Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society

This weekend is BMC 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 which is being held at Wilton Quarries near Belmont village in Lancashire. This is an entirely 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 family-friendly event with lots of activities to get involved with, all led by trained instructors.

If you in or around the wider Bolton area and have ever fancied having a go at climbing, this is the PERFECT opportunity to try it out. There are also climbing and bouldering masterclasses for more experienced people and outdoor yoga classes.

Hope to see some of you lot there!!!!

This weekend I am honoured to be working as part of the team at BMC 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 which is being held at Wilton Quarries near Belmont village in Lancashire. This is an entirely 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 family-friendly event with lots of activities to get involved with, all led by trained instructors.

If you in or around the wider Bolton area and have ever fancied having a go at climbing, this is the PERFECT opportunity to try it out. There are also climbing and bouldering masterclasses for more experienced people and outdoor yoga classes. I am running two guided walks, but they are both fully booked.

Can't wait for this year's festival - hope to see some of you there!

BMC North West Area

📢 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦.

⛰️ 6.5km, or 4 miles - 220m of ascent - 2 hours.

🔴🔴 MODERATELY STRENUOUS route with one particular STEEP AND UNEVEN HILLSIDE PATH and a SLIPPERY, GRASSY DESCENT. Other areas will be MUDDY with UNEVEN SURFACES and EXPOSED TREE ROOTS.

🥾 STURDY FOOTWEAR is essential, dress appropriately for the weather and consider using poles

🔦 DO NOT FORGET A TORCH!!!

📍 Irwell Works Brewery, Irwell Street, Ramsbottom - BL0 9YQ - showering.assurance.sourcing - SD791167.

🕖 Meet from 18:30 to leave at 19:00. Social drinks afterwards from 21:00.

🚗 LIMITED PARKING around the local area, car pooling is encouraged where possible. There is NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT available from Bolton to this location. Please take care not to block access for local residents and businesses, ALWAYS check signage before leaving your vehicle.

🔔 Book from 18:00 on Sunday via https://www.tickettailor.com/events/boltonwalkingandoutdoorsappreciationsociety/2369645

ℹ️ Anybody with good mobility and a reasonable level of fitness is welcome to attend.

🎵 Live music at the venue after the walk by Joanne and Johnny from The Impromptunes and their wonderful open mic guests.

Cheers all, Colin.
BWOAS Committee Chairperson.

Join Colin from Moors to Mountains and Michelle from Happy Chakras for 🍄🍂 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 🍁🌲 - bringing together relaxation in nature with outdoor yoga and meditation on 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫. Please see http://www.moorstomountains.co.uk/woodland-wellbeing for more information or to sign yourself up.

The journey will take place in the beautiful ancient woodland around Tockholes in Lancashire, where Colin will lead you deep into the forest and share a wealth of local knowledge covering tales of folklore, history and how our ancestors lived alongside nature. Michelle will guide you through a mindful movement and meditation session to help you ‘come home to yourself.’

𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

WEDNESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER - Lostock and Wingates Circular from The Duke Of Wellington- Chewmoor-Lostock.

⛰ No summits, high point just 120m.

🥾 Just under 7km, or 4 miles, with around 50m ascent.

⏱ 1 hour 50 minutes including a milk shake stop.

What a great time we had on this easy, flat countryside walk. Thank you to everybody who was able to book a space and come along to join the fun! The weather was kind to us with a fresh cool evening after the rain.

There was a fairly fast pace over the first half of the route that turned out because participants were eager to get to Mootop Dairy to try their range of tasty milkshakes. From here, it was time to get the head torches out - the first walk of the autumn where we have needed to. Those darker nights are looming but, hey ho, we love it!

⚠️ EXTRA THANKS TO...

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧, 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨. 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝.

👏 Walk planning executives Catherine and Noggy for pulling this one together.

👏 Volunteers Ange, Catherine, David Noggy, John, Lorraine and Paul joining me on radio and group management duties.

👏 Tim and Sophie at the Welly for wonderful hospitality, banter on the bar and complimentary butties YUM!!!!!

📌 NEXT WEDNESDAY, 9th September, we are heading over to the Irwell Works Brewery in Ramsbottom for a hillside stomp up to Peel Tower with live music from The Impromptunes and guests afterwards.

Cheers everybody!

COLIN - BWOAS COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON.

Tonight, there is another outing organised by the 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩. This week, we are taking in the countryside around 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 and 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 from 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫 where there is lots of nice scenery and wildlife to see along a very easy and flat trail.

There are FREE community walks every Monday and Wednesday evening that take place across South Lancashire and into Greater Manchester. If you are looking for a friendly, inclusive and supportive bunch of people to get outside and enjoy walking in a safe environment, please head to www.boltonwalking.co.uk and see what we get up to.

Some readers may also be interested to learn about professional outdoor services provided by www.moorstomountains.co.uk - you can easily sign up to the mailing list for future updates of guided walks and navigation tuition operated by a 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫.

Thanks for reading and hope to see some of you out on a walk really soon. 😎

🍁🍂 On Saturday 19th September, join Moors to Mountains for a perfect 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 around 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 in the Lake District. 🌲🍄

Learn more or sign yourself up via https://www.moorstomountains.co.uk/watendlath-and-castle-crag

The 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐠 guided day out is always very popular, offering a scenic walk of moderate difficulty through beautiful deciduous woodland and up to the summit of the smallest Wainwright. Regardless of the weather, this is a route that showcases the best elements of the Lake District in autumn and is packed full of interesting discussion throughout.

𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 Bengal Cottage Restaurant & Bar • Finest Indian Cuisine • Fully Licensed this weekend.

Not the "official" anniversary party but as part of the weekend marking fifteen years of running community walks AND remembering Steven Carter, we gather at Bengal Cottage on Sunday for an absolute feast. It was so nice to get walking group people from all different eras spanning fifteen years together in one place.

THANK YOU to everybody who was able to make the meal for a top evening, and also to all the restaurant staff for a hearty welcome - the food and service is second to none, we will definitely be back for more very soon!

𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡.

⛰ Two Lads (389m), Winter Hill (didn't quite summit but got to around 450m).

🥾 20km, or 12 miles, with 550m ascent.

⏱ 7 hours 30 minutes.

WOW! What an excellent day we had remembering our friend Steven Carter and celebrating both his life and the fifteen year anniversary of this wonderful walking community. There was a great turnout and it really was special seeing people from right back at the start and those who have joined more recently, plus Steven's family and close friends all mingling together. At atmosphere was ECSTATIC.

The route led us from Horwich town centre up over the moors to Belmont through Longworth Clough to Egerton and around Turton up to Edgworth. Weather conditions were varied, it was largely dry or drizzling lightly, quite warm and hardly any wind. A couple of showers blew over but nothing could dampen our spirits.

This walk was held in support of Breaking Barriers. The Just Giving page has now rolled over the £500.00 mark but please do spread the word and keep those donations coming in - every little helps.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/steven-carter-memorial-walk?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

⚠️ EXTRA THANKS TO...

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧, 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨. 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝.

👏 Volunteers Ange, Christine, Lorraine and Simon joining me on radio and group management duties.

👏 Eventura for sponsoring and supporting the event with water, Lucozade, bananas and energy biscuits.

👏 All at the staff and licensees at the various venues we visited along the way for keeping hungry and thirsty walkers fed and watered. Particularly Leoni at The Pike Snack Shack for saving the day with a haul of breakfast barms at the last minute, Elaine at the Black Dog Pub, Tony at the Masons Arms and Jay and the bar manager (sorry don't know your name) at The Strawbury Duck.

👏 Anybody who has kindly made a donation.

THANK YOU so much and WELL DONE to everybody involved.

COLIN - BWOAS COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 to Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society.

While the actual anniversary was in March, it was decided to celebrate the fifteen year milestone this weekend to coincide with the bank holiday weekend. To mark the occasion, BWOAS participants from all different eras are going to be gathering on Saturday to closely replicate our first ever 2011 walk from Horwich to The Strawbury Duck in Edgworth. AND on Sunday, again, people from "back in the day" and right up to present times will be getting together to enjoy a curry night at Bengal Cottage Restaurant & Bar • Finest Indian Cuisine • Fully Licensed.

I cannot wait for everybody to be able to mingle and share stories about all the antics we've had together over the last fifteen years, it really is going to be such a mega weekend of celebration, laughter and being around great friends.

Of course, the weekend is also going to be a time to remember our friend 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 who sadly passed away last year. Steven was a HUGE part of BWOAS and had a massive influence on the journey we went along a few years back.

We wouldn't be doing what we do today if it wasn't for Carter and also founding member 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 who we also very tragically lost this year. BWOAS was the brainchild of myself and Marc and he really managed to channel his love of dog walking and the outdoors into something really special that has gone on to become the community it is today.

It has been a wild journey and having been able to be part of BWOAS for fifteen years has been an honour, a privilege and such a rewarding experience. There is no doubt that we have changed the lives of hundreds of people for the better - the positive impact of the walking group is immeasurable and ever growing. I would just like to personally thank EVERYBODY who has been a part of the journey so far, including special mention to...

👏 Fellow founding members 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 and 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 for getting this off the ground.

👏 Current and former committee members 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫, 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐲, 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧, 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰, 𝐓𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐁 for invaluable and selfless input into making sure everything is operated safely and smoothly behind the scenes.

👏 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 who step forward every week to make sure that the group is managed safely, plan and reccy routes and generally give up their free time and energy so that the walks can actually take place.

👏 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 at the different 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬 that we choose to visit for continued support and a friendly welcome. It's great to know we are welcome in so many wonderful establishments and can do our bit to support the local economy in return.

👏 And of course 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐀 𝐁𝐖𝐎𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐘 for giving us a reason to keep going and provide an invaluable community resource that helps people to make new friends, improve physical fitness, loose weight, overcome emotional ill health and anxiety, have fun, listen to Liam's rubbish jokes and generally enjoy nature and the outdoors in a safe, inclusive and entirely supportive community.

Being involved BWOAS has changed my life forever. It gave me direction when I most needed it and led to me massively improving my own lifestyle. It has also inspired me to become a qualified outdoor professional and set up Moors to Mountains - Guided Adventures, which is a natural extension of BWOAS. So I have experienced first hand how positive being a part of this group can be.

There are LOTS of big plans in the pipeline for the future of BWOAS and I hope I am around for at least a little bit longer to see those unfold and enjoy more amazing outdoor experiences in the company of such wonderful people that I am grateful to be able to call friends and acquaintances.

I'd also like to give an 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 to 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞, 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢 and 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 who were working hard behind the scenes to put together a special party this weekend. Unfortunately it has been postponed for now and I for one was very upset about this knowing that these four had gone to so much effort and displayed such kindness to put something on that the rest of us could enjoy. The party will be rearranged and I wanted to show my utmost respect and gratitude to the team of planners for everything that was coming together.

So I'll be brushing shoulders with some of you on the walk tomorrow and at the curry house on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it and here's to the next fifteen years of Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society.

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐓 - 𝐁𝐖𝐎𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍.

📣 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫.

⛰️ 7km, or just over 4 miles - only 25m of ascent - 2 hours.

🟢 VERY EASY and largely FLAT route with well surfaced paths and lanes. Occasional STILES, ROAD CROSSINGS and some areas of MUD. Anybody with good mobility and even a basic level of fitness will manage this walk.

🐮 As a special treat, we will be passing Mootop Dairy where we can pick up tasty milkshake from the self service vending machine.

🥾 STURDY FOOTWEAR is essential, dress appropriately for the weather, consider using poles and DO NOT FORGET A TORCH!

📍The Duke Of Wellington- Chewmoor-Lostock - BL6 4HA - SD667075 - prop.frost.deflection

🕖 Meet from 18:30 to leave at 19:00. Social drinks and complimentary chip butties afterwards from 21:00.

🚌 It is possible to catch the 520 bus service to and from this location from Bolton, Deane and Westhoughton.

🚗 The pub has a large car park BUT car pooling is encouraged where possible so as not to hog spaces for other customers and diners. If parking around the area, please take care not to block access for local residents and businesses, ALWAYS check signage before leaving your vehicle.

🔦 DON’T FORGET A TORCH as evenings become darker again - sunset will be 7.58pm.

🔔 Book from 18:00 on Sunday via https://www.tickettailor.com/events/boltonwalkingandoutdoorsappreciationsociety/2369631

Cheers, David and Catherine.
BWOAS Planning Team.