Meet Report: 20-22 June 2025.

Based at Lowstern, the Long Walk this year went to places that most of us just look at, out of the cottage window. The full route was a tough 32 miles/52 km with 4800 ft/1460m ascent starting from Parlick.

For those wanting a shorter walk back to Lowstern, there were two alternative starting points at Tarnbrook (20 miles/32.2 km), and Cross of Greet (9 miles/14.9 km),

The Smiths arrived at lunchtime on Friday and completed the final third of the walk. They drove to Cross of Greet, left their car overnight, and headed to Lowstern. The juggling and scattering of cars all over Bowland was a feature of the meet. But unfortunately, no car was ever left at Tarnbrook where it was really needed (more details later). Their walk back to Clapham was taxing in the heat but there was a breeze and super views of the three Peaks.

A tactics and logistics meeting on Friday evening decided on a pre-dawn departure for those doing the full walk, to avoid the threatened thunderstorms later in the day.  Conrad drove to Parlick with Michael, Mark and John, left his car there, and all were underway by 4.10am. It was the summer solstice, and two other groups were out camping to see the sunrise from the first top.

After a longer lie in, Ged drove Helen and Mick to Tarnbrook to begin the middle section of the walk. They were underway by 8.00 am. Ged’s plan was then to drive to Cross of Greet to complete the final third of the walk, leaving his car there for Michael to pick up later.

All was going to plan until a message pinged on WhatsApp from Mark “…at Tarnbrook, hurt my ankle cannot go on”. Unfortunately, this was after only 5-6 km of the walk. Mark struggled another 6 km to Langden Beck. It became almost farcical, Ged driving from Tarnbrook to Cross of Greet, had picked up the message, was looking for Mark, saw Michael and Conrad but couldn’t see Mark who by now was in the back of a campervan with a chap who had taken pity on him and given him a lift. The lift however was only to the end of the turn off to Tarnbrook. Mark hobbled 2.5 km to the hamlet where he hoped there might be a car – he was disappointed. In the meantime, Mick and Helen were only about a mile beyond Tarnbrook but there was no point turning back as three walkers would then be stuck there with no car. It is a delightful hamlet but not the most exciting place to spend over five hours. At least the weather in the morning was good. Mark spent the time watching the ducks and talking to the local farmers about sheep shearing and the very low price of wool against the very high price of wool garments – and they did offer him a drink, a chair and even internet access

Progress on some sections of the route was good with a decent path up to the highest point at Ward Stone but in many areas, it was trackless and hard going through heather and tufty grass. One interesting feature was the tower on White Hill which is one of three sighting towers used in the alignment and construction of the 10-mile Bowland Forest Tunnel which lies some 370m below the summit. The tunnel is part of the Haweswater Aqueduct completed in the 1950s to take water from the Lake District to Manchester. We were also treated to a fly past by the Red Arrows – who’d obviously heard the YRC were in the area. Another feature of the walk was the deafening noise from hundreds of nesting seagulls.

With the weather closing in, Mick and Helen reached the car at Cross of Greet. They were pleased to see Ged’s car also parked, ready for the next party. Mick dismantled the cairn that Ged had built under her car to ensure Helen’s driving sandals didn’t blow away or were forgotten. They headed off to Tarnbrook to rescue Mark. Soon after that, Michael who was always intending to drive back from Cross of Greet arrived and made the return journey to Lowstern with Conrad. Ged had completed the walk’s last section to Lowstern and was making finishing touches to the very tasty three course evening meal, assisted by Bev who had just returned from visiting Aaron in Edinburgh.

John S, recently returned from his mammoth cycling trip in France from the Channel to the Mediterranean, and after some vacillating on Friday evening, decided he was going to do the full walk. Moving at his own pace, he did not make it back in time to eat with the others who were all anxiously keeping an eye on the deteriorating weather including tracking the thunderstorms. On Burn Moor he was struck by the full force of the storm. “The lightning in the storm was unimpressive, no rays, just a millisecond of near daylight, but the rain and thunderclaps were amazing, the heaviest I ever encountered in the UK and the phone stayed well under cover, as did my spectacles”. John also showed great ingenuity. With his trainers wearing out, inner soles in tatters and with no knife, he tore up his sit mat and then used his teeth to re-shape it to fit the trainers. His walk ended at Hollin Lane near Keasden. Exhausted and technically ‘lost’ he was offered a lift by a “farming fairy in wellies” arriving back at Lowstern at about 9.15 pm having completed some 46 km. He described it as “a memorable walk!”

Things didn’t always go to plan, phone signal was intermittent in Bowland which didn’t help communication but as ever it was a very sociable meet. Not a late night on Saturday for most, after the 2.15am start. The weather was disappointing on Sunday morning and most headed home. Mark took Conrad to Parlick to retrieve his car.

  Attendees:

Mick Borroff, Ged Campion, Mark Rothwell, Helen Smith, Michael Smith, John Sutcliffe, Conrad Tetley and Bev Campion (visitor)