Members: John Dobson, Jim and Sandy Gregson, Bob Kelly, Iain McCallum, Dave Shotton, Keith Williams, Dave Wylie.

Guests: Margaret Baldock, Julien Bodard, Joe Dugdale, Ding Koy, Julian Laidler, Julia Partington.

It was good to see a satisfying turnout (of both newcomers and familiar faces) on the day, confounding early expectations! The weather was overcast, with visibility becoming poor at times due to mist on the tops, but at least it didn't rain.

We left the Crookfield Road car park just after 9.45 a.m. (almost on time), passing through the plantation and halting only briefly by the ruins of Hollinshead Hall, before crossing the A675 and heading on upwards to the summit of Great Hill. After a quick refreshment stop at the top, we pressed on before the imminent arrival of an even larger party of walkers, following the stone flags along Spitlers Edge, crossing the road at Hordern Stoops, and heading on up the short but steep section to the summit of Winter Hill. By this time thick mist had closed in to the extent that the TV and telecommunications antennae were largely hidden from view even when standing next to them! We carried on down the path to the A675 near Belmont village, at which point Bob Kelly left us early as he had remembered something important (though all turned out well in the end, as he confirmed later).

There followed something of a magical mystery (de)tour down towards the Ornamental Reservoir, involving a slightly unofficial incursion on the back yard of the old Belmont Dye Works to reach Egerton Road, from where footpaths and lanes led to Belmont Reservoir. The dam was off limits due to construction works, so lunch was taken next to the track leading up towards Longworth Moor. The track was then followed past Higher Pasture House and on to the junction with the Witton Weavers Way, where a breakaway group comprising Julia, Margaret, Joe and John took a direct route back to the car park. The remaining stalwarts however took a longer loop back over Longworth and Turton Moors, pausing en route to investigate the remains of old mine workings, farm buildings and the old tramway around the area known as the Rabbit Warren. We then continued along paths between Turton and Darwen Moors (largely devoid of other walkers), rejoining the Witton Weavers Way before descending to lower ground just south of Turn Lowe, and reaching the car park a little after 4 p.m. (Due to restricted visibility and lack of inclination, Darwen Tower was left for another day).

Total distance covered was about 12 miles (19 kilometres) for the full route without shortcuts.

This is a pleasant winter walk taking in some classic Lancashire moorland on what is effectively a high-level circuit of Belmont Reservoir, taking in Great Hill, Winter Hill and (optionally) Darwen Hill.

Start point: Crookfield Road car park (just off A675 Belmont Road) at grid reference SD665191 to the north of Belmont village and reservoir. The car park is fairly large and is unlikely to be excessively busy at this time of year.

Start time: Meet at 09:30 for a 09:45 start.

Map: OS Explorer 287 (West Pennine Moors); alternatively Landrangers 103 (Blackburn & Burnley) and 109 (Manchester).

Distance: 9-13 miles depending on route taken. Bring a headtorch just in case.

Route: From the car park, a scenic detour via the ruins of Hollinshead Hall leads upwards to the top of Great Hill. From there, a walk along Redmonds Edge and Spitlers Edge (much of the way on stone flags) crosses the road at Hordern Stoops to reach the summit of Winter Hill and its forest of TV and telecommunications antennae. From there the way descends to Belmont village (pub stop if desired).

From Belmont, the shorter variation of the walk leads more directly back to the car park along part of the Witton Weavers Way above the Belmont Reservoir. However, weather and inclination permitting, we can press on up and across Darwen Moor (possibly over White Hill) to reach Darwen Tower (the Jubilee Tower on Darwen Hill, giving great views to the north) before returning home.