BOLTON Group of the Ramblers' Association are stepping up the programme, if not the pace, to welcome the longer days.

As well as a packed programme for April, plans are in hand for a mass of summer events, including a week-long summer walking festival.

The programme for April is:

Saturday 1: Coach Ramble, Bolton to York 200 (stage four), Clitheroe to Gisburn 12 miles. Contact 01204 699737 for details of seat availability.

Boots

Sunday 9: Afternoon footpath walk -- "Halls and Reservoirs" (approx 4 miles). Meet Turton Tower car park at 2pm. All welcome. Contact 01204 692458 (evenings only) or just turn up. Stout shoes or boots recommended.

The group's spring/summer programme of short walks will all take place on the second Sunday in each month (April to July and September).

Each will be of four to five miles distance and take two to three hours, starting at 2pm at a venue to be published each month.

In August the group plans a Festival of Summer Walking, an ambitious series of up to eight short local walks. More details later.

Sunday 16: Coach Ramble. Lady Anne's Way (stage one). Embsay to Grassington (approx 12 miles). Seats may be available for this walk. Contact 0161 764 7286.

This is the first in a series of spring and summer walks in the Pennine Hill country and Yorkshire Dales which follow the route taken by Lady Anne Clifford during her perambulations between her homes in Yorkshire and Cumbria.

The route, which is steeped in history, goes from Skipton to Appleby, visiting Grassington, Buckden, Askrigg, Garsdale Head and Kirkby Steven on the way, finally reaching Great Ormside in September.

"Good weather permitting, this should prove to be a rewarding way of spending some of our forthcoming Sundays and one to which we are all looking forward." said an RA spokesman.

The Saturday coach ramble starts from Spa Road at 8am.

The Sunday coach ramble starts from the car park adjacent to the Central Fire Station also at 8am.

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