A: Whittle Hill, Cowpe Lowe, Top of Leach and Knowl Hill 11 ml
Coordinator: Steve Smith
Start: Very large layby on A680 SD830160 Approach from Junction 1, M66
Pub: Owd Betts – opposite the layby. Popular with diners but probably quieter late afternoon.
Maps: OS 50k Manchester 109, Blackburn and Burnley 103. OS 25k Explorer OL21 South Pennines
Route AM fp NNE then NW, through wall at 828 169, fp NE then NW to Paradise (named on OS 25k), down steps, cross stream, up steps, WNW then NW up across field to stile, trk few metres SW then rising fp NE then N to T junction. Trk N then fp NW onto Whittle Hill/Pike, fp E is v boggy so return SE to trk E. At 832 187 fp NE then NW in valley, fork left at 829 194, past Waugh’s Well, N to 828 201, trk then fp WNW, trk ENE , fp ENE to Cowpe Lowe trig point, fp E then SE, trk S around Black Hill then SE (lunch somewhere along this track).
Route PM Trk E to 850 196, off piste S to Top of Leach trig point and boundary stone, fp SW past ruin, trk SW then S, fork SW at 837 183, trk SW, S, SE, faint path SE from 837 172, fp SE to Knowl Hill trig point, fp WSW, cross stream, fp SW to cars.
B: Ashworth, Cheesden Brook, Rochdale Way 8.5 ml can be shortened
Coordinator: Gwyn Thomas
Start: Very large layby on A680 SD830160 Approach from Junction 1, M66
Pub: Early Doors Owd Betts (next to car park) a lunchtime pub possible if demand exists
Route: Lumb Bridge, Croston Close Bottoms, Deeply Vale, Cheesden Brook, Simpson Clough, and Rochdale Way back to cars