Healey Nab - 24-08-14

The weather forecast was good; the sun was shining and the temperature was warm enough for us all to be wearing what may have been the last opportunity for our summer clothes. 15 adults, 2 children and Molly the dog assembled adjacent to the Shepherds Arms, Eaves Lane Chorley.

The walk took us down Cross Hall Lane and over the canal bridge, where we left the road and skirted along a path climbing to the now compulsory series of stiles, which took us into fields adjacent to the M61. 　Finding a footbridge, we crossed the motorway which brought us to a Scout campsite located at Bibby’s Farm. Walking along a made-up drive around the site, we continued along a series of roads with hedgerows laden with blackberry’s, in various states of ripeness, which gave a suitable boost of vitamin C to those who sampled them.

Leaving the roads once again and taing to a bridle path we climbed to take in stunning views of Winter Hill with its distinctive masts and further on gained sufficient height to look over to the purple coloured heather on the moorland surrounding White and Black Coppice and Anglezarke Reservoir. At the top of an incline a sign informed us we had reached the site of Nab Hill Memorial Gardens where it is possible to plant a tree in memory of a departed loved one. Suitable seating formed an ideal stop for our coffee break and for the organized amongst us a biscuit or two.

A break of this nature isn’t always a good idea as it seems much more difficult to get those aching limbs moving again.

Continuing our endeavours we again took an uphill route through a wooded area to emerge at a pile of stones known as Pilkie’s Folly and were reliably informed we had attained a height of 210 mtrs above sea level. Once again it was possible to soak up the panoramic views overlooking Chorley and well beyond to the Fylde Coast with Blackpool Tower in the distance and to the south the wind farms we had seen on a previous walk around Mawdesley, and round to Rivington Pike.

From here our route was predominantly downwards, passing over another couple of stiles back towards our starting point, once again crossing the Motorway by a different bridge and emerging back into Cross Hall Lane and the canal bridge we had passed approximately three hours earlier.

Our thanks once again are recorded to those who suggested the walk (Leigh), those who organised it (Rodney), those who sorted the weather (?????) 　and more importantly all those who turned up and joined in contributing to each other’s enjoyment in such a positive way.

P.R.L.

Midge Walkers

Walk  No. 69