Members Present: A Peck, D Wylie, A Wylie, C Thickett, P Ramsbottom, F Williams, K Mundt, L Payne, A Barber, M Ashley, N Bobola, H Airlie (G), J Brown (Julia) (G), J Hoyle (G), Kasia Hoyle (G), C Pollard and Jenny Flynn (G). And apologies from Iain.

There were some suggestions that this walk should be called the Lancs. and Pennines roads and turbines inspection!

The last time I was in this area just over one year ago, it was a fine walk, with a tramp over some rough moorland. Imagine my surprise when I walked the route a couple of weeks earlier, and saw a car going across the moor, on closer inspection I found a bloody motorway had been laid.

After a coffee stop at Lower Lumb Mill, we carried on to Paradise where Alan Barber was waiting for us. Lunch was taken in an old quarry, and from here a short walk up to the Motorway! It was here that Alan produced his map, and explained that there are 8.5 kms of road works on the moors. There are to be 26 400ft wind turbines built on this moor. Chris said he would have a fantastic view of them (well, I think that's what he said)!

The speed, in which we descended to the Lord Raglan, would have impressed Iain! And the reason I call it a Motorway, all the signs are in blue.

Today's walk will start at The Lord Raglan pub G.R. SD 809152 at Nangreaves. 9.30 for 10 am start. Directions: M60 to M66 come off Junction 1 bearing left onto A56, left at the next set of lights and follow to the Lord Raglan.

Our route will take us from the car park we walk N.E. to Throstle Hill and then onto Harden Moor, walking due East to arrive at Lower Lumb Mill (ruins).

Crossing the road at Cheesden Bridge, we head off to Paradise GR 827174. From Paradise we take the Rossendale Way to Black Hill onto Cowpe Moss, then return to Higher Hill, Cheesden Edge and the Ashworth Moor Reservoir.

Local paths will bring us back to the Lord Raglan, for a pint of their real ale!

Distance 11/12 miles.