Sunday 25th
Roy reports In keeping with the long established tradition of doom and gloom on the Dodds Mountains 10 folk persevered the 9.2 miles of rain, wind and mist to visit the infamous summits of four Wainwrights. It was no doddle at all finding these anonymous places in the cold grey gloom whilst the rest of Britain seemed to be having a fine day!! The lack of views had to be made up for in cordial chatter but spirits were fully revived, after an incredibly steep descent, upon reaching Low Bridge End Farm tea room with its irresistible home made cakes.

Sunday 18th
Peter reports 16 members met at a very crowded Cow Bridge car park and all managed to get a parking spot, though some members had been held up by coaches on the Kirkstone pass! 4 other members had turned back when one was told of a family problem. The walk was done in the reverse order. This made the ascent slightly easier, though longer. The weather was cloudy and cool for the most part with just a few short periods of sunshine. Lunch was taken behind the wall at the top of Scandale pass, before the final ascent up to the main track along the Fairfield ridge. The views from the summit of Dove Crag  were clear before we started the descent of Dove Dale and attempted to locate the Priest cave, unsuccessfully, though from the later views further down the valley we were very close! The walk back to the cars was once again along the side of Brothers Water. Afterwards all returned to the Queens Hotel in Troutbeck for refreshments.
Graham reports Weather Fine and Sunny. 10 members set off from the Green at Long Preston and crossed the busy A65. The party turned first left up the cul-de-sac off Green Gate Lane and climbed steadily. This soon became Edge Lane and eventually became a track that levelled off. The Limestone Hills to the north around Settle came into view. At Mitchell Lane we turned right down the walled track of Lambert Lane. A path on the left led to a point that overlooked Settle. We descended to a Lane and had lunch at 13.00 in a small walled Memorial Garden dedicated to a Kathleen Knight, complete with picnic benches. Walked to the old upper section of Settle then down through some tiny passages between cottages. One of the party developed a problem with his foot and was advised to walk into Settle and rest it where another member of the party would pick him up later. We turned left down Brockholes Lane walking south to Hoyman Laithe Farm. Crossed Lodge Lane to continue south. Cleaton Park Wood stood high above us to the left. This was available to visit to view the Stone Circle and Holloways. Eventually came upon Mearbeck Farm and turned left just before the main farm buildings to climb towards wooden shacks and passed to the left to a gate. This path led over a hill back to the track that we had walked in the morning. We turned right to retrace our tracks back to Long Preston. There was one detour to the right to look at some young piglets in a walled paddock. The party retired to The Maypole Inn across the A65 and the man with foot problem who had been brought back from Settle, joined us.

Saturday 17th
Alan W reports 7 members and 1 guest met at Barley car park on a bright sunny morning for a moderate 8-mile circular walk. Our first objective was Pendle Hill taking the zig-zag option rather than straight up the steps for a slightly more relaxed? route, stopping at the trig point to admire the view and quench our thirst where an 8th link member joined us. It was then on to the northern edge of the hill with the wonderful Ribble Valley panorama including Downham, the location for “Born and Bred” Worston, Clitheroe, Longridge and Bowland fells. The route then continued on past the Scout Cairn (commemorating 100 years of Scouting and a popular local Scouter) and down Ogden Clough for lunch by the stream at the bottom of Boar Clough. All refreshed it was on to the reservoirs where 1 member had to depart along the shortcut back to car park and the rest of us headed up through Fell Wood and over to Newchurch to see witches galore and indulge in an iced refreshment before the final leg of the walk through Stacks Wood, Whitehough and the Narowgate Mill and cottages before returning to Barley to finish the day with afternoon teas.

Sunday 11th
Peter reports 26 members were met by Jimmy at Strid CP on  a sunny and gradually warming day before setting off for the ascent of Simon's Seat. Good progress was made up the hill and over the stiles to gain access to open country. It was warmer passing alongside the woods. A break was taken before the final ascent up onto the top at Simons's Seat. Some made the ascent of the rocks to gain the Trig point before descending to join the rest for lunch in the shelter of the rocks. The views were spectacular in the clear air. After lunch Jimmy lead the party on the path to the Valley of Desolation. A descent was made to the upper water fall which can often be overlooked as a slight detour back up the valley is necessary. We then continued to the lower falls, where a few members descended to the bottom of the falls for the view, before all climbed out of the valley to the path down to the River Wharfe across the wooden bridge to the Pavilion, where ice creams were bought by some before continuing back up the River to the Strid. Our path then ascended back to the cars before the majority headed off the the Bull Inn at Broughton for a well deserved drink.

Easter Sunday 4th
Shelia reports Well the weather man was wrong again the sunshine for today came a day early so we got the clouds and bitter winds today. But this did not deter 44 Link Walkers, with a good half of these walkers not understanding the instructions to park AFTER the houses they got a little left behind when the whistle was blown but did manage to catch up. We set off to skirt the wall of Hoghton Tower in order to reach the fine view overlooking Blackburn with Darwen Tower and Winter Hill in the distance. Then down to the road to backtrack to admire the long driveway up to the Tower. Now the fun began with all the rain we had this week all I can say is I am now in pole position for the muddiest walk so far this year as we walked field after field of MUD! But at least I rewarded every walker for doing this with an Easter Egg each. We stopped for lunch on top of a hill in a very cold field with views of Preston in the distance. After which more wet fields had to be crossed to reach the M65 then it was time to dry our boots a little as the next mile was of  country lanes. Just a couple more fields to go in order to reach a green lane which took in a view of Brindle Lodge and lead us back to the last mile along the road to reach our cars .Oh! I forgot to mention the odd stile we had to climb on this walk but they did tone up the muscles a little. We made The Boars Head the pub of the day with quite a few of us enjoying a meal as well.

Saturday 3rd
Peter reports Jenny was unable to lead the walk. 4 met up in a very busy Hebden Bridge in weather that was better than forecast. The sun shone as we walked along the canal to Hebden Bridge. Lunch was taken at the cricket ground where the men working on the buildings open up the club house so that we cold use the toilets.  A break in a coffee shop for a while before heading back along the canal towards Hebden Bridge. The views on the return trip again in the sun presented completely different views. Passing boats that were heading towards Todmorden again, walking being faster than the speed that the boats were making, especially through the locks. We called at Stubbins Wharf  for refreshment before completing the journey into Hebden Bridge. 

Good Friday 2nd
Roy  reports A total of 27 members old and new together with a sprinkling of guests mustered at Downham village car park for Jimmy’s Easter tour of the Pendle side fields. It was a bit nippy and dark clouds brooded over the hill but there were some promising bright patches. The small car park soon filled up and latecomers had to frantically search for a spot but everyone got sorted out and Jimmy set off on time. He led us around the back of Gerna Hill along the foot of Pendle to Little Mearley Hall, which was a bit of a mud bath! Lunch was taken in the sheltered harbour of Mearley Brook before crossing the busy A59 towards Clitheroe. Here we turned right through Salthill Industrial Estate and enjoyed a sunny siesta on the geology trail summit. The crowd gathered in wait for the leader anticipating re-crossing the A59 to Worston but no, along the brambly ditch he pointed and produced a pair of secateurs!! For a full mile he snipped his way along the A59 where no man or beast may have been before, there is certainly no footpath marked on the map? Then came the phone call – Flash Gordon and several others had been left behind and did not know which way the walk had gone! Stoically Jimmy tried to ascertain whether they had crossed the A59 and whether to go back for them but Gordon said he thought he knew where he was and could find his way back to Downham. Everyone knowing Gordon presumed he was way off the mark and was probably utterly lost. The main party continued around Worsaw Hill conjecturing that Gordon’s group were miles away only to gape in awe at finding them already sat in the pub. Gordon had gone direct via Worston whilst Jimmy was pruning his way along the indirect route of the A59. Rain set in whilst the jolly company chatted long over beers about this triumphant accomplishment of Flash Gordon.