The Meanderthals: A CASTLE, A HALL, A CONVENT

SIZERGH, LEVENS and BRETTARGH 7 Miles

Walkers :- John W (leader) John R, Danny, Paddy, Jim,

James, Martin, Anthony and Harry,

After ridiculing John's "Stylish" footwear and almost abandoning Danny, our journey north to Sizergh Castle was quickly accomplished, cars parked and our walk begun. It took us only a few minutes walking to reach the castle where according to Jim the "Princes in the Tower" may well have lived as children.

The road curled round to the back of the castle and we passed through the car park and soon left the

ancient fortress behind as we took to a well defined and equally well maintained footpath leading away through the fields- It was not long before we reached "Holeslack Farm" Here we again committed the cardinal error of ploughing onwards along an obvious track and not checking. A glance at the GPS, however, quickly revealed that we had left the planned route and had to go back a couple of hundred yards. Back on track and a left turn took us into a field which climbed steeply up towards the near horizon. He who had led us astray was repentant and promised that a coffee break was imminent. At the top of the field we were halted by a hedge and a wall and on turning to check the progress of the group a wonderful panorama could be seen. An ideal spot for coffee. As we settled to our drinks a fabulous tableau of near and distant hills and valleys was spread before us. A grey, lowering sky added to the drama of it.

We had to drag ourselves away from this delightful spot and carry on upward to where the cropped turf of the fields ended and we joined another well surfaced track. The track led us to a small church and Anthony surprised us by reminding us that this was the very church, next to which we had parked to tackle Scout Scar a couple of years before. A well remembered and to many, a favourite walk. Inside the church we were both intrigued and charmed by the painting of the Sanctuary wall. This "Angelic painting" was done in 1919 as a war memorial.

Again. spirit-lifting views lay before us, with the Furness fells immediately before us and the Lakeland peaks as a tantalising, distant backdrop. Harry our weather guru, proved right again as his forecast of rain arriving at about one o'clock was spot on and his further prognostication that there would be very little of it was also "on the money".

At this point our direction was reversed and we set off down a broad track now heading southward as we began our return leg. The "Happy Wanderers" wandered happily until John's GPS yelled "Naughty boy ! You're off track again". Turn around gang ! Slapped wrist leader ! Aw C'mon lads. Only a little deviation and SOON back on the "Path of Shining Light" (sincerely hope not !)

Our path was blocked by a large hairy beast with calf and we passed it with caution only to enter a very large field in which there was an equally large herd of delightfully calm and beautiful Jersey cows. As we passed through this field the weekly directional altercation (very mild) between A. and J took place. A. won !

At the end of this and another smaller field we rejoined the road which, to our dismay, led steeply up to our left. This unwonted exertion immediately triggered calls for a break "Lunchtime ! Lunchtime !" came the plaintive cry. We fought our way upwards 'till arriving at the top we were greeted by a number of large wrought iron benches. Ideal ! The benches were, unfortunately, separated by 50 yards or so, so our friends had to inhabit separate "Dining Rooms". Indeed one of our "Buddies chose to dine alone !!!

"OH Lonesome Me !"

Lunch over and once again on our way soon arriving and passing through Levens Village, A left turn as we reached the outskirts of the village and back into fields once more. Here we witnessed an amazing site as a riderless bike sped past us at great speed. GOOD GRIEF ! In fact it was fastened to the roof of a car the whole of which was hidden by a hedge along the top of which the bike appeared to be travelling. PHEW ! Onwards and over the dual carriageway of the A590 as it sped towards the Furness peninsula and eventually to Barrow at the end of the country's longest cul-de-sac. From here, down a short stretch of the old A6 and then leaving tarmac to follow the "Bonnie Banks" of the River Kent as it wound through Levens Park. We were struck by the magnificence of the trees in the park and passed by a herd of melanistic (dark) fallow deer for which the park is famous.

A final coffee on the elevated river banks and so on to Brettargh Holt, a former convent which is now being redeveloped as a luxury hotel and conference venue. "The Villa", After a risky re-crossing of the A590. we were quickly back at the cars. Martin's hugely alcoholic beverage was downed and off to home we went.

Throughout our journey we could not fail to admire the flora we passed by.