The Meanderthals

Gt Eccleston - Elswick

November 13th   4.7 Ecumenical Miles

Walkers :- John R, Anthony, Harry, John W, Paddy, Vic, Mike.

"Oh S--t !" said the John as the car crawled snail like through Fulwood's congested traffic.
"What time d'yu call this ?" said Anthony as  we finally arrived late at the meeting point (Harry's). Soon we were off up the A6 and back into the congestion. "Oh S--t !" said John.
Eventually we reached Great Eccleston - but where were the others ? They had taken a different, traffic avoiding, route.  Thank God for mobile 'phones. We were soon united next to the Catholic church which was to be the first of five churches we were to pass and off on our walk.  Into Great Eccleston and out again. Just as we got to the outskirts of this small but charming village we turned South and  found ourselves following what appeared to be an old "Green Lane".  It was only a few minutes before we were strolling across open fields in a strong blustery wind. After recent fascinating but knee-wrecking (for some of us)  walks, this was to be a simple, level and relatively short walk. But not without interest. As coffee time approached we followed a very clearly defined path through a large field of cabbages or sprouts or kale or....who knows ?  Definitely Brassicas.  On reaching the gate on the opposite side of the field we found a sheltered spot for a coffee break before turning back to once more brave  the brassicas and head towards Copp . Here the second of our churches (C of E) held us for a short while before we left the fields to follow the public highway down to Elswick.      Elswick and Bonds Ice-cream are synonymous.  SOME of us succumbed to a cornet but as it was Kendal Mint-Cake flavoured it was obviously perfectly acceptable for us intrepid ramblers. In Elswick we turned into the churchyard of the United Reform Church. In the grounds a multitude of benches invited us to stay for lunch. As we prepared to sit and eat a local man came out of a smaller "Church" and invited us to enter and look around. (Not sure that many of the locals have similar, strong "Ulster" accents) The smaller "church" was now used as a community hall,  services being held in the rather more impressive building next door.  A handy toilet was made use of and we spent a little time exploring the graveyard for the "Listed" gravestone of the churches founder. From here we turned north to follow paths and open fields back to Eccleston. As we approached Gt Eccleston we passed the last of our five churches. "Eccleston Free Methodist" a decidedly modern and well maintained structure. Almost within sight of the cars we left the path to sit and finish our flasks  in the tranquil grounds of the local Crown Green Bowling club. It started to rain ! Back to the cars and home by rather circuitous ways to avoid the traffic in Broughton/Fulwood.

A pleasant, non-challenging walk in relatively good weather with "Religious" interest.