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.

Monday, June 04, 2012

Great Hill (Again and again)

A final post for the day and some more photos from my favourite short walk in Lancashire, to the top of Great Hill on the edge of the West Pennine Moors.

I could never tire of the views across to Merseyside of north to Bowland and South Lakes beyond. Up and down takes only about an hour and a half, whether from the Lodge at Brinscall or White Coppice. Given either is only 20 minutes drive from Preston it makes a perfect longer morning or afternoon trip. Early mornings are our favourite, when even the morning fell runners haven't risen from their beds.

During the summer it's not a good route for off lead walking. Sheep abound although there are some nice off lead paths through the woods above the Goit. It's a good idea to take a flexi-lead with you.

These are some shots from our last couple of trips. As you can probably tell I'm enjoying the camera and editing software on my iPhone!


Arnside Knott

We love Arnside. Provided you get the tide times right the walk along the shore with views across to Grange Over Sands and Heysham is fantastic. Once you reach Far Arnside the path up to the Knott gives stunning views over the Lakeland Fells. For a relatively short walk, I can't think of much better! As long as it's quiet much of the walk can be done with your dog off lead, but don't let the dog (or yourself) stray from the shoreline or you risk being caught in treacherous quicksand or stranded by the rapidly advancing tides.

A month or so ago we had what was probably our best trip there. The cold weather seemed to have put others off so we saw only a handful of others en-route. If you've never been, go!

The Centurion Tank

Our dog has never really liked the car. As a puppy he was sick on one of our first trips out (only as far a Chorley). Perhaps that memory has something to do with it, as we only go to places which he appears to love once we get there. Sometimes though he makes it abundantly clear that the car is off limits for the day in which case I often set off to walk to a particular point of interest (sometimes for me) rather than a walk to the park.

It must have been spring when we walked up through Lostock hall and Farrington to the Centurian Tank at Flensburg Way. It's an impressive landmark, passed by thousands each day. A small plaque tells a bit of Leyland's tank building history which took place not too far away.

Having taken a few photos we wandered across the footpaths over the moss to Whitestake and back past Newgate Nurseries to the end of Bee Lane.

Not a spectacular walk, but not bad if you fancy leaving the car at home.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Entwistle, Wayho and Jumbles Reservoirs

Turton and Entwistle Reservoir is a favourite spot. The top end in particular is stunning. On a quiet morning or evening you could imagine being in the wilds of Scotland.

Until a couple of weeks ago we had only extended the reservoir walk up on to the moors, rather than following the more usual walk which joins up Entwistle with the adjacent Wayho and Jumbles Reservoirs.

Route finding wasn't hard. Although we did have our trusted Viewranger maps on the iPhone they weren't really needed. A decent look at a map beforehand and a few mental notes would see you through.

Entwistle still remains my favourite. Wayho was nice, but a little less wild. If you visit make sure you spend some time (in early summer) admiring the rare wild meadows. Jumbles was also nice, but very very busy.

All in all it was probably 10 miles or so to loop the 3. All easy going.

Gardening Leave

It's been a busy few months. We have got some great walks done but much of the time at weekends has been spent doing a spot of garden redesign.

The dog loves the garden, particularly when the beds are muddy (I didn't managed to train him to stay off) and the kitchen floor has just been cleaned.

It wasn't the intention that he had his own seat, it was for me and my lovely wife, but who cares what we think!