"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.