A circular walk following sections of the Witton Weavers Way

 A circular walk following sections of the Witton Weavers Way and to find the place of an awful tragedy 100 years ago on the 17th December 1917. 

8miles 1000ft

Setting off from a little car park east of the
Roddlesworth reservoirs  

Looking across Belmont reservoir to Winter Hill

 Crossing Stothes Bank brook above Delph reservoir 

Stothes Bank brook

Climbing to Top'o'th' Moor

Now at the site of the tragedy still remembered when three teenagers having an 'adventure' on the moors after leaving Sunday School, encountered the worst blizzard seen on the moor in years. They were found together two days later frozen to death.  
https://www.lep.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/frozen-death-lancashires-moors-673507

 A bleak and desolate place even today     

 

Hawthorntwaite Fell and the upper River Wyre 9miles 1600ft

Setting off with a view over the Wyre valley to Grit Fell 

As height is gained Morecambe Bay and Black Coombe come into theview 

A little higher and the snow-capped Lake District fells appear -
but alas, this is the highest point gained today, ie just below the ridge of Hawthornthwaite fell.
In an air temperature of -6 and average wind of 15mph in my face it was just too cold to continue safely any higher (ie wind chill approx -16c)  

So after descending to a warmer climate ie -6c,
I joined the River Wyre Way....   

 ....passing cliffs of icicles

....and again

Abbeystead House, belonging to the Duke of Westminster, stands
proudly above the north bank of the River Wyre just outside Abbeystead village.

Further downstream is the dam and weir 

....and again

Sunshine reflecting on the lake behind the dam

Finally passing the 'Shepherds Church' on the way back to the car.

Altogether an excellent alternative to a day's fell walking!