Mear stone (Merestone) which is an old cross cut in a large gritstone boulder.

Stewart and Janice at the Mear Stone.

We caught up with the other and had another brief rest at Drinkwater’s ruin. On the final approach is a brass marker on the wall. It is called Joe’s Cup and is a memorial to Joe Whitter who was an endurance ultra-runner of the highest standard. He was a member of Wigan Phoenix Running Club and died of a brain tumour in 1990 at the age of 52. His club placed the plaque there in his memory shortly after his death. Continuing along the path we reached our objective, the summit of Great Hill.

The group on Great Hill summit at 386m (1,266ft)

We were still blessed with great weather and were able to enjoy our refreshments and admire the full panorama of views. Last week Dean and Janice had spent a very windy camping trip in Scotland where Dean was introducing Janice to the great outdoors. I knew Dean had a compass so while I was in Birmingham last week at The Outdoors Show I picked up a small Silva compass with a small karabiner clip and gave it to Janice earlier in the day. We were now at the highest part of the walk so as a light hearted test I asked her to show me which way was north. She began to rummage in her clothes and I was amused to see she’d clipped it to her bra strap. She wasn’t wearing a rucksack and she said it was the only secure place to clip it. I gave her 10 out of 10 for initiative. We now began our walk back to Withnell Fold but instead of retracing our steps we descended SE to a track by Black Brook and on towards the ruin of Great Hill Farm. On the way is a large boulder with an eroded Ordnance Survey bench mark cut in it. It is shown on the 1894 map and shows a height of 1187.3ft above sea level. It was nice to visit the ruin of Great Hill Farm as it is often missed, being off the main path. We soon rejoined the main path and returned past Drinkwater’s and along the track back towards Well Lane. We didn’t go all the way but left it to turn left along a path towards Brinscall Pine Woods. This was the path I’d taken Stuart and Janice along to see the Mear Stone. As we passed the stone I pointed it out to a few of the walkers before we left the sunshine and descended into the pine woods. We’ve always called the area Brinscall Pine Woods but the map calls it Wheelton Plantation.

we reach the byre at Blackhurst

In the early 1900s it was clear of trees and was a collection of buildings and farms. The ruins are still there but all are covered in a thick coating of moss. We passed the site of Liptrot’s Farm and Leigh Place before reaching the area of Blackhurst which is a very strange collection of ruins. The old cattle byre is still there and in quite good condition. The entrance is blocked off with metal grills to keep the vandals out.

Further along the track is where Heather Lea used to be. The ruins are now completely overgrown but pat of one wall is still standing. It was one of the last houses to be occupied and was still lived in up to the 1930s. We are fortunate that some photographs of the building have survived.

Heather Lea

Mrs and Mr Moss having tea at Heather Lea

Mrs Haydock and baby Bob Wiggans inside Heather Lea - 1927

We took the path down through the woods to Lodge Bank then under the line of the old railway and up past Brinscall Hall before heading off across fields to School Lane and then on to Sandy Lane. Instead of turning left to go directly back to Withnell Fold we took the slight detour to the buildings of Boardman’s Heights and then the path over Pike Lowe. The distant views opened up again but they weren’t as clear as earlier. An easy downhill walk along Oakmere Avenue took us back to Withnell Fold Cricket field, the pavilion and very welcome refreshments. A fantastic walk of just over 10 miles which was enjoyed by everyone.

the route plotted from the GPS track.

altitude profile from the GPS unit

walking speed profile from the GPS unit
(the spike at the right is me running to catch up after stopping for a pee behind a hedge!)

With the evenings getting lighter I went for an early evening bike ride round Mawdesley and Bispham Green then back through Eccleston. It should be even lighter tomorrow as the clocks go forward tonight. I was wearing my new cycling jacket with built in flashing LED lights that I bought at the NEC yesterday. I’m not sure what the motorists thought of me as I returned home in the dark. A blinking apparition on wheels perhaps?

The Eagle and Child, Bispham Green.

Caught the 8am bus to Preston to catch the 9:17am train to Birmingham. As usual it was so late that the connection at Wolverhampton was missed so I carried on to Birmingham New Street then changed for Birmingham International. I walked across to the NEC and the 2009 Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show. I think this is the first time I’ve had to pay for one of the lectures but I didn’t mind paying £5.00 to see Doug Scott as he’s such good value. He was in the World Theatre and it was full. His talk was mostly about his SW face of Everest Climb in 1975 and also Kangchenjunga in 1979. The train journey home was much better as the trains actually ran on time.

The Outdoors Show at the NEC

Doug Scott gives another quality lecture with superb photos.

Doug's picture of Dougal Haston on the Hillary Step, Everest, 1975.

Cause

Effect

I have been playing with some HDR (High Dynamic Range) software from Photomatix. HDR Tone Mapping reveals highlight and shadow details in an HDR image created from multiple exposures. My first test was the 3 exposures on the right and the image on the left is composed of the best exposed sections from them.

800asa 1.6sec f5.6

800asa 1/3sec f5.6

800asa 1/8sec f5.6

I was walking through the wonderfully named area of Cummacatta Wood in Borrowdale, Cumbria when I looked back to see a shaft of sunlight catch the fell. Derwentwater is just visible behind.

The extension

A painting of the shop in 1950

The plaque