Attendees: Dave Wylie, Dave Shotton, Joe Dugdale, Mark Garrod

Definitely a connoisseur’s meet – must have been with the select band that turned up on a typical autumn morning in the Wyre Valley. OK, so there were a good few miles of boggy and quite tough going, mixed in nicely with some showers and low cloud. However, we could see where we were going most of the way, and got some pretty good views, especially in the afternoon from Ward Stone. If you have never been up to the highest point in the Bowland fells, I would definitely recommend it – two trig points, a summit plateau interspersed with a few peat hags, and views of Ingleborough, the lakes, Morecambe bay, Blackpool tower, and the rest of Bowland. What’s more, the path-less route off that we took to the south, to drop down into Tarnbrook, was very easy going, particularly as the sun was warming us nicely by then.

Overall, an enjoyable ~20k exploration of the higher hills in the north-west of the Trough of Bowland covering Brennand Great Hill, followed by and out and back to Wolfhole Crag, and Ward Stone.

Thanks to both Dave’s for coming, and a gold star to Joe who came for the day all the way from Buxton, and also kept the meet leader vertical with an impromptu Bowen session in the car park before we started.

Plan is for an exploration of the higher hills in the north-west of the Trough of Bowland. Parking as close to Tower Lodge (grid ref 604538) as you can on the road over from Dunsop Bridge. We will access the moors on the permissive path going north, then head NE toward Brennand Great Hill (or alternatively seek out the centre of the UK by going off-piste from Millers House), en route to Wolfhole Crag. We than head W / NW to Ward’s Stone (the highest peak in the Trough). Our descent is then broadly south to pick up the path down Tarnsyke Clough. A final bit of up and down on the Wyre Way gets us from Tarnbrook back to our starting point. Probably 20-21k in total (~13 miles) and possibly some rough and/or boggy going  - I have not recce’d it so can’t tell you any more! 

Meet 9.30am for a 9.45am prompt start – here’s hoping for some visibility. Please check the website scribble page in the event of really bad weather – lower level back-up route might be opted for at late notice.    

Hope to see you then – let me know if anyone needs a lift.                                

Mark