This outing is set from from the lovely village of Belmont in the West Pennine Moors and provides a scenic and informative experience over areas of open moorland expanse and through tranquil, historic woodland.
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As always, I have designed this walk to be interesting and fun, with engaging discussion about various sites of historical importance and natural beauty as we pass them. Some of the places of interest featured in this walk include Spitler's Edge and Redmonds' Edge (with a view across Anglezarke Moor and Round Loaf burial site), Great Hill, Hollinshead Hall and Well House, Tockholes Woods, Darwen Tower and Longworth Moor.
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The overall distance is 23 kilometres, or around 14 miles, and is expected to take 7 to 8 hours at a moderate pace and allowing time for refreshment stops. Good mobility and a reasonable level of hill fitness is required to take part in this walk. There are rough moorland areas and some steeper sections. If you are for any reason unsure of your ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss this further before making a booking.
Our day will begin with a gentle start leading out onto the open moor an a brisk climb up onto Spitlers' Edge, where it is possible to take in impressive views across the north west including Anglezarke Moor, Winter Hill and out to the coast beyond the Lancashire Plain.
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Snaking across the crest of the hillside, we will pass by the site of Round Loaf, a Bronze Age burial mound that is evidence of our ancient ancestors who settled in the area. The first summit of the day, Great Hill, is a fine vantage point to look out across Lancashire to the Forest of Bowland, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales - weather permitting, of course.
Our route will lead us down to the the ancient, peaceful woodland of Tockholes and the ruin of Hollinshead Hall. There will be spooky tales and discussion about events that occurred in and around the settlement in times gone by.
From here, we will pass through the depths of the woodland to the picturesque hamlet of Ryal Fold where there will be chance to stop at the Royal Arms Café for refreshments and to use the facilities.
After a little break, we will climb Darwen Moor to visit Darwen Tower. There will be a scenic and undulating traverse of the hillside providing expansive panoramic views to the east, before dropping down back to Belmont over Longworth Moor.
This outing provides an opportunity to learn a lot about the West Pennine Moors and South Lancashire area. There are a lot of changing views over the course of the day and walking this route is a really good way to get a grasp of the varied landscape the can be enjoyed in West Pennine Moors.
The different sites that are visited are quite special and offer a fascinating insight into the past, which is something that participants always thoroughly enjoy.
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A moderate level of hill fitness is required to take part in this walk. There are steep climbs in places, and there is uneven terrain throughout.
​Important details about this specific activity.
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The entire route accrues 23km, or 14 miles, with 850m ascent, and is expected to take 7 to 8 hours​. This activity is usually quite a social outing with lots of discussion and time to take in the scenery, expect a gentle to moderate pace.
It is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
There are some steep hill climbs as well as uneven, boggy terrain. If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
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Waterproof trail shoes or more sturdy boots are suitable for this activity.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
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Certain breeds of dog are welcome to attend by prior arrangement only.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
As mentioned, it is necessary to have previous hill walking experience and a good level of fitness to participate.
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It should be mentioned that weather in the West Pennine Moors can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
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Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
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Meeting point and transport information.
​The activity meeting point is The Black Dog Inn, Belmont (BL7 8AB), where there is adequate of parking available.
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Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
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There is an infrequent bus service to and from Bolton town centre, and lots of various accommodation in the vicinity of Belmont, Egerton and Rivington, including camping and B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment. Please ask me if you need any advice on where to stay or transport links.
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What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
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Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
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Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
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It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities.
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I am qualified and insured, but also experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
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​Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
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Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.
