The Forty-Seventh of our “Hubberton Hikers Hikes” is now scheduled for Saturday January 20th 2007. The hike is planned to start at 11am from the car park and picnic site above Waterfoot. The hike is approximately 5 miles long and will take about 3 to 3.5 hours at a gentle pace. It is planned to have a drink in either Todmorden or Hebden Bridge when the hike is completed, (any suggestions).
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Directions: Waterfoot is between Bacup and Rawtenstall. Do A646 to Todmorden, left at the
roundabout for about half a mile then right onto the A681 to Bacup. Stay on the Rawtenstall
Road for 2-3 miles. The Waterfoot / Cowpe turning will be on your left (just before the
B6238 junction on the other side). The car park and picnic site are a short way along.
Turn right out of the car park along a farm lane that climbs southwest past several small reservoirs. The track squeezes between two houses with mock Georgian windows, and veers left. Now a grassy rutted track, it rakes up the moorland slopes east of Cowpe Low and wiggles to the right to avoid a shaley miniature ravine. Do not be tempted on to the path directly up Black Hill, which in recent times has undergone a moorland regeneration scheme, but continue south west to a junction of tracks. Turn left here on a stony one, which climbs steadily to Black Hill’s western slopes. Ignore all paths diverging to the left at this stage and follow the main track veering gradually to the right. Close to some tall gateposts, the track meets the Rooley Moor road that will eventually be the route of descent. But first it is best to head south along it in order to scale the true summit of Cowpe Moss, Top of Leach. The two rows of grit stone slabs now form the basis for the old road. On reaching the commemoration stone for the Rossendale Way, abandon the track for a faint path climbing to the summit. We then follow the same path back off the summit, back as far as the tall gateposts. On reaching the gateposts, we descend north down the Rooley Moor road to a farmhouse by a radio mast. Turn left in front of the farmhouse and over the primitive stile into the field beyond. A rutted track develops into a deep grassy channel, which veers to the right. After going through a gate the track meets a tarmac lane by a small-enclosed reservoir. Continue the descent along the lane, which degenerates into a stony track. Turn left as the track turns sharp right, tracing the perimeter of the field to the housing estate. Follow the estate road and turn first left along a street of terraced houses. It emerges almost opposite the lane to the car park. Follow “YOUR LEADER” on the day! |
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ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY CAN JOIN THIS BRILLIANT BAND OF PEOPLE ON THE DAY AT THE SAID TIME. PLEASE INFORM LEADER OF ANY INTAKES!
A moderate walk on quarry tracks to the high moors. We will trace the ancient packhorse trails to the tops and enjoy the bracing that air and fine views of distant hills. This route captures the essence of Rossendale, it is not beautiful, but somehow its presence comes through that austere and broken skin. The start will be taken at a leisurely pace so as to make sure that ALL those who wish to complete the hike will do so. PLEASE take note of "ANDYS AMBLING ADVICE" and ensure that warm and waterproof clothing is/are taken in case of any change in the weather.
A MAP of the walk is available HERE.
A Microsoft Word version of this page is available for download here (270K)
This page last updated on 12th November 2006