Keep safe!

Keep safe!
You are responsible for your own safety and that of your dog. The walks listed in this blog are not detailed guides. Plan your route! Click the landrover image for safety advice from Bowland Pennine MRT.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Avenham Park and Miller Park

Well worth a visit for a short stroll or an energetic spell of ball throwing. I would though stick to daylight hours. Watch for broken glass in some areas, particularly near the Belvedere.

Avenham Park didn't appeal to me as a place to take the dog as my previous visits tended to be on very busy days when bands were playing in the natural amphitheatre. Miller Park conjured up images of deserted pathways and broken glass.

I have to say though that more recently both of these parks have grown on me and the amphitheatre of Avenham Park in particular has proved very popular with myself and the dog as a venue for a good game of fetch. The game begins at the top of the amphitheatre with the ball thrown way down the hill across the huge grassy fields towards the river. It normally ends up with the dog becoming distracted and me searching in the grass to retrieve the said ball!

Access to the park is easy from Preston's main car parks. Why not take the dog for a quick run around the park whilst your better half is running around the shops. Alternatively, the parks are a natural extension to a trip down the Tram Road or a walk along the banks of the river Ribble.

There's a nice website from the Friends of Avenham and Miller Park.

Doggy rating 5/10

Rowsley and Bouns Corner (Derbyshire)

Another trip to Derbyshire (1 hour 45 mins from Preston) and another good walk from Peak Village once you've grabbed your bargains! This is a walk mainly on good bridleways which will take about an hour. It is steep in parts. Most of the walk can be done off lead.

Start at Peak Village and walk through the Grouse and Claret car park to Church Lane. Follow Church Lane to its end where it turns in to a bridleway leading up past the woods of Bouns Corner. From the highest point of the track you can glimpse a view of Bakewell and there are great views across the Wye Valley to Stanton and back over Rowsley and beyond.

Keep following the track and turn left as you come our of the woods of Aaron Hole Plantation (the track is Park Lane but don't be worried of meeting any significant traffic round here - you'll see what I mean. Follow the track back down in to the valley and walk along the road (not very pleasant) for a short stretch back in to Rowsley.

Unfortunately you can't cross the fields to walk by the Wye itself. This forms part of the Haddon Estate fly fishery and access is restricted to fly fishermen. Day tickets (about £30 a day) are available from the Peakcock Hotel in Rowlsey. If you like your fly fishing I'd recommend it. I had a day on the river in the autumn and it was fantastic.

All in all a good walk and lots of off-lead opportunities. A simpler option than the Rowlsey Woods and Water listed earlier in this blog and could be extended on to Bakewell or over the tops to Chatsworth.

Click here for google map

Doggy rating 7/10

Friday, March 09, 2007

White Coppice, Great Hill, Round Loaf and Hirst Hill

There are lots of options for walks round here. The route we took was steep and rough in places, lasting about 3 to 4 hours. Part of the walk took us over Access land with no clear footpaths and very rough ground but there are easier options.

We parked at the north end of Anglezarke Reservoir and followed a good path leading along the Goit to White Coppice. This part of the walk was in a nice enclosed area with no livestock giving the opportunity of some good ball throwing to start the day off! Passing White Coppice, we continued along the Goit to the woods below Wheelton Moor. From there we headed up a rough path over Wheelton Moor to the summit of Great Hill. From here, we headed over very very rough ground (you WILL need decent boots with ankle support) to Round Loaf and Hurst Hill before joining the road and returning to Anglezarke Reservoir. Shooting takes place on this Access land so make sure no shooting is taking place before you head to Round Loaf.

The views on this walk are amazing. When we visited all of the livestock had been taken to lower ground for lambing so most of the walk was off the lead. I expect though that there are sheep grazing the Great Hill area throughout the summer.

All in all a great hill walk!

Click here for a Google Map

Remember to let someone know your route if you're heading out on to the moors round here. You'll see from this link that the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team have a busy time looking for people missing on the moors (as well as plenty of less wild places mentioned in this blog!)

Doggy rating 8/10