"NA' THEN COCKER !"

COCKERHAM 6.5 Miles

Walkers :- Harry, Paddy, John W, Anthony
                 Mike,  John R,  Frank,   Jim D. 

Although heralded as a "Rude"  walk this one actually turned out to be a delightful ramble full of interest, aided and abetted by  magnificent weather. Further more , those eagle eyed amongst you, will have noticed a new name on the list - FRANK,  a welcome addition to the group.

With lots of parking available at the village hall we were soon on our way and within a couple of minutes were leaving the hamlet by way of "Willy Lane".

 A sun-filled "Willy Lane"

Not far down the lane we arrived at "Up Town" a farm with a "Des Res" attached. After a short stop to admire this group of buildings we turned sharply right to strike out across the fields. A large pylon showed the way to the gate through which we had to pass.

 Unusually the pylon was not fenced off and even a photographer of your reporters limited skills could not resist the lure of this marvellous metallic maze.

Leaving the pylon behind us (see above) we forged ahead across fields which were in turn dry and firm and then soft and squelchy. The water table still lurks inches under the surface. One field we crossed had obviously been severely affected by the winter downpours and there was evidence of attempts at draining (Mole Drainage I think).

 From here the fields sloped steeply down into the valley of the river "Cocker" from which the hamlet and other place  of interest take their names. 

 The crossing of the mighty "Cocker"

I have no intention of committing to paper the plethora of less than tasteful comments emanating from the group as this crossing was accomplished. You may imagine as you wish !

Just a little further along the valley a solid farm bridge over another stream (river ?) provided an excellent point to take our morning "Coffee" break.

 

 

 

Coffee consumed, we set off again and were now approaching "Ellel Grange" which an internet search had told us was  now a centre of "Spiritual Healing".

Our route led us to the left of the estate and eventually to the stables of this magnificent and presumably once private country house. The stables alone would have solved the housing problems of several dozen boatloads of immigrants. So the house..............?

 Thank you Mike.

 ELLEL GRANGE

After passing the Grange our path took once again to the fields before  arriving next to the Lancaster canal at bridge "85". Here the canal flowed through a deep cutting the diggings from which formed a hilly "tumulus" over which our path took us before dropping down to the start of the Glasson Dock arm. Just before arriving at this point , however, John R had found a rather unusual object half buried in the turf.

 A bolt from the blue ? steel tipped as well.  mmm.......

The entrance to the Glasson Dock arm is crossed by an extremely attractive hump-backed bridge overlooking the first of several locks dropping the canal down to sea-level.

Even though coffee time had only just passed the warm sunshine and the attractive surroundings encouraged us to seek for a lunchtime resting place. Feeling that we could hardly justify stopping again so soon we ambled on along the sundrenched canal bank eventually arriving at a lock which offered seating which oddly everyone declined, preferring to sport ourselves along the arms of the lock gates.

 

Lunch over it was only a short distance to the next bridge which we crossed to once more take to the fields in the direction of  Thurnham Hall. This elegant edifice we believe was once a junior seminary but is now a time share holiday resort (Diamond Resorts ? Which John W misread as Diamond Escorts ! Well he did say it was a "Rude" walk.))

 Once the home of many aspiring priests there is now only one cannon in residence (Oh dear ....they don't improve.)

And here it is.

Before we left the environs of Thurnham Hall we visited the rather handsome parish church of saints Thomas and Elizabeth. 

Here we discovered the Egyptian style mausoleum

of the famous Lancaster furniture firm of Wareing and Gillow

The roofs of Cockerham were now on the near horizon but we first had to pass by "Cock" Hall farm. This turned out to be a rather disappointing, anonymous, modern sprawl of a site. (What exactly were we expecting ?) By now we were only minutes from the cars but as we followed an extremely slimy and gungy farm track a small copse of trees atop a mound wiled us off our course so we clambered up and finished our flasks with delicious views all around us.

Flasks finished and soon after so was our superb walk but not before one final comment on the destinations and personnel of our "Adventurous" group.

 A surprising walk with surprising names , surprising features and the icing on the cake - super surprising weather.

Martin was greatly missed on this walk and all good wishes and hopes for swift return to footfall fitness were expressed. 

N.B. This has nothing to do with firewater and shandy ...Obviously !

G.G.

Some unused Photos.....

  

Harry's rather nervous look is perhaps down to the activities of the Male Swan (nest seen on the opposite bank) which took objection to our presence and sailed threateningly across the canal towards us.

 

Normal Service?

Normal Service will be resumed as soon as possible! After Easter.

(Carole Hersee, the girl in the picture, is now 57 years old and appeared on the Test Card for BBC TV for 31 years.)

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

This week's Walk

EMPTY SPACE !

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No-one took a camera 

Comment by Terry Crossley (aka. TOP CAT)

There is no hospital in Darwen and having worked at Blackburn Royal, I would strongly advise against that. 

Tell him to eat some tomato soup and then he can pretend to be a flamingo

Speedy recovery, Martin!

MEANDERTHAL TIMES

BREAKING NEWS !

"Man known to supply alcohol to ageing wanderers found legless"

Popular Mr. M G a man who has for some time been supplying alcohol* of varying strengths to a group of confused elderly men has been discovered legless at his home in Preston. The authorities have advised Mr M G to attend a clinic in far away Darwen or Blackburn where his problem can be properly attended too by experienced clinicians. 

SERIOUSLY:- Martin's leg which caused him problems on our last walk has been giving him "Gyp" since and walking more than a few steps is almost impossible.  He was told that it might be wise to go to Darwen or Blackburn as the waiting time in Royal Preston could be FIVE hours !!!   I'm sure we all wish him well and look forward to a fully fit Martin on future walks. (That sounds a bit cliched but you know what I mean )

 p.s. alcohol*  = shandy at less than 1/2 percent.  

WHICH WAY ? OH ! THAT WAYOH !

WAYOH RESERVOIR 6.5 miles

Walkers :- Anthony, Harry, Danny, Jim C, Jim D
                  John R,  John W,  Mike,   Martin. ( 9 )

After departing Preston at our usual time we cruised along the motorways (M6 M61 M65) to Darwen where John R insisted on using the vernacular and referring to the town as "Darren". "Darren" proved so interesting that we did the "Guided Tour" (Got lost !) before carrying on past the magnificent India Mills factory chimney to the car park next to the reservoirs. 
A few minutes later we were walking along the shores of one of Wayoh's sister waters.

 This was obviously a popular local destination as we encountered other ramblers, dog walkers and joggers as we sallied forth .

The path was well constructed and level and we made good progress along the picturesque banks with our attention being drawn to the waterfowl to be seen particularly two extremely vociferous Canada geese who seemed to resent our intrusion into their world and flew honking across challenge us to a "Stare Out".

Arriving at the top of the first reservoir, a bridge and a well "stoned" riverbank offered a comfortable place for coffee/tea/soup.

Martin as usual produced his "Fire Water" (I really must find out it's proper name.) and after a convivial quarter hour of beverages and banter we set off again. This time uphill and away (for the time being) from the water.

After climbing quite steeply for several minutes the path rounded a bend and presented, before us, quite a spectacular cliff face. The overall appearance was enhanced by the ochre-red staining on the surface of the rocks. The sharply smooth face of the cliff led your writer to suspect that some of the stone used in the construction of the reservoir or it's building might have been quarried here.

The path was very sensible and did not attempt to continue straight ahead (ropes and carabiners were not to be had) but wove it's way around this formidable barrier showing us as it did that snow had recently carpeted the area. A little remained.

 Once past the rocky obstacle and now "dangerously" above the snow line the path continued it's upward journey until it reached the highway.  (Blackburn to Bolton)

 We edged along this busy road for perhaps 3/4  of a mile before leaving this and encountering a possibly prophetic signpost. 

We were now well above the level of the reservoirs and surrounded by hill farm land beyond which the rolling profiles of the West Pennine Moors reached out from their big relatives - the real Pennines.

The track still rose steadily until we reached the zenith of our walk. Here we paused to partake of lunch (That's an unnecessarily flowery way to say "Ate our Butties") We had noticed some time before that Martin was being hindered by an injury incurred when he had recently battled with a recalcitrant DVD player. A pulled Muscle, torn ligament, whatever,  was severely discomfiting him.

 Technology 1   Martin 0

Martin takes the weight of his leg whilst.........

........Harry, meerkat like, stands guard and keeps watch.

We now began the descent back to the reservoirs. The rough and rather wet (inevitably) track took us rapidly down hill before spewing out onto a "real" surfaced road. This in turn took us to the tiny hamlet of Entwistle were a pub caught our attention with it's rather curious name. "The STRAWBURY DUCK" A helpful, local delivery man was happy to explain it's origin. He told us that some years before a gentleman with rather more money than common sense, bought the pub. His name was "Duxbury" (Ducksbury ?) and he built his name into the pub's new title. 

 

The pub's original name had been "The Railway Inn" and as we turned away from it the reason became obvious.

From here it wasn't long before we were walking, once more along reservoir banks. 

With only two of our regulars missing it was a "No Brainer" (Don't you just hate that expression ?) to do a group photo. John W was fiddling with his "Gorrilla Pod" (No tasteless comments please) when a charming young lady came along and offered to take the group photo for us. THANK YOU !

 Smile please... That means you too John W !

The above photo was taken on an embankment between two reservoirs and in the background you may well be able to see the handsome railway viaduct under which we would be passing as we made our way back to the car park.
Our walk was now drawing to an end but not before we noticed that certain fellows had TEFLON kit. Danny tramped straight through a large muddy puddle yet his boots remained steadfastly clean.  And...... Whose are these pristine gaiters ?

Once over the reservoir the path climbed away into the woodland  and not long after we stopped just below the arches of the railway viaduct to have a rest and finish our flasks.

 Final coffee break

 ....and a passing train salutes our walking achievements

 The path we were following was well made with a good surface and clearly cut steps and so our progress to the car park was made easier and more rapid. 

  A brief rest (photo stop) on the well-made path.

 back at the car park, natures confusion with the weather was further compounded by Martin offering us the summer drink (Shandy) even though he had already dispensed his winter warmer. (That unspellable one) HOWEVER "For what we have received may we all be truly thankful"  AND WE ARE !

A Good walk once again. Well done.

A few extra photos.........

 

 Tea for two ?

Visitors welcome....
............but Danny ? 

       Where's this ? ....... Spireton-on-the-Water perhaps ?

HALL, HALL, HALL, CASTLE !

PENDLETON TO CLITHEROE 8/9 Miles
(Beyond the call of Drewty !)

Walkers :- Martin, Anthony, Paddy, Jim D, John W. 

We s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d the drew formula to it's limits as a 6 mile planned walked ended after NINE miles. 

With only five walkers one car was sufficient to carry us all to a handy little car park in the delightfully attractive village of Pendleton which none of us had visited before.

 A gentle uphill walk took us through this fascinating little village and out towards the first of the three "Halls"  we would visit on our route.

Pendleton Hall

The track continued after crossing the Sabden road passing the hall (see above) and moving on towards "Mearly Hall" a short distance further on. The mass of Pendle Hill was our constant companion as it loomed, mist covered, to our right.

The well made farm track followed the contours of Pendle Hill making for easy walking. By the time we arrived at our second "Hall" it was time for coffee (or Tea) and so far we had hardly been impressed by our "Halls which were really only farm houses with grand titles. 

 Impressive gate-posts but still only a large farmhouse. 

Here we are sitting on a well positioned telegraph pole immediately opposite the gates of Mearly Hall (see above) where Martin's "One Ton" rucksack contained his usual beverage which we all enjoy  -  "Fire Water". This had meant a short diversion and once refreshed we returned to our planned route searching for "Hall" number Three. As we approached number three an obviously D.I.Y. sign led us off the track and through a field which in a way was to our advantage as it took us close to the most impressive of the "Halls"  a proper listed building   "Little Mearly Hall".

 Little Mearly Hall

As we had approached the hall we pondered what had caused the diversion. Our surmises that it was a "Bridge" problem on the track proved correct as we left the hall and continued on the route which now left the farmtrack and took to the fields .

As we crossed the field below the bridge, further evidence of flood damage was evident, as large swathes of the field were covered in boulder and gravel outwash. Serious damage for the farmer to sort out. 

It was by now well after noon and a lunch spot was sought.  Clitheroe was still a little beyond our comestible intake patience limits ! A rather damp but sheltered green lane just beyond a barn served our purpose well.

A couple of fields later and we were entering the outskirts of Clitheroe. 

Clitheroe, of course,  is a saucy lady and wears mini-skirts so we were soon in the centre and right next to the castle.  A stiff but short climb and we arrived at the doors of the Cafe   ( Sod the history ! We need caffein.)   Here we were outraged to discover that a party had booked the cafe for sole use . WHAT !!! Even the two friendly receptionist agreed that this was beyond the pale.  Ah well....we turned upwards and explored the smallest keep in Britain (or was that England ?)

Back down into the town and a search for the cafe surreptitiously recommended by the Castle staff. Onto the main street and down a little alleyway and there it was. 

Beverages all round - thank You - and then Chocolate cake purchased and consumed inspite of Lenten practices.   Almost sinful. 

 Chocolate cake anyone ?  Oh Yes !

With our alloted mileage now used up it just remained to tackle the rather tedious slog out  through the suburbs (Mini,  you will recall) and then back along the country lanes, uphill unfortunately, to Pendleton and the car park. Back at the car our Octogenarian "Superman" received the "Walker of the Week" award for a magnificent effort in completing nearly nine miles after a long absence incapacitated. Well Done !

 and so to home ........

G.G.