Longton to Newby Head Gate (Lancashire - Yorkshire)
Once again the intrepid seven will stride out, but this time to find the source of the River Ribble in Yorkshire, well nearly !
Day 1 ... Longton to Frenchwood (9 miles)
We found our way to the Dolphin Inn at Longton, Lanacashire on a hot sunny Monday, the 9th day of June in the year of 2008 AD
Splitting the group into two (Mally & the Girls in the advance party & Tony, Martin & Me following behind after depositing 2 cars at the end of the first leg) we started (what seemed like) our endless trek along the River Ribble towards Preston.
Eventually after passing Preston Marina on the oposite bank we came to the outskirts of Preston finishing along the embankment at Frenchwood.
We stayed 2 nights at the Ashwood Hotel, Preston
Day 2 ... Frenchwood to Ribchester (11 miles)
Leaving Frenchwood we hit our first diversion. This was due to the constuction of a new Sewage Plant on the North Bank of the Ribble.
After passing under the M6 things became a lot Quieter and Greener.
Ribchester is a nice quiet, scenic village (best village on the entire route) and also has a must for walkers ... Carmen Rose coffee shop, near the main car park in Ribchester (Excellent)
Tonight we hit the bright lights of Blackpool (18 miles away) and spent the evening at "Funny Girls" which was very entertaining, in more ways than just the show !
Day 3 ... Ribchester to Clitheroe (11 Miles)
Today wasn't too bad but a bit of dodgy road walking
Day 4 ... Clitheroe to Paythorne (11 miles)
A bit of a nightmare, with signs missing, gates chained up but we struggled through
It was also Mally's birthday so we all got him a chocolate cake from Tesco (Only the best)
Hilary and I took a ride to Dunsop Bridge & the Forest of Bowland. Dunsop Bridge is the centre of the British Isles (or so the phonebox says on the village green)
Day 5 ... Paythorne to Stackhouse (11 miles)
Similar to yesterday, A bit of a nightmare, with signs missing, gates chained up but we struggled through.
Vicious Pigs, Frisky Bullocks and Crazy Sheep all added to the excitement of the day, and of course "The baby Blackbird" (which probably got eaten by the cat we saw licking its lips as it was crossing the wall !!
Seems that the signage and upkeep of styles and paths deteriorates when you enter Yorkshire, the Lancashire routes are spot on.
Mally's car window broke so he only managed 2 miles today
We stayed 2 nights at the Crown Hotel, Horton in Ribblesdale
Day 6 ... Stackhouse to High Birkwith (10 miles)
This section took us through Horton in Ribblesdale were the BT 3 Peaks Challenge attracted more than 100 teams of walkers & runners, the place was heaving !
Lovely scenery !
Had an excelent carvary at the Royal Oak Hotel in Settle in the evening
We stayed at the Crown Hotel, Horton in Ribblesdale
Day 7 ... High Birkwith to Newby Head Gate (7 miles)
The miles had taken its toll on some of our team and they were stuggling at this time so we finished 2 mile short of our initial destination (2 miles of Uphill walking) and saved ourselves to fight another day.
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Says it All