RAWTENSTALL

 HALO !   5  miles

    Angels & Saints (stop laughing. They are very nice Gentlemen)

                                                            Mike, Vic, Anthony, John W,

                                         Danny, John R . Jim, Frank.

Whenever we visit Rawtenstall we tend to park at of St. Mary's Chambers,

And here we are parked there again and waiting for Vic. He's gone off briefly as the saying goes. "The Lord knows where and he's not telling "

"Ours not to reason why. Ours but to do and.........wait !"

£

Just a short toddle up the road before we enter Whitaker Park.

What's this ? Looks like a scene from Nick Parkes "The Were-Rabbit" (it's a hare John............ "I Know.. I know !"}

 

Brew Time ?  Yes!  you can't pass a set of benches like these. They might be the last we see.

              

"I'm Leaning on a lamp post at the corner of the...................."

Imbibition completed we set off towards the top end of the park. The path took us past the famous Rossendale ski slope.

Wonderful !  A class of primary school children were having skiing lessons.

OH Boy ! Times have changed. in our day going out into the yard and throwing bean bags at each other was considered exciting exercise. 

Mind you I think photos of that time were in sepia.

Leaving the park we began the real climb up to the Halo. This was up a steep path to one side of the ski slope.

It appears we were following  a route called the "Shoe Trail ". as the walk progressed we came across more markers.

 

But back to our walk which climbed steeply up alongside the ski slope.

At the top of the path we joined a fairly level track and a friendly couple assured us we were on the right track to reach the Halo.

From here the climb was very gentle indeed scarcely above the horizontal.

 

As we walked fantastic views of Rossendale opened below us . Difficult both to see and photograph because of the low winter sunshine.

Although the day was sunny and bright (but cold) throughout our walk water was leaking out of the fields and walls indicating the height of the water table after such a wet period.

Just a last uphill stretch to climb  (slowly) and we arrived..............

............................................ at the Halo !

For those who are unaware of the Halo it lights up at night and appears to hover above the fellsides, The extensive  ironwork cannot be seen in the dark.

The Halo is one of four PANOPTICANS placed around East Lancashire. The Halo is, for most of us , the final one we have visited.

The others are:-

                              "The Singing Ringing Tree" above Burnley

                              "The Atom"   in Wycollar Country Park

                              " The Cannons" in Corporation Park in Blackburn

All are worth a visit.

Close by was a stone shelter which we employed as a dining room

Drat the that sun !!!

With our visit to the Halo finished we set off to return to our cars by a different but highly scenic route.

As we climbed through this stile your writer was tempted to linger a while and warm his wind-chilled hands on the sun-warmed stones.

More evidence of the recent "Wetness".

After climbing gently up the side of the fell for some distance the path took a sharp turn to divert and begin the steep descent towards Rawtenstall.

For once the sun is welcomed as it adds an air of mystery to this shot.

Superfit Danny, as usual , ahead of the game as the afternoon sun filters through the bushes.

A short level stretch before our steep descent into the valley.

Not a stream but a wet and slippery section of the downward path.

Half way down with Rawtenstall in view below us.

A brief rest as we arrive at the outskirts of Rawtenstall. Or, could it be a still from the Hollywood Western " True Grit " ?  

No, I'm mistaken, that's John Russell NOT  John Wayne.

"Whittle Street" being guarded by a large Cap'n Birdseye Imposter.

" Which way now ? "  "Oh come on Lads there's only "One Way"  to go.

Almost at the cars and we came across this. No idea what it is or why it's there but it was photogenic.  So....... 

THE END

JW