Rail Ramblers

The next edition of the Lancashire Rail Rambler programme is now available with sae from Craig Ward, 19 Hollowhead Avenue, Wilpshire, Blackburn, BB1 9LD. Below are details contained in the Programme.

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NEW RAIL RAMBLER PROGRAMME     (July - September 2008)

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Saturday 26th July 2008    Past Landscapes’ Walk  WHO KILLED THE PILLING PIG?

PILLING, PREESALL AND KNOTT END and the rise and fall of the Lancashire salt industry.

Alight Blackpool North. Return Poulton or Blackpool

E Walk   Easy       6 miles

The ‘Pilling Pig’ died a lingering death over 12 years, eight months and eighteen days, officially closing on July 31st, 1963. The railway had served Preesall and Knott End for only thirty years and Pilling for no more than seventy years but did open up the peat mosses of Over Wyresdale and helped the development of the Lancashire salt mines.

So, who killed the ‘Pilling Pig’? Why was it killed and how was it killed? Join us and find out why.

Picnic lunch, tea Knott End         Leader: Howard Hammersley

Travel arrangements: All stations book day return to Blackpool North. Preston passengers catch the 08.28 to Blackpool North. Blackburn passengers catch the 08.11 train to Blackpool North. Ribble Valley passengers catch the train which leaves Clitheroe at 07.35 and stops at all stations to Blackburn arriving at 07.50. Change at Blackburn. Bamber Bridge pasengers catch the 08.06 train and change at Preston. From Blackpool pasengers will catch a tram to Fleetwood and then the Knott End Ferry. N.B. Over 60’s travel free on the tram and ferry!

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Saturday August 9th 2008    KENDAL

C Walk    SCOUT SCAR 12 miles      Moderately Strenuous            Leader: Geoff Sharrocks

Alight Oxenholme  Return Kendal       Picnic lunch, tea at Kendal

The Helm, Natland, Sedgwick, Levens Park, Levens, Scout Scar, Kendal.

D Walk      MINT,SPRINT & KENT!(Mileage and grade to be inserted) Leader: Mike Codd

Alight & return Kendal         Picnic lunch, tea at Kendal

Mint Bridge, Skelsmergh Hall, Burton House, Gurnall Bridge, Sprint Mill, Burneside, Kent Bank, Kendal.

Train Times: Blackburn 07.52 (Change at Preston)Bamber Br 08.06 (Change at Preston), Chorley 08.16, Preston 08.28, Lancaster 08.44, all passengers change at Oxenholme for Kendal departing 09.05. Ribble Valley passengers catch the 07.08 departure from Clitheroe calling all stations to Blackburn arriving 07.29. Return from Kendal at 15.36. Timetables available from manned stations or Clitheroe Interchange or check Journey Planner on National Rail website for full details. All passengers to book Day Returns to Kendal.

Relevant Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7 The English Lakes SE Area

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Saturday, August 23rd   Past Landscapes’ Walk    MACCLESFIELD IN SILK

Alight & return Macclesfield

A fascinating silk trail and other delights to include the Savage Chapel, 108 Steps, Charles Loe’s Cristchurch, a Unitarian chapel, Blake Hall and the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie proclaimed himself King of England!

Approx 5miles              Leader: Stuart Leese       Picnic lunch, tea in Macclesfield          

Travel Arrangements: Meet at Manchester Piccadilly in time for the 09.45 train to Macclesfield. The following trains should make connections:- Preston 08.34, Leyland 08.43, Chorley 08.44. Bamber Br 08.06 (Change at Preston).Ribble Valley passengers should catch the train departing Clitheroe 07.56 calling all stations to Blackburn. Change at Blackburn departing from there at 08.30 and change again at Bolton departing from there at 09.12 to Manchester Piccadilly. All passengers to book Day Returns to either Chorley or Darwen then use a Wayfarer ticket to Macclesfield.

N.B. Wayfarer tickets can only be obtained in advance from manned stations in Greater Manchester, Chorley Sta or Clitheroe Interchange. They are of a scratchcard type and validated on the day of travel.

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Saturday, September 6th       GLOSSOP  

B Walk         BLEAKLOW  15 miles       Strenuous         Leader: John Barnes

Alight &  return Glossop          Picnic lunch, tea at Glossop

Glossop Sta., Old Glossop, Shittern Clough, harrop Moss, Bleaklow Head, Stable Clough, Longendale Trail, Reaps, Clough Head, Blackshaw Farm, Glossop

C Walk           FEATHERBED MOSS   10 miles   Moderate       Leader: Geoff Sharrocks

Alight & return Glossop                Picnic lunch, tea at Glossop

Old Glossop, Doctor’s Gate, Featherbed Moss, Mill Hill, Harry Hut, Glossop.

E Walk       LONGENDALE TRAIL    8 miles         Easy               Leader: to be announced

Alight Hayfield & return Glossop        Picnic lunch, tea at Glossop

Bottoms Reservoir, Valehouse Wood, Rhodeswood Reservoir, Longendale Trail, Little Radfield Farm, Swineshaw Reservoir, Little Glossop, Glossop.

Travel Details: Meet at Manchester Piccadilly in time to catch the 09.49 train to Glossop. The following trains should connect:- Preton 08.34, Leyland 08.43. Bamber Br 08.06 (Change at Preston).Ribble Valley passengers should catch the train leaving Clitheroe at 07.56 calling all stations to Blackburn. Change at Blackburn into the 08.30 train to Manchester but change at Bolton into the 09.12 train to Manchester Piccadilly. All passengers to book Day Returns to either Chorley or Darwen then use a Wayfarer ticket to Glossop and return.

N.B Wayfarer tickets can only be obtained in advance from manned stations in Greater Manchester, Chorley Sta or Clitheroe Interchange. They are of a scratchcard type and validated on the day of travel.

Relevant Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL1 The Peak District - Dark Peak

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 FUTURE DATES & DESTINATIONS 

October 4th  Windermere

November  1st  Littleborough

November 22nd Carnforth & Silverdale

December 6th  Sowerby Bridge

December 27th  West Pennine Moors

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East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership Guided Walks’ Programme

The  Guided Walks’ Programme for June 2008 onwards is available from manned stations, tourist information centres, libraries and Clitheroe Interchange. The next walk in the series will be on Saturday, July 19th when there will be a rare opportunity to walk between Colne and Clitheroe Stations - a moderate 11 miles.  The walk starts at Colne Station at 10.41 after the arrival of the train from Preston, Blackburn & Burnley Central.

Book return tickets to Colne unless, of course, you are boarding the train at Clitheroe on the outward journey when a single to Colne is required!

This is an excellent walk which literally starts off the end of the platform at Colne and continues round the outside of the new Boundary Mill premises to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Barrowford Locks and on to Barrowford. From there the walk follows the Pendle Way up Pendle Water to Water Meetings then heads across the fields to Twiston Moor. From the top of the Moor are some of the best panoramic views of Ribblesdale, the Bowland Fells, The Three Peaks and Craven. A descent is made to the hidden hamlet of Twiston and across the meadows at the foot of Pendle to Downham. The way to Clitheroe passes through ‘Whistle Down The Wind Country’ around Worsaw Hill, then across the A59 and through more fields to the outskirts of Clitheroe.

I wonder how many people have made this trip is the past 50 years - very few I suspect!