For those of you new to Blue Fox reading the forthcoming stories, as they build over the year, will give you an insight into what this club is all about and what we value … I hope that it inspires you to dust down them boots and explore the great outdoors(?). In reality it will probably put you off walking for life!!!

 

25&26.03.25 ~ Beaumaris to Llanidan, Anglesey

Staying in the magnificent town of Menai for a few days, we took advantage of completing a couple of legs of the Anglesey Coast Path.

The weather on the first day was rather gloomy, it seemed to suit the walk … for there was far too much road walking for our tastes! There was a lovely section of rugged countryside at Pen-Y-Parc, but even that didn’t offer any compensation.

On the positive side, there were fine views over to Bangor’s pier and when we eventually dropped down to the water‘s edge at Menai, seeing the bridge close up for the first time remains with you forever!

Day Two restored complete faith in our viewpoint of the the coastal path. Sure, it too had long lengths of road, but there were plenty of shore-hugging pathways and amazing points of interest to scintillate the taste buds!

We left behind one magnificent bridge, via the Belgian Promenade, and another soon came into our sights. Church Island offered a highly recommended short diversion.

Continuing to hug the coast, we now entered a belt of sumptuous National Trust woodland … Coed Mor. As wonderful a sight as the Britannia Bridge is from afar, the real treat is to investigate what is UNDER it … Stephenson’s original masterpiece(?).

More treats were in store … courtesy of Nelson’s Statue, the Neolithic Burial Chamber at Bryncelli Ddu (short diversion required, but affords a bonus picnic spot) and a tranquil finale along the pebbled beach and along tranquil tracks to Llanidan.

20.03.25 ~ Jumbles, Bolton

The extended spring sunshine has morphed into summer-like sunshine … a day begging for a walk!

Although the route was the same as our “Walking Back Through Time” project, this was not a day for historical research but a day for enjoying a stroll.

From the main Jumbles car park, we followed an intriguing old goit through woodland. It conveniently came out at a relatively new cafe (Cafe Twelve) adjoined to a series of magnificent angling lodges. The cafe is an absolute must-stop … it is spotlessly clean, serves excellent food and the staff are a complete credit (thanks Andy & Team!).

Post ‘Full English’, we continued to follow the magnificent Bradshaw Brook through heavenly woodland. Our intention was to cross the brook at a bridge that belonged to an old mill, but we were scuppered doing so courtesy of some large iron gates … firmly locked!

Following a short diversion through a magnificent housing estate (and I don’t ‘say’ that very often), we picked up the thread of the brook again until we did find a footbridge crossing.

Before long, we were back on track and in familiar territory … and our first glance of Jumbles Reservoir, drenched in sunshine. The circumnavigation of the reservoir is a very popular walk, but too short for our purposes, so another detour took us to a scheduled brew stop at Turton Hall.

Another medley of lanes, fields and woodland paths took us nicely back to the eastern side of the reservoir and a return to our oven car.

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08.03.25 ~ The Mulgrave Estate, Sandsend

(Part of our ‘Walks Around Whitby’ Project)

We spent a few days near Whitby enjoying the most incredible spring-like weather, taking the opportunity to iron out a few footpath snags for our massive (decades in the making) ‘Walks Around Whitby’ project.

March is the worst month to walk in this part of the world (mud, mud and more mud), but the prolonged recent sunshine has made it feel more like May-without-leaves.

Our main walk focused on the Mulgrave Estate. I have taken many walking groups through here over the years and rate it as one of the best walking destinations in the country! Only open to the public on certain days, it offers 15,000 acres of panorama heaven, supported by wide and well maintained tracks.

The owner of this paradise is the Marquess of Normanby. He lives in the grand “New Castle”, located in a prime part of the estate. Although we walked very near to it, it can only be viewed from a distance … due to the strategic planting of trees and hedgerows. We opted for a picnic at the ruins of the “Old Castle” … as good a break spot as possible. There is a third an even older castle, hidden deep inside the woods … easy to find with a good walking app or brain!

Post-refreshments, we continued to explore the vast open and virtually human-free landscape. Our finale took us to the steep road of Lythe Bank, via one of the estate’s exit points … guarded magnificently by a lodge house. We plunged into Sandsend, by now bustling with beach seekers. The entrance to the car park offered the only remains of a great alum works that once dominated the area.

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05.03.25 ~ Burrs Country Park & The Kirklees Trail

(Walk 12 of our ‘Walks Around Heywood’ Project)

STATISTICS: 7.34 MILES / 618 FEET OF ASCENT

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I was asked some years ago by that wonderful ‘Heywoodite’, Dr Michael Taylor, to produce a series of short walks in and around our town (a sort of a get fit programme). Back then I had absolutely no resources (ie time) to be able to fulfil this. Then came along the horrific days of Covid … suddenly I did have time in abundance to explore my local walking scene in depth. The idea stuck with me and I expanded the initial idea, the result was to devise a couple of seven-mile offerings. We are now up to walk number 12 … and I reckon the quality of this latest one is as high as the first(?). 

We started at Burrs Country Park and headed west through pleasant woodland perched high above the River Irwell. Before too long, we were on the magnificent Kirklees Trail. This was the old Bury to Holcombe Brook railway line, converted into a much-used multi-activity asset.

The significant strategic valley of the Kirklees Valley was not wasted on industry … a procession of old mills line the route. One of the large lodges made for a welcomed loop and break from the trail.

Conveniently at Greenmount, there is an excellent cafe … cue an outside brew in the company of glorious spring sunshine. The next leg took us through a residential area, but there was still plenty of history-snippet evidence to satisfy my curiosity. The folly of Tower Farm was a prime example … originally built as dwellings and stables for nearby huge calico print works, the castellations were added later and remain as a magnificent local landmark.

More woodland and more derelict mill remains … somehow blending in wonderfully with nature’s priceless presence. This walk was shaping up to be an absolute beauty! We passed the oldest of to-day’s points of interest … Brandlesholme Old Hall .. and onto a stretch of open fields. There were the obligatory views of Knowl Hill in the distance.

Our finale came courtesy of the stretch between Summerseat and Burrs. It hugs the East Lancs Railway line … no steam trains running to-day, but still a peach of a walk!

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