Tomorrow evening on Michael Portaloo's Railway Journey.

[Globalti]

He's now in Lancashire and today (Tuesday) he visits the Clarion House in Roughlee near Nelson. The Clarion was a Socialist movement that encouraged Lancashire mill workers to get out on foot and on bike at weekends. The Clarion house is a friendly place that will serve you a pint of tea for 50p. I sometimes drop in when I'm riding my tour de Pendle Hill. Watch out for the gentleman in red with a curly moustache, Charles Jepson, penny-farthing rider, my son's retired teacher, organiser of bike jumbles and all-round character. He considered the Clarion too bland so formed his own one-man breakaway, the True Clarion. He drives around in a van with "Socialism is the only hope for Mankind" written on it. The elderly gent on his left is always at the Clarion House and rides an original "Curly" Hetchins.

Clarion House would be a good stopping off point for a summer @ColinJ ride. A fascinating and friendly place.

Edit: BBC2 at 6.30. Here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002fl0

 

[ColinJ]

He's now in Lancashire and tomorrow (Tuesday) he visits the Clarion House in Roughlee near Nelson. The Clarion was a Socialist movement that encouraged Lancashire mill workers to get out on foot and on bike at weekends. The Clarion house is a friendly place that will serve you a pint of tea for 50p. I sometimes drop in when I'm riding my tour de Pendle Hill. Watch out for the gentleman in red with a curly moustache, Charles Jepson, penny-farthing rider, retired teacher, organiser of bike jumbles and all-round character. He considered the Clarion too bland so formed his own one-man breakaway, the True Clarion. He drives around in a van with "Socialism is the only hope for Mankind" written on it. The elderly gent on his left is always at the Clarion House and rides an original "Curly" Hetchins.

Clarion House would be a good stopping off point for a summer @ColinJ ride. A fascinating and friendly place.

I remembered Clarion House being mentioned last year so I did a ride up Jinny Lane with @Littgull in October to check out where it is. It wasn't open when we went but we did discuss a possible future visit.

 

[Blue Hills]

Thanks for this globalti. Will watch on iplayer as out. A wonderful spot. Colin, trust you looked at the view from the garden slope outside clarion house. Even if it's closed, worth the trip for that. A while ago I was in a bus in burnley and an old couple were off to clarion house. For until recently a small bus went up jinny lane. No more of course for the country is now so prosperous and equal that such things are no longer needed so rural bus services have been hacked back.

 

[galaxy]

Interesting Program. Often watch it if I can

 

[Globalti]

Unfortunately after you've had a pint of tea and a good old yarn with some of the charming regulars, you've got to climb Jinny Lane, which gets steeper and steeper, on cold legs. There is a defibrillator at the top though.

 

[ColinJ]

Unfortunately after you've had a pint of tea and a good old yarn with some of the charming regulars, you've got to climb Jinny Lane, which gets steeper and steeper, on cold legs. There is a defibrillator at the top though.

We might go down the hill after our visit!

 

[Oldfentiger]

It’s a quarter mile from Chez Moi.
Only open on Sundays though.
And Jinny Lane is a fecker to climb

Edit: anyone who visits give me a heads-up and I’ll come and say hello.

 

[CharlesF]

Michael Portaloo is known in our hoos as Have-a-Go, Joe.

Although we do enjoy the travel portions. Spent the recent Canada series saying “We’ve been there”; “we’ve got to go there”, at different points.

 

[Globalti]

Most of his programmes are very enjoyable although he does get distracted sometimes when freebies are on offer such as zipwire experiences etc.

We certainly enjoyed the Canada series and have agreed we'd like to go to Quebec one day and catch a train to Seattle.

 

[CharlesF]

The best holiday we had was Calgary - Banff - Jasper - Vancouver - Victoria. I could have spent the whole time in Jasper, wonderful people, stunning scenery and invigorating hikes. I saw a number of cyclists in Banff and will look at hiring a road bike there, next time.

Toronto and surrounds in the fall is eye-popping bright reds and oranges.

 

[slow scot]

The best holiday we had was Calgary - Banff - Jasper - Vancouver - Victoria. I could have spent the whole time in Jasper, wonderful people, stunning scenery and invigorating hikes. I saw a number of cyclists in Banff and will look at hiring a road bike there, next time.

Toronto and surrounds in the fall is eye-popping bright reds and oranges.

Jasper to Banff on the Icefields Parkway is one of the great cycle rides. I did it in 1979, so may be a little busier now. Then a train to Vancouver, fantastic trip, boat to Vancouver Island, boat to Washington and then down to San Francisco.