HURSTWOOD RAMBLE

"Wuthering Sights"

A circular walk from Hurstwood - 6+ Miles

Walkers :- Anthony (leader) John R, Martin, Harry, John W, Vic and New Boy James (Jim)

"T' other side of Burnley.  Do we have passports, emergency rations and an interpreter ? " 

"Don't be ridiculous. Just don't ask how the Clarets are doing and we'll be OK."

After weaving a tortuous path through the by-roads of East Lancashire we finally arrived at the car park just beyond the hamlet of Hurstwood. The car park which was of a linear nature was already crowded. (with whom ?). But we eventually found a couple of spots and soon left the cars and dropped down into the hamlet, learning as we did that a day nursery was responsible for the plethora of cars in the park. 

We were immediately struck by the old, fascinating and often beautiful buildings we were to encounter on our walk.

The first one we encountered appeared to tell  us in latin that it belonged to Agnes, the wife of one of the Towneleys  the local  big landowners. We also spotted the first of several houses/cottages who's window configuration indicated that handloom weaving had taken place there.



Our route led us gently up and away from this delightful habitation as we followed the road for
about a third of a mile before striking out across the fields.

As we crossed the fields we spotted a line of upright "Flagstones" These are very ancient field boundaries and are I think referred to as "Vaccaries"    Think french - "Vache" and we have enclosure for cows or "Cattle".




The fields led us to a narrow path with a small stream running along one side and houses on the other. This opened out into the middle of Worsthorne. Here again we were struck by the magnificence of  both the civic and everyday vernacular architecture.  Coffee time. A small village green offered us space and even more importantly benches to park our behinds on. One of the benches was already occupied by a man in a dayglo jacket who was taking a break from street sweeping. We soon started to chat with him and discovered he was an ex-miner. He regaled us with tales and information about the local coal and tin mines.  

 Our ex-miner talking to Vic - Who else ?













Taking the Gorple Road away from the mills in the valleys and up to the fresh air of the moors. Surely a historic activity.

Leaving Worsthorne behind us we followed the arrow straight Gorple Road as it steadily climbed way from the grime of the mill towns in the valleys and up onto the moors. About half way up and just across the track from a sprawling farmstead was a half buried brick structure which by the look of it had to have military connections but what   Again it was Vic who elicited the information from a gentleman who bore more than a passing resemblance to one of Benny Hills characters.  It was a  decoy, signal station    designed to attract German bombers away from the towns below.  I'll bet the farmer was thrilled by that idea. 

Now on top of the moors we could see below us the first of the two reservoirs we were to pass on our journey. A sharp dog-leg turn in the track and with some initial hesitation Anthony agreed that this was probably the way we must go. Once we were alongside the water we searched for a sheltered spot to take lunch. Once more we were assailed by a biting wind coming at us from water (Last week's seaside walk !)  We "hunkered down" (don't you just hate Americanisms) behind the folds of Victorian spoil heaps and ate our butties.

Lunch finished we followed the banks of the reservoir for a couple of hundred yards before climbing a further rise only to fall down again to the second reservoir.

Beyond the reservoir our path led damply over the moors and down into steep-sided valleys in one of which a rather dramatic rams skull attracted Harry's attention (eventually Vic decided to take it home. Martin provided a plastic bag to contain this somewhat gruesome article.)

 

The end of our journey was now approaching and indeed could soon be seen in the distance across the valley.

Sadly I have to report that our infallible weatherman (see left) failed us for once.  "Ninety percent chance of rain." he said. The impact of this deviation from the norm  was so traumatic that I am now expecting the Pope to announce the ordination of women priests and married clergy.

A steady plod and we found ourselves at the bird sanctuary where we had initially sought to park at the start of our day. Here we briefly lost our way. This you will recognise as a compulsory part of our walking day plans.  A short backtrack and a clear path led us steeply down and then back up to enter Hurstwood next to yet another delightful building.

And so back home. James our second apprentice of the year announced that he had enjoyed his first Meanderthal outing and looks set to be a valuable addition to the gang with a ready wit and a fund of knowledge.

"HASTA  LA PROXIMA"   (just showing off mi newly acquired Spanish skills - They're limited.)