AFWC 405 – 13th April 2024 Kirklees to Holmfirth – Walksheet
Category: Pennines
The Pennines, also known as the Pennine Chain or Pennine Hills, are a range of uplands running between three regions of Northern England: North West England on the west, North East England and Yorkshire and the Humber on the east. Commonly described as the “backbone of England”,[2][3] the range stretches northwards from the Peak District at the southern end, through the South Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines to the Tyne Gap, which separates the range from the Border Moors and Cheviot Hills across the Anglo-Scottish border, although some definitions include them.
9 September 2023 – Forest of Bowland
It was a warm, humid but misty start to the walk when the coach dropped us off at Jubilee Tower, Quernmore, Lancaster. The tower was built in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the car park near it was created by the council when the tower was gifted to them. During the car park construction, they uncovered a burial ground.
Coach drop off and Jubilee Tower
Jubilee Tower (Victoria Diamond Jubilee 1887) A stone on the tower was engraved with “This tower was erected by James Harrison of Hare Appletree in commemoration of the Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria ANNO DOMINI 1887”
Colin, Nina, Girls (sorry I can’t remember your names) and Mick on Jubilee Tower
Colin and Barry on Jubilee Tower
Coach and AFWC walkers with the Forest of Bowland and Grit Fell behind
Most walkers headed downhill to complete a walk to and along the coast into Lancaster, a small goup of fit members headed to the Forest of Bowland to do a fell walk of about 15 miles. For me I decided to do part of this long walk, encompassing the fells but shotening it by about a mile so, I headed uphill from the drop off point aiming for Shooters Pile (cairn) and Grit Fell
Shooter’s Pile cairn on Grit Fell
Amongst the Bilberry and Heather, one of the many grouse on the fells of the Forest of Bowland
I then continued over the fells to Lancashire’s second highest peak, Ward’s Stone. It was so humid and warm that when the heavens opened and rain fell heavily, it was most welcome, even though I was soaking wet. Ward’s Stone is a flat topped hill and has two triangulation points about a kilometer apart. Whilst I was there and over a period of just a few minutes, the mists cleared and the views majestically appeared.
Ward’s Stone 560m in the mist. The second highest hill in Lancashire.
Ward’s Stone 560m as the mist vanished.
Sheep on Ward’s Stone & a Geographical Marker
The Flat top of Ward’s Stone hill.
Barry at the second triangulation point (561m) on Ward’s Stone
I then retraced my steps before taking a track through the old Clough Quaries down to Cragg Wood. This ancient wood is a “Specal Area Of Coservation” because of its upland location and the Sessile Oaks and Birch trees that grow there.
Ancient Cragg Wood with old upland Sessile Oak trees
From Cragg Wood there was what seemed to be a very long trek along minor country roads and then over the M6 into Lancaster City to complete about 14 miles and where the Crafty Scholar and the Lion Inn provided some welcome food and refreshements for a weary walker.
Looking back to the the Forest of Bowland and Clougha Pike taken from about halfway to Lancaster.
On the coach home, I was pleasently surprised by Andy Jakob wishing me a “Happy 70th Birthday”. Thank you Andy and the birthday wishes from those on board!
AFWC 395 June 10th 2023 Ingleton to Horton in Ribblesdale
AFWC 388 November 12th Bowes to Middleton in Teesdale
AFWC 385 Kirkland to Appleby (Cross Fell, PW & High Cup Nick)
August 14th 2021 Mallerstang to Hawes – Maps
Saturday 9 November 2019 – Bingley to Skipton (Leeds Liverpool Canal)
Please see the links below for the walk sheet and the route maps for the Bingley to Skipton (Leeds Liverpool Canal) walk on the 9 November 2019.
Walksheet:
2019 11 Canal Walk Bingley to Skipton
Routemap:
Next Outing: Saturday 8th December – Kielder to Bellingham
For details of the next outing double-click on the filename above. For suggested walk routes double-click on the filename below.
Photos are available from this walk here
Saturday 14 July 2018: Marsden to Huddersfield – skyline or canal
Click on the file names for details of proposed routes and for instructions on how to reserve a coach seat.
Next Club Walk: Leeds & Liverpool Canal – Shipley to Gargrave on Saturday 8th August 2015
To reserve a place on the next club outing simply click on the file name below and follow the instructions on the walk sheet. The outing promises to be well-attended so please book early!
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