Walkers :- Frank, John W, John R, C
Anthony, Danny, Paddy.
After initial confusion down a delightful but unhelpful country lane, we eventually found a suitable parking spot in a small "Laybye" near Higher Greystonely Farm". From here we soon left the public highway to follow a farm track leading deep into "Royal" territory. ( The estate belonged to the Duchy of Lancaster i.e The Queen.) On our left the fields tumbled away to the gritstone fells of Bowland Forest whilst immediately to our right were the smaller but greener limestone hills.
Here we see the group dropping down to the tiny Hamlet at Dinkling Green with the Bowland Fells providing a curtain like backdrop. As we approached the farm we met a gentleman with a familiar face but the name eluded us until he told us. He was a doctor, retired from a practice in Longridge and now living in the Farm at Greystoneley where we had left the cars.
Doctor in Red ! is talking to us. (sing the tune)
After a short pause to watch a horse being trained on a "Lunge" lead , we found our way through the farmyard and for the first time on our walk took to the open fields.
As we left the first field a rather trembly lamb tottered next to a stile and looked rather lost and pathetic. "Who's going to be "Bo Peep" " we wondered. No need - with a loud bleating the mother sheep came running across the field and all was well.
"On yer bikes with yer Mint Sauce !"
Readers of previous post will by now be wondering when "Coffee" will be first mentioned. The path to the next farm led through a very pretty but decidedly damp valley - no elevenses spots available so coffee had to wait awhile.
A small stream needed to be forded before we could climb away from the "Moist" meadow. After passing a large farm we came to a road junction, where dry, grassy banks invited us to rest awhile and drink. Coffee at last.
By now the small green limestone hills were all around us. Millions of years ago these had been formed by coral reefs in a shallow warm sea. Time had turned them into limestone which, overtime, rain had penetrated to form caves. (Geography lesson over !) A few hundred yards further on we left the track to explore one such cave known as the "Calamine Pits.
Here we witnessed the veneration of St. Danny of Dinkling in his Lourdes like niche. See below......
"He's not down there Paddy. He's up here."
From here we set off to look for another set of caves. The "Fairy Holes" at Whitewell. A site of myth and legend and of archeological discovery. Fragments of a prehistoric urn containing the remains (cremated) of a child and an adult had been retrieved early in the 20th century and UCLAN had explored further early this century. As we strode on to our next "target" evidence of the approaching summer was all around us.
Good weather always brings out the "Pansies"
(I think they're actually primulas)
Before we arrived at New Laund Farm, near to our sought after caves, we met an unusual young fellow standing by the roadside.
Soon after, as we entered the farmyard at New Laund, we came across this fascinating artefact, a tangible reminder of the areas agricultural heritage.
"Don't look so serious Danny. Say "Cheese" ".
The farmer told us that the caves were in the wood and that they could not grant us permission to visit the caves only the gamekeeper could do that but that they wouldn't stop us if we wished to continue. We decided that, as the breeding season was in full swing, we ought not to disturb the wildlife by trespassing. Leaving the farmyard by a different gate we found ourselves climbing a steep and stony path. By the time the ground levelled out our superb level of fitness led us to decide to take lunch here. (Once we had stopped gasping for breath !!!)
From where we sat the views were magnificent.
As we ate our sandwiches we had chatted to two gentlemen whom we had seen earlier and another gentleman whose job it was to inspect public footpaths to ensure, amongst other things, that arboreal attacks (trees falling on people) would not occur. The tree man's explanation brought the comment from one of the group that such an occupational opportunity had never been mentioned by his "careers master" all of 50 years previously. The rest of the "Jealous" group warmly concurred. Lunch over we resume our upwards trek. As we climbed (more gradually) higher and higher, even more marvellous views revealed themselves.
Here we see John W, who suffers from vertigo, (s**t scared of heights) posing on the very edge. One step back and a fall* would have been inevitable....(*fall of at least 6 inches ! )
Some of our more determined walkers conquered the summit of this hill. On their return they declared that the views were even more stupendous and encompassed 360 degrees.
Our conquering heroes - Paddy, John R, Frank and Danny ..I think !
Our descent of the hill was rough but less "inclined" than our ascent. In the distance we could now see Fair Oak Farm and the end of our walk though two more large fields had to be crossed to reach the farm. There was also a rather wet stretch of farm track.
We thought we'd lost you Danny.
As we made our way through the farmyard we came across a very old Barn. A marvellous if presently precarious building (Paddy is looking closely at the stonework over the main door.)
The barn - Nearly 300 years old.
From here we had only two or three more fields and wet ones at that, to negotiate before we arrived at the cars. Here the air was filled with calls of nesting Lapwings. The hollow eggshell of one was spotted by Paddy.
A final couple of stiles and our walk was over.
A short, relatively easy ramble but once again one filled with natural beauty and interest.
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