The Three Phases Tour
Fred and Betty laid on a treat for the first – and very wet – Sunday of October. It certainly was not a “hoods down” day! But it vividly showed us the contrasts of rural and industrial Lancashire and was clearly the result of imaginative and meticulous planning.
It was naturally divided into three phases. We set off through Earby for Thornton in Craven, on to West Marton and Gargrave, to pass under the Settle line and alongside the River Aire. We hadn’t told the River Aire though, and it had other ideas …
Rather like sheep, we aim to stay in at least a loose flock and, sure enough, just like sheep when one of the ladies required an emergency stop, at a wayside hotel, in we all piled. But we set out in rather less good order only for your secretary (as usual …) to get separated. However, as he knew where the coffee stop – and the all-important bacon butty – was, he soon caught up!
Fed and watered at the Buck Inn, we set off for the market towns of Gisburn and Clitheroe but thence to Blackburn and the real contrast of the day, the industry of the “M65 Corridor”. Our destination was Oswaldtwistle Mills “for a spot of retail therapy”.
Finally, through the valley towns of Haslingden and Rawtenstall, avoiding the main roads, we aimed for the Panopticon: the Singing Ringing Tree. Sadly, however, the weather chose to obscure the spectacular view and so Fred and Betty brought us to the last part of the day, lunch at The Rosehill House Hotel. It has a special significance for them, for it was there, fifty-two years ago, that they held their Wedding reception!
Thanks to Fred and Betty, we enjoyed a lovely day out and splendid get together afterwards.