Rail Ramblers

The WINTER/SPRING Edition 2010  of the Lancashire Rail Rambler Programme (paper copy) is available with sae from Craig Ward or by e-mailing at  hollowhead@btinternet.com

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WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMME 2010

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13th 2010       PAST LANDSCAPES - PEAKLAND

The  Building of Kinder Reservoir

This history walk tells the story of the building of the Kinder Reservoir and its impact on Ramblers even before the famous ‘Mass Trespass’ of the 1930’s in the area around William’s Clough which will also be visited on to-day’s walk.

E Walk                      6miles easy

Alight & return New Mills Central

Bus to Hayfield - A walk from Hayfield on or close to the old route of the railway up to the Kinder Reservoir looking at the remaining features of the railway, and returning by another route to Hayfield and the bus to New Mills.

Your Leader: Howard Hammersley

Map: OS Explorer OL1 - The Peak District -Dark Peak Area

TRAVEL DETAILS: The train to New Mills departs from Manchester Piccadilly at 09.45. Connections from Blackpool North at 07.44, Preston 08.12, 08.17* or 08.47,  Chorley 08.22, or 08.33 or 08.56, Clitheroe at 07.35* (change at Bolton), Blackburn 08.03 or 08.32 (change at Bolton), Colne 06.50 (change at Blackburn& Bolton or travel by bus to Manchester). NB Train times marked* are slightly different to those printed in the Rail Rambler Programme.

Return from New Mills at xx.01 mins past each hour.

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS: Book a Day Return to either Chorley or Darwen then use a Wayfarer Ticket(see below for details) from these two stations all the way to Hayfield as the bus fare will be included.Passengers living in GTR Manchester may decide that a ‘Day Ranger’ is better value.

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SATURDAY, 27th FEBRUARY 2010                 THE SEFTON COAST

A rare opportunity to walk through the pinewoods and sand dunes of the Sefton Coast and blow the winter blues away!

C Walk - AINSDALE HILLS                          11 miles moderate

Alight Hillside & return Formby

Royal Birkdale - Nature Reserve - Sands Lake - Ainsdale Hills - Fisherman’s Path - Freshfield  Beach & Dunes - Formby

Your Leader: John Barnes

E Walk - AINSDALE & FORMBY HILLS                      7miles easy

Alight Ainsdale & return Formby

Ainsdale - West End Lodge - Fisherman’s Path - Mad Wharf - Formby Point - Formby

Your Leader: Geoff Sherrocks

Map: OS Explorer 285  Southport , Cholrley & Wigan

TRAVEL DETAILS: The train to Southport departs Bolton at 09.45. Connections from Blackpool North at 08.20, Preston 08.49, Chorley 09.02, Clitheroe 08.26, Blackburn 09.03, Colne 07.50 (change at Blackburn). Note: Those travelling from Preston may prefer to catch the X2 bus at 09.35 from Preston Bus Station (09.39 from the Railway Station) and meet at Southport Station at 10.35 to catch the train down the Sefton Coast.

Return from Formby at xx.51 to connect at Southport with the xx.20 to Bolton for connections onwards.

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS: Book a Day Return to Formby from all stations.

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SATURDAY, 13th MARCH 2010          TODMORDEN & WALSDEN

Alight Todmorden & return Walsden

An exploration of the South Pennine scenery above Todmorden with the opportunity to visit the prominent and historic monument of Stoodley Pike.

B Walk - TODMORDEN TO WALSDEN                              11 miles moderately strenuous

todmorden - Rochdale Canal - Foul Clough Road - Trough Edge End - Hades Hill - Brown Wardle Hill - Watergrave Reservoir - Long Causeway - Ramsden Wood

Your Leader: Chris Thornley

D Walk - STOODLEY PIKE MONUMENT                      9 miles moderate

Alight Todmorden & return Hebden Bridge

Todmorden - Calderdale Way - Salford - Croft Gate - Rake End -  Giddings Dam - Pennine Way - Bald Scout Hill  - Stoodley Pike - Buckley Stone - Hebden Bridge

Your Leader: Craig Ward

Map: OS Explorer OL21- South Pennines

TRAVEL DETAILS: The train to hebden Bridge departs Blackpool North at 08.29, Preston 08.54, Bamber Bridge 08.30 (change at Blackburn), Blackburn 09.10, Accrington 09.17, Burnley Manchester Rd 09.26. Change at Hebden Bridge  for the train to Todmorden at 09.56 or 10.08. Those travelling from Manchester should catch the 09.48 from Victoria.

Return from Walsden at xx.48 to Hebden Bridge for the Blackpool service or catch the xx.39 if travelling to Victoria. Return from Todmorden to Hebden Bridge at xx.14, xx.34 or xx.52; or from Todmorden to Victoria at xx.04, xx.15 or xx.36

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS: Book Day Return to Todmorden

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SATURDAY, 27th MARCH 2010 - ARNSIDE & THE YEALANDS

Our favourite Spring destination with a wide variety of landscapes and distant views.

C Walk - AROUND ARNSIDE                             13 miles moderate

Alight & return Arnside

Arnside Sta - Arnside Point - red Rake - silverdale Green - Myers Farm - Leighton Hall - Yealand Storrs - Hawes Water - Eaves Wood - Arnside Tower - Arnside Knott - Arnside

Your Leader: Tessa Rowe

E Walk - SILVERDALE TO ARNSIDE

Alight Silverdale & return Arnside

Silverdale Sta - Leighton Moss - Leighton Hall - yealand Manor - Yealand Storrs - Leighton Beck Bridge - Hazelslack Tower - Arnside

Your Leader: Geoff Sherrocks

Map: OS Explorer OL7 the English Lakes South Eastern Area

TRAVEL DETAILS: The train to Silverdale & Arnside departs Preston at 08.42 and Lancaster  09.02. Connections to Preston dpeart Blackpool North at 07.44, Chorley 08.11, Leyland 08.08, Bamber Bridge 07.49, Clitheroe 07.07* (change at Blackburn), Blackburn 07.35. Colne 06.50

Return from Arnside at 14.57, 16.01* or 16.35* NB: the train times marked* are slightly different to those printed in the Rail Rambler Programme.

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS:  Book a Day Return to Arnside from all stations.

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WAYFARER TICKETS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Wayfarer Tickets must be purchased in advance from manned stations in Greater Manchester, Chorley or Clitheroe Interchange. The tickets cost £10.00 for adults or £5.oo for the over 60’s (no proof of age required) and others are available for groups or children. The tickets are of a scratchcard type and must be validated with the date of travel.

Tickets can also be ordered in advance from: Wayfarer Ticket Sales, GMPTE, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5RG. If ordering by post please send a cheque made payabl to GMPTE.

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FUTURE DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2010

17TH APRIL  - MARPLE & GOYT VALLEY

15TH MAY - TISSINGTON & WHITE PEAK

19TH JUNE - FURNESS & ITS ISLANDS

17TH JULY - CHIPPING-PAST LANDSCAPES

14TH AUGUST - SKIPTON

18TH SEPTEMBER - CHORLEY & THE WEST PENNINE MOORS

23RD OCTOBER - FOREST OF BOWLAND

If any of our regulars would like to suggest a destination or new ideas then please contact Craig Ward at his address or e-mail.

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EAST LANCASHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL GUIDED WALKS’ PROGRAMME

A new Community Rail Walks’ Programme is available detailing walks from January onwards and is available from Craig Ward (see above for contact details) and should be also available at manned stations, Clitheroe Interchange and local tourist offices and libraries.

The next walk in the series will take place on Saturday, February 6th with a 7.5 mile moderate walkstaring at Whalley Sta. at 10.10 a.m. The walk takes in Clerk Hill, with its views across Ribblesdale, Deer Park Wood, Wiswell Great Mitton withits ancient church, Malkin Lane and on to Clitheroe

TRAVEL DETAILS: Catch the train which leaves Clitheroe at 09.40 and Blackburn at 09.50 or Bolton at 09.20. Passengers from Preston catch the 09.20 to Blackburn which  leaves Bamber Bridge at 09.30 - change at Blackburn. Passengers from stations from the the Colne direction catch the train which leaves Colne at 08.50, Burnley Central 09.03, Accrington 09.19 and change at Blackburn. Book a Day Return to Clitheroe ( or a single to Whalley from Clitheroe).