Colne

I had a day out over the Pennines to Lancashire, taking the train to Keighley and from there the bus along the A6068 to Colne.

I’d travelled through this way a few times before, but the only time I can remember visiting Colne was by train from Lancaster for the Blues Festival in the early 1990s. I can remember arriving by train, because as we stepped off, there was Rory McLeod, who we’d come to see, with his guitar case having been on the same train.

I had a few hours pottering about the town before heading to the football. Colne seems quite a vibrant place. There were book and record shops/stalls to browse, but its main disadvantage is having a significant artery for cross-Pennine traffic right down the middle of the high street. Much is made of the famous son, Wallace Hartley, who was the band leader on the Titanic (extra). Keeping the Olympic theme going, I also found of the the London 2012 gold post boxes, this one for Steven Burke, one of the Men’s Team Pursuit cycling team.

At the football it was the start of the FA Cup, with Colne of the NWCFL hosting Mossley how play one league higher in the NPLD1W. The ground is high on the hillside (extra) at the edge of town,  so offers extensive views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Colne made a match of it, but two stoppage time goals contributed to a flattering 0-4 win for Mossley.

A good day out, and quite easy and cheap to get to so I may come back and explore some walks on the surrounding hills at some point.