The Brighouse Walking and Fitness Group

Plenty of hill and some far reaching views on this short walk. Mainly lanes and woodland paths with some field tracks too.

UPDATED after recce on the 3rd. I've changed the route slightly so it just scrapes in at 5 miles. We will be finishing at The Sun pub but there is very little parking on street so we can't start from there. It's another 7 minutes walk back to the cars but it's straightforward. So if you don't want to come into the pub you could try finding a space nearby and leave from there or it is straight up the hill and turn right when you get to the church to return to your car.

The Sun doesn't open till 12 so no loos near the start.

Dogs - most stiles ok but 2 where there's a bit of a jump. No livestock in fields on the recce but there was one that obviously has cows some times (that's the one with awkward stiles). Quite a bit of lane walking with no pavement but plenty of woodland for off lead as well.
Dogs allowed in the Sun.

Mudwatch - not as bad as I feared so fingers crossed we don't get any downpours. Muddy patches but not too deep or awkward to get through.

lunch - If it's dry we have permission to use the picnic benches at Gawthorpe club. If wet we will be huddling under trees!

Parking in St John's church car park: Green Balk Ln, Lepton, Huddersfield HD8 0EW

We can't guarantee the finish time. The meetup system means we have to put a finish time on the event but it depends on the pace of the group on the day.

Don't worry about Unpaid by your name, we don't use that system. £1 on the day please.

Thanks due to Kirkburton Parish council as this is a variation on their walk "Jessop's Jaunt."

Sorry guys but the Millers have been in touch and after 10 years decided to close.
We have Casa just reopened as the alternative (bought by the George in cleckheaton). Menu in pictures.
I will be transferring all our booking over on Friday 11th unless you state otherwise.

Please reply “ok” so we can see who’s aware of the changes. Thank you

Walk approx. 6 miles (to be confirmed)
Food at 4pm as it gets dark about then.
drinks afterwards so leave your car at home :-)

Menu in pictures...

Not a meetup you can actually go to - somewhere to keep track of this year's finances.
This is a link to 2023 finances for some context:
https://4142298.xyz/the-brighouse-walking-and-fitness-meetup-group/events/290793580/?comment_table_id=532529424&comment_table_name=event_comment&notificationId=1378613571128340480

We just broke even in 2022, partly decreased attendances and also increased meetup charges. No need to panic as yet but disappointing to not have anything to give to charity as we did pre-pandemic.

The reason for the finances folder is to demonstrate where the money the group collects goes too. The majority pays our meetup subs (about £205 in 2022), see below for what happens to the rest.

We usually collect £1 from those who attend a walk. That is split between the group and the hosts. This can be used to offset the costs of reccying although some walk leaders donate it to charity. We don't ask - it's up to them. We want walk leading to be accessible for all including those for whom transport costs may be an issue. Therefore we never accept if walk leaders offer us their half.
On a Saturday walk the group's half goes towards meetup subs. When we have made enough for the next payment to meetup we split the money between two charities. The charities were chosen on the basis that they are relevant to the group's aims and are non-controversial. We don't want anyone to feel that by attending a walk they are having to contribute to a charity which they don't support.
We donate to the YHAs Breaks for Kids scheme. This scheme gives discounts to low income families so that children can attend activity holidays in the countryside.
"Breaks for Kids supports children to take part in a short YHA hostel break giving them life-enhancing experiences through adventurous educational stays that they would be excluded from without the support provided."
http://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/breaks-for-kids
We also donate to Holme Valley Mountain Rescue based in Marsden. They cover a lot of our local area. Luckily we haven't needed their services so far but many a walker has.
http://holmevalleymrt.org.uk/category/call-outs/

On evening walks the group's half goes in the contingency fund or CF. We use this when making purchases for the group for example maps and walk leaflets. In 2016 we bought a GPS for group use.
The contingency fund then got very big - luckily for us when the pandemic hit as it covered our subs.

We have previously received a donation from members of our sister site Leeds Live Music and Arts and may do again this year.

We are going to try using Event Chat for the photos and accounting this year as we think it may make it easier to follow on, so over to Event Chat to follow the finances.

Hopefully this folder will answer any questions about the group finances but if you have any questions feel free to ask in a comment.

Randomly parked, will sort it when we have more certainty.Details will be updated!

There is a bit of ascent coming back into the village at the end but nothing very steep. It's a mix of farm tracks and field paths with 5 minutes pavement walking in the village at the end.

Not much mud on the preliminary recce but one overgrown stile. I'll try and remember to take secateurs or there could be a few nasty moments for shorts wearers.

Dogs: one tricky stile so far- could be a problem if your dog isn't agile. Mainly crop fields but one field with horses. Dogs allowed in the pub. I'll update after the final recce.

Parking: on street please. There are a few spaces on the street near the pub, a small car park behind the beauty place at Emley Cross or along Church Street. Please give yourself time to find a space and be considerate of local residents.