The Meanderthals

CHIPPING CIRCULAR - 6/7 miles

Walkers :- Anthony, Mike, Jim C, John R
Martin. Harry, John W.

As we are still searching for "dry" walks in our sadly sodden land, an old friend popped up to offer us just such a thing. With only short stretches NOT on farm tracks the Lickhurst/Greystoneley walk sprang to mind. After a short delay caused by the volume of traffic in Preston the drive to Chipping was very straightforward and we were soon "togged" up and ready to go. Not, however, before Mike, with a flourish, produced John's hat which he had retrieved from John's front hedge where he had absent mindedly left it. A most unusual occurrence......ahem ! "Mystic" Mike also produced a map of the "proposed" walk. John, with only a little retaliatory pleasure, informed him this it was not actually the walk planned.

Enough of this pre-match badinage...on with the walk.

We dropped down through the village and turned left heading towards Leagram hall and the promised "Snowdrop Spectacular". It was less than marvellous and lacked a few days to really show us it's full splendour so onwards upwards past the "Sheep Cheese Farm"

Past the cheese farm and onto a delightful shady nook where the brook did rather more than "babble" under the track. Here harry was rather taken with the luxurious growth of moss on the bridge's parapet .

Perhaps a hundred yards further on the path was diverted away from the yard of a converted farm house (now a "Des Res"). Understandable but rather naughty (and rather soggy). Now we crossed two fields which gradually got rather "moist" at which point there was discord amongst the ranks as someone declared that he had been told the wearing of gaiters was unnecessary. Knowledge of such advice was of course denied by the "Accused".

A sharp right took us into a lane which gradually sank between enclosing hedges before arriving at a formerly derelict farmhouse. Here a young man with an impressive telescopic rifle told us he was living in the building whilst it was being renovated, He told us the gun was for shooting crows. Close by another gentleman was repairing a stone wall.

Just beyond this building we stopped for coffee. Here, too, we enjoyed the warming draughts of Martin's hot spiced alcohol (Still can't spell the name of the drink.)

Then we resumed our walk in the direction of Lickhurst farm. The roughness of our track was astonishingly replaced by one of great luxury. A tarmacked road through farmland !!!

Past Lickhurst farm and down to the winding valley which ends at the waterfall and the salmon ladder. Not for the first time this was to be our lunch spot.

The "Lads that do Lunch" can be seen to the left of the waterfall

Lunch over we cross the bridge and continue towards Greystoneley

A brief stop at the junction where the road leads off across "Duchy" land to Dinckling Green and then a right turn and right again through the newly developed, upmarket buildings that were once the modest farm at Greystonely. Just beyond Greystoneley the track became quite wet and eroded before dropping back down to the stream again where there is a choice between a bridge and a ford as a means of crossing.

Once across the stream our next target was Knot Hill were we again visited the restored Limekiln and finished our flasks whilst overlooking the rain-enlarged pool in the limestone quarry.

Now we were heading for home. As we went Harry pointed out, with delight, the signs of spring showing in the hedgerows.

The last couple of miles were not without their own interest and fun as you will gather from the following photos. Above we see Seamus a member of the Irish branch of G.G's family.

Then we came across evidence of Gnomic work being carried out on one of the farms we passed through.

And here we see our own shepherd chatting to a little friend. All was well until one of our less sensitive members dropped the word "Veal" into the conversation. I was unaware that calves could move so fast.

Back to the cars and home but no-one was in a rush as we sat and laughed (Mainly at G.G.) and enjoyed a welcome shandy supplied as usual by Martin.

Walker of the week was declared. RETROSPECTIVELY in tribute to his stepping in to lead last weeks walk which obviously followed the usual pattern of getting lost with enjoyment.......and the cup goes to.........................Martin !

By the way G.G. WAS on the walk. As large if not larger than life,

AND....there was a complaint....... Jim C managed to insert an "earworm" into several members heads. It was more pachyderm related than "Trois Poules Francaise"