| Walk: | Jeffrey Hill, Gannow fell, Duddel Hill, Starling Brook, Hurst Green, Stonyhurst College, Walker Fold, Longridge Fell, Spire Hill | ||
| Start Point: | Jeffrey Hill | Grid Reference: | SD 639 401 |
| Distance: | 14 miles | Ascent: | 1,460 feet |
| Time: | 7 hours | ||
| Weather: | Sunny and mild all day with great light for taking photographs | ||
| Comments: | What a fabulous day! We couldn't believe the mild temperature with hardly a breath of wind. However, the same couldn't be said for the conditions under foot and the leader was awarded the trophy for the muddiest, boggiest walk of the year!!!! After a brief walk across to the trees of Longridge Fell we gradually descended across heather clad slopes and through pasture land to cross Duddel Brook. Taking a morning break on the sun warmed Clough Bank we crossed Starling Brook before beginning the ascent to Hurst Green. From here we made our way across to Stonyhurst College and on to skirt around the end of Longridge Fell. Lunch was taken with views across fields and fells, enjoying the autumn colours. A few more fields brought us to Walker Fold where we took a path to climb the north side of Longridge Fell. A section of forest track took us through the trees and on to Spire Hill. The low afternoon sun created great photo opportunities of the fells to the north - Parlick to Totridge Fell - but made it more difficult to avoid the never-ending 'boggy bits'. Arriving back at the cars with sun still above the horizon, (just) the group agreed that it had been a great walk. | ||
Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Parlick and Fair Snape Fell from Jeffrey Hill . . .
and Totridge Fell from the same spot
Gathering the troops on Jeffrey Hill
One of the muddier sections of the walk!
Early morning mist . . .
in the Ribble Valley
Skirting the trees of Longridge Fell
Descending into trees . . .
and emerging at the other side
Can we come too?
Crossing Duddle Brook . . .
as Phil captures the light and shade of the woodland
Sign of a hard winter to come?
A sunny morning coffee stop (though some would claim it was afternoon by now!)
Crossing Starling Brook . . .
to head across fields to another stile (quite a few in this walk)
Pendle Hill
The war memorial at Hurst Green
Almshouses . . .
with their own history
Not a breath of wind
Stonyhurst Cricket Pavilion with Pendle Hill in the distance
One of the two ornamental lakes at the front of . . .
Stonyhurst College . . .
where old meets new
Jenny leads the way across boggy ground
Lunch on the flanks of Longridge Fell . . .
where trees sport a variety of autumn colours
A tricky double stile with a very wet landing
Totridge Fell in the distance . . .
and more autumn colours nearby
Through the woods . . .
to climb through . . .
a gap in the trees
where Ray tries out a rather old bench
A gap in the trees provides more views of Parlick, Saddle Fell, Wolf Fell and Totridge Fell . . .
while in the distance Ingleborough can be seen
All smiles - we have finished the climbing
A magnificent tree on the way to . . .
Spire Hill . . .
where we pose for a group shot
The moon rises above the trees . . .
as the sun hides behind the hill . . .
and colours the heather on Spire Hill
Phil creates an atmospheric shot as he shoots directly into the sun