Saturday, December 29 – Samlesbury

Today’s meet was at the Three Pigeons Inn, 2.30pm, and for once I was on time.  Some nine of us started for Belmont.  Reaching Belmont village, we turned left for the Rivington Lakes, and, walking for some time, we rose above the mist at a height of 1,062ft.  The downward descent of the Rivington side commanded extreme care on account of the muddy, stony surface.  After traversing the bylanes for some time, we came to Upper Anglezarke Reservoirs, from where we took a track over the moors.  After wandering off the track, we took a road of doubtful surface, through a ruined farm, and so gained the far reaches of Anglezarke.

Then followed a delightful ride through the lanes to White Coppice, then Heapey in the gathering dusk.  At Brindle we lit up, and, reaching Hoghton, we proceeded to Roach Bridge and Samlesbury for 6pm.  Here, two others waited for us.  The church bells were ringing a full peel, half muffled, and had been continuous for three and a half hours.  At 7.30 we started back via Roach Bridge, Hoghton and Withnell, encountering rain, and a thick fog near Belmont.  So bad did it become that we turned our lamps out to see the way!  Arrived home wet through at 10pm.                                        56 miles, 7.5 hours