Longridge Fell Forest

The forest on Longridge Fell provided a good few hours of off lead walking today. Fortunately for me the ground was still frozen despite the winter sunshine, so I avoided bringing home a filthy dirty dog!

We parked at the small forest car park on Birdy Brow and headed up the steep forest road to the right. A large area has recently been cleared here giving it a nice open feel as we walked through the sunshine.

We continued along the forest road for about a mile before turning right at the first major junction. The road is slightly narrower here and soon reaches a "t" junction where we turned left, and continued through a lovely stretch of woods where the dog really enjoyed running through the soft mossy grass between the trees. The forest road soon descended left, giving wonderful views over the Ribble Valley. At the junction we turned left, and headed back towards are starting point.

As we neared the junction where we initially turned, the dog was clearly not in the mood to return to the car, so we once again headed up through the trees but rather than turn left at the "t" junction, we took the footpath on the right. It proved to be an excellent decision as we reached a great viewpoint looking over the Hodder valley towards Fairsnape and Birkett Fell.

The path continued through the woods, eventually rejoining the forest road and the descent to the car park.

This was a great walk. We could have extended it a little to reach the top of Spire Hill by taking a small footpath through the woods just before the forest road began it's descent, after the spot where the dog enjoyed running through the trees. Having said that, it looked very muddy!

Doggy rating 8/10

The Velvet Trail, Birkdale

A few people have commented that the dunes to the South of Southport provide a great environment for dog walking. Today we were relieved to find the torrential rains of the past days had ceased so decided to find a mud free option. The dune of Birkdale beckoned.

We parked up at the large car park at Weld road and headed off through the dunes immediately to the south of the car park. White marker posts dotted within the dunes pointed our way, following a once famous and popular victorian walk called the Velvet Trail. The dog loved running free through the dunes and, fortunately, completely failed to spot any of the hundreds of rabbits that hopped away as he chased his ball up and down the sandy slopes.

We made our way towards what seemed to be the highest dune, with wonderful views of the "green" beach and golf course, and spent a good half an hour playing fetch in a sandy amphitheatre.

The markers led us towards the "green" beach and back along a slightly muddy but good path to the car park.

Whilst the walk was a bit grubby in places, the dog loved it and we'll be back again.

Doggy rating 7/10 (would have been 8/10 with a little less litter)

Gregson Lane Dog Training Club and the Good Citizen Dog Scheme

Every Tuesday night for the past 18 months or so we've made our way to the community centre at Gregson Lane, to give our dog a good education. Last night, along with our school chums, we were rewarded with a Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme Gold Award.

Although we were obviously pleased that we have brought up a well mannered dog, and have taken our "parental" responsibilities seriously, it was with a touch of sadness that we left the club, knowing that the trainers and all the other volunteers who keep the club going, have done their part, and that we will soon have to find some alternative Tuesday night entertainment.

We'd certainly recommend the Good Citizen scheme, and Gregson Lane Dog Training Club in particular, to anyone. The dog has had a great time socialising with his mates, and so have we. Our trainers, Denise and Arthur, have given great advice and are clearly committed to helping ensure that every dog gets the best start in life!

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme was established to promote socially acceptable dogs and to teach owners how to train their dogs. After all, dogs are not born with the fountain of all knowledge. Just like humans dogs need to be educated so that they can live in harmony with society.

The Scheme is open to all dogs regardless of age or breed. The aim of the Scheme is to promote responsible dog ownership and in turn, enhance our relations with our canines, and to make the community aware of the benefits associated with owning dogs.

We obtained a list of local training groups and contact numbers from the Riverside Vets.

Have fun!

PLEASE SEE THE LINK ON THE HOME PAGE FOR MORE RECENT INFORMATION ON GREGSON LANE DOG TRAINING CLUB

St Sundays Crag and Fairfield (Cumbria)

Week two of building work, the house is still a tip, the dog is no longer stressed about the comings and goings but who needs an excuse for a days escape.

Yesterday saw a return to the high fells of Lakeland and another hike with the dog, rather than a dog walk, if you know what I mean. We parked up at Patterdale and followed the steep path up Thornhow End, Birks and up to St Sundays Crag. The going was steep but relatively easy for the most part but there were plenty of sheep around so that, together with the craggy nature of the area, meant the dog was on the flexi-lead throughout.

We decended to Deepdale Hause and then up the steep rocky slopes to the summit of Fairfield. Unfortunately for us, the some terrible weather moved in within the space of 5 minutes and we were subjected to battering winds, mist, rain, hail and sleet - the dog was most unimpressed!


Needless to say, we didn't dwell too long on the summit and carried on round to Hart Crag, and better weather, before descending the steep path to Hartsop Above How. This descent was quite a slow stretch and we'd have struggled without the flexibility of the flexi lead to enable us both to work our way down the hillside in turn.

The path flattened out for an easy descent to Deepdale Bridge and Patterdale. The dog was able to run off the lead for a good stetch here, with no sheep around until the lower slopes.

This was probably the dogs toughest walk to date, about 10 miles of hard going. Hoefully he'll remian tired for the rest of the week!

Doggy rating 5/10 (because of the descent from Hart Crag)

Birchen, Baslow and Gardoms Edges and a dog friendly pub (Derbyshire)

Last Sunday saw another trip to Derbyshire and a lovely 4 mile walk around the edges above Baslow. The route was a bit steep in parts but generally nice walking. There were though few places to let the dog run free, with plenty of sheep dotted around the route.

We parked up next to the Robin Hood pub, off the A619 just outside Baslow. From the busy car park we turned left up the road a short way and up through the woods alongside the golf course, on a a good sandy path. The path ran underneath Birchen Edge, where we spent a short while watching the many rock climbers clinging to ridiculously small cracks in the gritstone. Our guidebook suggested that Birchen Edge was "sombre" but at this time of year it is anything but. The firey colours of the bracken and leaves in the birch trees were spectacular.

We continued along the path, through a marshy field, to the A621 Sheffield Road. Crossing the road with care we headed up the lane opposite for a short way before taking the path left through a gate and along the top of Baslow Edge. Passing Wellingtons Monument we took a path just before a gate leading alongside a wall and then steeply down through the trees back to the Sheffield Road.

The final stretch, taking the path on the opposite side of the road, led us past Gardoms Edge and back to the pub.

This was a lovely walk but because of the sheep and cattle dotted around, even in woodland areas, the dog didn't get off the lead. He was though made most welcome in the hikers den in the Robin Hood pub, where we enjoyed some good traditional Sunday pub fare. The pub also has plenty of outside seating space should the weather be fine. I'd recommend this as a good dog friendly pub in the Derbyshire/Peak District area.

All in all, a nice day out.

Doggy rating 6/10

The Langdale Pikes (Cumbria)

The builders are in, the house is a tip, the dog is stressed, so a day off and a trip to the Lakes seemed like a good idea yesterday.

The dog hadn't been up a "real" mountain before so after stopping for a bacon sandwich in Ambleside we headed up Langdale and parked at the Stickle Barn NT car park.

Our route followed Dungeon Gill, past Loft Crag (which I decided was a little rough for the dog) and to the top of Pike o'Stickle. The scramble to the top of Pike o'Stickle was a little steep too but we found a reasonable ascent, turning up a short way before the main path reached the cliff edge.

Reaching the top, I caught my breath whilst the dog (still not panting) drooled pathetically at the sight of the egg and cress sandwich I retreived from my rucksack.

Refreshed, and having shared the egg sandwich, we crossed the marsh and up to Harrison Stickle and onwards to Pavey Ark before decending steeply to Stickle Tarn. Here the dog had a game of fetch and a cold swim before the final decent back to the car park.

All in all this was an enjoyable day. The dog was, in the main, on the flexi lead but seemed to enjoy it none the less.

It should go without saying that this is a serious walk in the mountains. Make sure you check the weather forecast are well prepared and leave notice of your route. For further information look at the Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team website

Doggy rating 7/10

Redmonds Edge and Great Hill

The Google map and satellite image for todays walk is pretty freatureless, but the walk up to Redmonds Edge and along to Great Hill from the United Utilities Car Park just off Belmont Road, near to Conyries Plantation, is anything but. There are views galore and, to keep the dog entertained, mud glorious mud!

From the car park we crossed Belmont Road and followed the signed footpath up across the open moorland. As the path began to skirt round to the right, a very muddy looking path led to the left, directly up the hillside to join Redmond's Edge. Even the dog looked uncomfortable at times, trying to avoid the worst of the pools of smelly mud which were, as I found out, deep enough to fill ankle high hiking boots.

Finally, our endurance came to an end and we joined a paved track leading across the edge to the signpost at the top of Great Hill. I stopped to admire the views across huge tracts of Lancashire whilst the dog eyed up some walkers enjoying their lunch. We the headed down another muddy path to Belmont Road. From here, the best option is a scenic return to the car park through Hollinswood Hall and the Plantation but we had a quick hike along the road to our starting point.

There were a couple of stiles along the route but the dog was able to pass through adjacent "doggy gates". There were one or two sheep around on the moors, so the dog was on the lead for a lot of the route, but in those areas where we had a good clear view around us, he enjoyed a run and some good games of "fetch".

We completed the route of around 3 miles in a couple of hours.

Doggy rating 6/10.

Brock Bottoms to Walmsley Bridge

It's a year to the day since we started our blog. Having a dog has given me an excuse to visit some lovely places that would otherwise have passed me by. As I've driven up and down the M6 near Garstang I've never realised that the nearby River Brock, between Brock Bottoms and Walmsley Bridge, would be one of the best walks we've found to date.

We parked at the almost full car park on Brock Mill lane and took a quick look at the information point outlining some of the waymarked routes in the area before heading downstream. With the autumn leaves falling from the trees, and the riverside path muddy from the heavy overnight rain, we were in doggy heaven. If there was a downside it was that the river was running quite high so swimming was out, and the narrow path's many twists and turns meant that I had to be fairly alert to make sure the dog didn't knock any poor defenceless children into the river!

We followed the path past the ruins of the old mill, then through wonderful, livestock free, open pastures to Walmsley Bridge.

We crossed the bridge and headed up the lane a short way before taking the footpath leading left through the farm. The path led us back up towards Bleasdale lane, which we followed a little further before the dog could once again run free on a muddy footpath leading left back down to the footbridge near the mill. There was just time for a quick paddle to wash off the worst of the mud before heading home, wet but happy.




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Doggy rating 7/10 (because of the short stretch of lane walking and potential for livestock in the fields, although they were empty today)

Arnside Knott

Today's walk takes in the three highest peaks in England, Scafell, Skiddaw and Helvellyn, all in the space of an hour or so. Well almost...the view from Arnside Knott is about as good as it gets, and whilst the low cloud prevented us from seeing many of the lakeland peaks this afternoon, the panorama on a clear day is amazing, and you can see all of these peaks.

Our walk started at the National Trust car park on Arnside Knott. From the car park we headed almost directly up the steep slope to the stone walled viewpoint. From there, we continued onwards, through a gate, into woodland and a good track which led to the left and continued up the hill to another viewpoint and a bench.

The hilltop provided a chance for some ball throwing before we headed onwards and through another gate diagonally downhill through open pastures. There were a few cattle gazing here but the dog, and the cattle, were pretty disinterested in each other.

Once we reached the far wall we followed the path right, alongside the edge of the pasture, with the wall on our left. A gate in the corner of the pasture led us back in to the woods and down a fairly steep and slippery (when wet) path.

In sight of the road, we bore right and passed beneath the steep limestone screes before continuing onwards, through several more gates, and back to the car park.

This is a great walk, of about 2 miles. If we'd have stayed in the woods rather than cut through the pastures, the entire walk would have been off-lead. As it was, the dog was on the lead for a short while past the cattle. The only down side from the dogs point of view was the absence of a stream or river.


If you wanted to extend the walk a little, and give your dog a paddle, you could start from Arnside promenade.


Doggy rating 8/10 (Would have made a 9 if the dog had found somewhere to swim!)

A quick stroll from Guys Thatched Hamlet

We returned to the the Lancaster Canal at Bilsborrow again today. Having parked next to the cricket ground at Guys Thatched Hamlet and Owd Nells we walked up the canal in the Lancaster direction, through the marina and to the viaduct over the river Brock. The walk up the canal to the Brock only takes 10 minutes or so, but is very pleasant.

Last time we were here, the river Brock was a raging torrent, but today we were able to descent the steep steps leading down to a wide grass riverbank and gently shelving pool next to the viaduct. This proved to be a heavenly spot for a spot of doggy paddle, and if we'd have had a picnic there could be no better place!

When the dog finally gave up chasing his ball, and began to shiver in the realision of how cold the water had been, we climbed back up to the canal and I began to walk back to our starting point. The dog though had other ideas and stared wistfully in the oppostite direction. Being the softee that I am, and thinking it wouldn't do any harm to get him dried off, I gave in and we walked up the canal to the A6 road bridge. The return alongside the A6 through Brock gave yet another chance to perfect our heel work (which is getting better!). After ten minutes of road walking we took a clearly marked track back towards Myerscough Collge which led us to the canalside and back to Guys.

All in all, a good little walk, and a great spot for dogs who love swimming.

Click here for the Guys Thatched Hamlet website

Doggy rating 7/10