NEVER RAINS ON THURSDAY !

HURST GREEN 6+ Miles

Walkers :-   Martin,  Anthony, Danny, Mike, Jim D
                    Jim C, John R, John W, Mick K. (New !)  

The weather forecast was appalling.  The weather was .... O.K. ..........  At least when we set off !   After meeting in Grimsargh it was only a relatively short journey before we were parked in Hurst Green. With the forecast heavy rain still held at bay the first leg of the day's walk took us down the Lane to Stoneyhurst College.

 As we stood at the gates of the college Anthony announced that it was 70 years to the day since he was baptised within this magnificent building.

The suggestion that John R did a few lengths of either of the lakes was politely (politely ?) declined and the group turned sharp left to walk the short distance to the golf course.  (Short for most of us !! see later.) As we entered the golf course a large stone tablet informed us that the course was dedicated to George Bush's (yes THAT George bush) grandfather and that the ex-president of the United States was an honorary member

The unaccustomed luxury of manicured grass drew us onwards across the golf course until we noticed the absence  of two walkers. In donning waterproofs they had fallen behind and failed to notice that we had turned into the entrance to the golf course and wandered blithely on up the highway. The ever willing Danny walked some way back to find them

Here we are waiting and wondering (Where the hell are they ? ) as Danny (in the distance) goes in search.

All together again and carrying on across the course, heading for a narrow strip of woodland where we thought to take our coffee break.

There's a lot of "Deadwood" in this photo.

Leaving the lush acres of the golf course we dropped steeply down into the wood,  where,  surrounded by some magnificent trees,   we stopped for coffee.

 Our new boy looks like he's making a speech. ( but nobody's listening ) 

As we downed our preferred beverage  the forecast rain began to materialise. Quite gently at first but the sky was full of dire warnings. The stream was crossed by the ubiquitous Lancashire County Council standard bridge and offered another photo opportunity.

  

 FIT,   FURRY   &   FLAT CAP.

 The path now rose steeply away from the bridge before bursting into a field of tall, thick grass. Soon after we passed Higher Deer Farm  it was noticed that Mick's rucksack appeared to be leaking.  A bottle of water had not been securely stoppered...... Dear me. These amateurs !

Mick expressed his surprise at the "adventurous" nature of the walk as we slithered down the steep side of the next brook where tree roots make the going both rough and slippery.    

 Another bridge another photo opportunity. 

 But look at the alternative crossing 

Having crossed the brook we again had a struggle up another steep valley side. This time somewhat overgrown into the bargain. Very quickly, however, we arrived at the larger track and almost at once found ourselves outside the handsome 16thC hunting lodge - GREENGORE . 

By now lunchtime was coming but so was the rain. Finding somewhere sheltered was going to be difficult.. In the distance. against the horizon a large ladder stile beckoned. By the time we had trudged up the steeply sloping field towards it the rain was coming steadily down. The wood on the other side of the stile offered the only (partial) shelter. So....needs must.

                        Mick Shelters under a friendly bough

          Others clamber into the wood itself to shelter

           While others simply look ............. wet !

Soggy butties and "watered" coffee over, we set off once again in the rain which now seemed to be getting lighter at last.  Lightening enough to give us a rather misty view of our next target "Huntington Hall".

Across one more field and through a gate and we were at the large house that Danny claimed as his ancestral home (he didn't really)

         Sorry Danny, the gates are barred to us peasants.

                            It is a nice house though.

A couple of hundred metres along the road and we once again took to the fields as our path now turned eastward back towards Hurst Green.

As we approached "Lower Hud Lee " farm, two of our obviously fitter walkers decided to take the "Lower" route, adding about a quarter of a mile to the ramble. Once they had rejoined us the walk proceeded in the Hurst Green direction. With the sky brightening and the rain at last petering out  a final scramble through the undergrowth - No ! No ! No !   Overgrowth, I think, and we found the track which would lead us directly back to the car park.

The track took us through an almost Fairy Tale like glen before rising up into Hurst Green a few yards away from the cars.

                       You look rather moist Mike .

A deep, atmospheric valley clothed the final stretch of our walk

And so our walk ended. The "New Boy" seemed quite impressed and vowed to come again and shandy was, as usual, dispensed by Martin and served by John R.

Mike was given the walker of the week award for his remarkable,  post operation, stoicism.

Thanks to Danny for photographic contributions to this week's "Match Report". 

More Photos 

Are stiles getting more awkward or are we getting older ?

    Aren't the trolls supposed to be UNDER the bridge ?

   

                    Like a bridge over troubled.....................nettles apparently

Our green and pleasant land.......or rain forest ?

An 'Atom-ic' Walk!

Reasons for 'leave of absence' came thick and fast this week.... and what a wonderful, seismic, atomic walk they all missed!

The raison d'etre for this walk was to visit (or re-visit)  The Atom, above Wycolar, east of Colne.

The Atom is one of four panoptics in east Lancashire. They are four very different structures erected in the area to mark the regeneration of the area in the 1980s.

Walkers: John R, Frank, Martin and Anthony.  Distance: 7 miles.

The start for the walk was Ball Grove Park and nature reserve just outside Colne.

Part of the reserve.

Is this a heron...at rest? There's another one lying down.

Passing through Covey Bridge. 
(Note the proliferation of hairy legs.)

Arriving in the picturesque village of Wycolar

A very old pack-horse bridge in the centre of the village.
In the distance can be seen the ruins of Wycolar Hall.
Wycoller Hall is thought to be the inspiration for Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.

Our first view of the Atom (That's it in the distance, not the foreground!)

Who's calling me 'atomic'?

John, admiring the nucleus. Someone's nicked the core of the atom.)

A great view of Pendle Hill

Descending to Trawden on the way back to the carpark.

Before this weeks walk 

the "Penwortham Powerhouse" 

AKA "Rapid Russell"

was presented with a new set of walking boots to bring his fitness levels in line with the other Meanderthals.

 

 

FIELDS of GOLD

ORMSKIRK 8 Miles

Walkers :- John R, John W, Martin,
                    Anthony, Harry, Frank.

South Ribble ! After a negotiated Prexit and all carrying Visas (cards) we crossed the Rubicon (Ribble please. ) where John R awaited in Cop-out Lane, and headed for the twin peaks of Gaws Hill and Clieves Hill.

Sensible from here on please. ( Oh Yeah ? )

Left, Right, Left, Right. No not marching. Just negotiating the country lanes to our starting point. 

A broad farm track led immediately away from our parking spot and took us in a straight line towards the distant snow-capped peaks (Sensible ??) Okay,  the distant tree-capped low mound which was our first objective. Gaws Hill. 

All around us flat, agricultural lands stretched to every horizon. Some still being worked others covered with a variety of crops.

Curly Kale ?

It wasn't long before we reached Gaws Hill which to our mystification was a nature reserve  named " Gorse  Hill ".

Slight though hill was it still afforded view of Blackpool Tower to the North and Southport, Liverpool and Even dimly seen Snowdonia to the West and South. It also afforded an ideal Coffee spot.

Behind the bushes, where we sat, we discovered this notice. As Meanderthals are not equipped with the skills to deal with Satanic rituals we left it strictly alone.

As we sat drinking our coffees (in my case soup) our tame "politico" Frank consulted his smart phone to keep us up to date with all the " Hirings and Firings " down at Westminster, This accompanied by suitable choruses of Oohs ! and Aahs !  The fates  of Gove and Morgan were greeted most suitably.

 Our path now led us down till we arrived at a rather magnificent gate marking the entrance to the nature reserve (we were leaving) 

At this point the way forward was not clear as several footpaths had converged. A passing lady (with dog) kindly helped us out. We now followed the highway for a while were we were unfortunate to be assailed by a ghastly sight. A rather handsome and obviously very expensive house was utterly ruined by acres of "PLASTIC" grass. The whole garden was a ghastly blanket of green plastic,   "AAaaaargh !"

 

 A small section of the fantastic plastic

 We recovered our equilibrium and continued down the country lanes looking for our next stopping place "Clieves Hill" and it's viewpoint. I must, comment in passing, that the hedgerows and field edges were full of Harry's favourite wild plant COMFREY which it seems has legendary  and multifarious almost magical properties. 
 

 Harry's Herb (see above)

 
As we continued down the road it was also rather strange to come across both versions of the areas title within a few metres of each other

At about 12.30 we arrived at the viewpoint, somewhat spoiled by a parked Slurry Tanker.   LUNCHTIME ! The tanker soon moved giving us  delightful views to accompany our "butties". 

 As you can see, after two weeks of sodden stomping, we seem to be having a sun-blessed walk for once. It was consistently dry underfoot but each time the clouds captured the sun a chill enveloped our friends. It was a case of jumper on - jumper off - jumper on etc.
At this point we had not accomplished half of our walk so a bit of a "Move On " was required. Lunch over we set off again with a little more haste (only a little.)  Our "Speed up" attempts however were to be thwarted. We arrived at a road junction where a farm called "Gibbons" had been converted into several Des-Res's (desirable residences). In constructing them the footpath, which should have left the road through the farmyard, had been entirely obliterated. A friendly "native" advised us to return to the road and go round the new development where we could rejoin the footpath.  OK !  Actually not OK. We found ourselves battling through a thick, shoulder high field of Oil-seed Rape plants. IT WAS NOT EASY.
 

It was slow progress and the tangle of plants even managed to pull the laces out of the eyelets of JW's boots.  It was a great relief when we at last crossed a footbridge and entered a field of golden barley with a clearly defined footpath. 

Fields of gold (ish)

"Many years have past since those summer days among the fields of Barley"  STING

After this rather exhausting field crossing we were soon descending some rather awkward steps down to a sun filled towpath on the Leeds/Liverpool canal alongside which were moored some rather nice boats with quite exotic names. "Reina del Rio" (bit optimistic) or "Canalgesia" (rather witty). As we looked for our final "brew" stop,  there were no seats but a solid bit of fencing offered a not uncomfortable substitute. Once again a stop meant a chilling as the breeze wafted through light summer clothing.    Jumpers on, Jumpers off etc.  again.

It was only a short distance along the canal before we joined the road for a rather long trek back to the cars.  As we followed the towpath we came across a very interesting and historic notice,

Here we are tramping along the road after a sunny day and a walk full of interest and challenge.

 Can you see us ?

After a warm and strenuous day Martin's end of walk libation was even more welcome than usual. 

Gratias Senor Martino ! 

Unused photos - 

 Anthony emerges from the "Jungle"

 Lunchtime loungers

 

 Oxeye Daisy and Common Poppy (and yellow bits ?)

No Idea .Possibly Great Willowherb    Anyone ?

 Rosebay Willowherb

p.s. We need a botanist ,

Don't ask. A real mixture. On checking my reference books Shetland, Welsh Mountain and Blue faced Leicester are possibilities but could just be crossbreeds. I'm definitely no expert. JW.