The Meanderthals: 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.