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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18th          WHALEY BRIDGE

Whaley Bridge is the gateway to the Goyt Valley and Disley the gateway to Lyme Park both favourite Rail Rambler walking areas.

C Walk  Whaley Bridge to Buxton         11 miles moderate

Alight Whaley Bridge & return Buxton

Whaley Bridge, Taxwl, Goyt Valley, Fernilee Reservoir, Bunsal Cob, Cromford & High Peak Railway, The Beet, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton

Your leader: Peter Forkasiewicz

E Walk     Lyme Park              8 miles easy

Alight Disley & return Whaley Bridge

Disley, Lyme park, Cage Hill, West Parkgate, Dale Top,Holme Wood, Whaley Bridge

Your leader: Geoff Sherrocks

Map: OS Explorer OL1 The Peak District – Dark Peak

OL 24 The Peak District – White Peak Area

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: We will catch the 09.52 train Buxton train from Manchester Piccadilly. Connections from Blackpool North at 07.44, Preston 08.12, 08.17 or 08.47, Chorley08.22, 08.34 or 08.56, Clitheroe 07.40 (change at Bolton), Blackburn 08.03 or 08.32 (change at Bolton), Colne 06.50 (change at Blackburn & Bolton or come by bus)

Return from Whaley Br. at 39 min past or Buxton at 15.27 or 16.30

BOOKING DETAILS: Book a Day Return to Chorley or Darwen then use a Wayfarer*(see below)

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SATURDAY, MARCH 3rd      HAWORTH & THE WORTH VALLEY

It is a long time since we walked in the Worth Valley and to-day’s walks follow paths not used before.

C Walk   The Watersheds around Ponden    12 miles Mod Strenuous

Alight & return Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge, bus to Waggon & Horses, Top O’Stairs, Deep NItch, Oxenhope Stoop Hill, Dick Delf Hill, Top Withins, Pennine Way, Ponden Reservoir, Crag Top, Old Bess Hill, Scotland Hill, Hare Hill, Street Lane, Haworth, bus to Hebden Bridge

Your leader: Tessa Rowe

D Walk  Worth Valley Circular               8 miles moderate

Hebden Bridge, bus to Waggon & Horses, Nab Hill, Leeming Reservoir, Bentley Hey, Brow Moor, Worth Way, Damens Station, Cockleshaw, Haworth Station, bus to Hebden Bridge.

Your leader: Craig Ward

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: The train departs Blackpool North at 08.29, Preston 08.54, Blackburn 09.10, Accrington 09.17 and Burnley Manchester Rd 09.26. Connections to Preston from Chorley at 08.11, from Clitheroe to Blackburn at 08.26 and from Bamber Bridge at 08.30 (change at Blackburn). Those travelling from Manchester should catch the 09.22 from Victoria.

Return from Hebden Bridge at 38min past the hour to Blackpool North and 18, 28 & 56 min past to Manchester.

BOOKING DETAILS: Book a Day Return to Hebden Bridge from all stations.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 17th      GOOSTREY

A completely new destination for us to explore and you can use your Wayfarer Ticket

C Walk Goostrey Circular          12 miles moderate

Alight & return Goostrey

Goostrey, Deer Park farm, Smiths Green, Pitt Farm, Boundary Farm, Mill House Farm, Swrttenham, Twemlow Viaduct, Blueslate Farm, Goostrey

Your Leader: Hilary Bell

E Walk  Goostrey Explorer                   7 miles easy

Alight & return Goostrey

Blackden Manor Farm, Lower Withington, Red Lion Brook, Daffodil Dell, Swettenham Nature Reserve & Village, Kermincham Hall, Goostrey

Your leader: Stuart Leese

Map: OS Explorer268 Wilmslow, Macclesfield & Congleton

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: We shall catch the Crewe train which leaves Piccadilly at 10.04. Connections depart Blackpool North at 07.44 or 08.04*, Preston 08.47, Chorley 08.56, Clitheroe 07.40 or 08.26* (change at Bolton), Blackburn 08.32 (change at Bolton), Colne 06,50 (change at Blackburn & Bolton or travel by bus to M/c)

*The later departures from Blackpool & Clitheroe allow only 8 minutes to change platforms at Piccadilly.

BOOKING DETAILS:  Book a Day Return to Chorley or Darwen and use a Wayfarer Ticket* (see below)

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SATURDAY, MARCH 31st    EDALE

The classic Peak District walking area is our destination to-day

B Walk -  Mam yor & Crookstone Moor        11 miles strenuous

Alight & return Edale

Edale, Harden Clough, Mam Tor, Lose Hill, Townhead Bridge, Roman Road, Hope Cross, Crookstone Knoll, Madwoman’s Stones, Ringing Roger, Edale

Your Leader: Chris Thornley

E Walk – Mam Tor                       8 miles easy

Alight Hope & return Edale

Hope, Castleton, Limestone Way to Hazard Mine, Windy Knoll, Mam Tor, Hollins Cross, Edale

Your Leader: Geoff Sherrocks

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

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: The train to Edale leaves manchester Piccadilly at 09.45. connections depart from Blackpool North at 07.44, Preston at 08.12, 08.17 & 08.47, Chorley 08.22, 08.34 & 08.56, Clitheroe at 07.40 (change at Bolton), Blackburn 08.03 & 08.32 (change at Bolton) Colne 06.50 (change at Blackburn & Bolton or travel to Manchester by bus)

Return from Edale at 47 min past each hour.

BOOKING DETAILS: book a day Return to either Darwen or Chorley the use a Wayfarer Ticket*(see below). If you haven’t purchased a Wayfarer Ticket in advance then book a Day Return through to Hope or Edale.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 14th                 WINDERMERE

The southern Lake District in Spring with, possibly, ‘A Host of Golden Daffodils’

C Walk – Wansfell                                          10 miles moderate

Alight & return Windermere

Windermere, Orrest Head, Near Orrest, Marr House, Dubs Road, Limefitt Park, Troutbeck, Wansfell, Wansfell Pike, Stock Gill, Ambleside. Bus to Windermere (Fare extra)

Your leader: Mike Codd

D Walk                                                                 8 miles moderate

Alight & return Windermere

Windermere, Orrest Head, Troutbeck, Wansfell Ridge, Stockghyll Force, Ambleside. Bus to Windermere (Fare extra)

Your leader: Stuart Leese

Map: OS Explorer OL7 – The English Lakes SE Area

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: The train to Oxenholme departs Preston 08.37 &  Lancaster 08.52. The train to Windermere departs Oxenholme at 09.11. Connections to Preston depart Blackpool Nrth at 07.44, Bolton 07.59, Chorley 08.11, Clitheroe 07.07 (change at Blackburn), Blackburn 07.35, Colne 06.50 and Bamber Bridge at 07.49.

Return from Windermere at 16.02 or 17.06

BOOKING DETAILS: Book a Day Return to Windermere.

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FUTURE DESTINATIONS  SPRING / SUMMER 2012

SATURDAY, MAY 12TH GT. BUDWORTH – PAST LANDSCAPES

SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH – GREENFIELD

SATURDAY, JULY 14TH – BUXTON

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18TH – SOWERBY BRIDGE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH – COLNE FOR COWLING

If any of our regulars would like to suggest a destination or new area to walk in then please let us know.

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EAST LANCS COMMUNITY RAIL WALKS

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 11TH

To-day’s walk explores the countryside on Preston’s periphery starting at Bamber Bridge Station at 10.49 following the arrival of the trains from Preston & Colne. The 8 miles’ easy walk passes through Withy Park, Killingbourne Brow, Cuerdale Hall, along the Ribble to Walton Hall Farm  and on to the Lancaster Canal and finishing in Avenham and Miller Parks.

Booking Arrangements: Book a Day Return to Preston or Bamber Bridge depending on originating station

Your Leader: Stuart Leese

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*WAYFARER TICKETS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (NB NOT required for the above walks)

Wayfarer Tickets must be purchased in advance from manned stations in Greater Manchester, Chorley or Clitheroe & Nelson Interchanges. 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 payable to GMPTE and leave at least a week for reply.