BORWICK - 6 Miles
Walkers :- John R, Danny, Mick, Mike,
John W, Martin, Anthony, James.
In a part of Lancashire that somehow everyone seems to pass by we drove up the M6 to the tiny hamlet of Borwick. With the kind permission of the management we parked in the spacious car park of Borwick Hall, One of Lancashire's outdoor education centres. We spent a few minutes inside the grounds reporting our presence and thanking our benefactors .
Entering Borwick's grounds through the main entrance.
Borwick Hall. A rather impressive edifice.
After paying our compliments to the Hall, we left the grounds and walked the short distance to the bridge over the canal. Once over this we very briefly followed the track alongside the canal before it led us away across the fields. A few minutes later a much smaller track took us into an overgrown world of nettles and brambles.
As this wild and wet path came to an end we were to follow the road for some time so it was decided to have coffee before leaving it.
The evidence of these two photos might suggest the group clubs together and buys shares in Fyffes !
Coffee time over, through the gate and along the road, whose winding course seemed to be occupied solely by large, shiny, powerful 4 X 4's. As we walked along the road we had glimpses to our right, of the collection of lakes making up the "Pine Lakes" complex. An unexpected set of traffic lights controlling the flow of traffic over a small humpbacked bridge perhaps gave a clue to the driving styles of these rural "Rovers". (careful that could be slanderous !)
Once over the railway bridge the canal bridge followed almost immediately and here we left the road to follow the towpath of the Lancaster Canal.
We had passed the southern most point of our walk and were now following the canal heading North. Well north-East to be precise, towards Capernwray.
We crossed the bridge seen above and an immediate left turn took us into the grounds of a large but seemingly well appointed caravan park. Here it would seem they had heard of "Runaway Russell",
As we chatted to one of the Caravanners (a delightful young lady) we were warned not to look for the cottages which were not there ..... EH ?. We carried on and definitely did NOT see the cottages that weren't there.
Soon the path left the canal to cut up through a small cleft in the wood before casting us out into the rolling fields of this glacial outwash area.
Again we decided to settle down at the end of the path and partake of lunch before leaving for the open countryside.
Mick , Martin and Mike. (He's there.) - Alliterative amigos !
Jim and Anthony
Who ?
and John R.
As usual looking towards the next stretch of the walk.
From the edge of the wood we angled across the lush green fields towards a narrow alleyway which led away from the field. The path to the next stile went through this but recent rains had left it waterfilled and impassible, so we went through a gate into the next field but then had to clamber precariously over a tricky section of barbed wire fencing to regain the footpath.
Throughout our walk the wooden stiles were almost all in good repair but the "vernacular" "portals" from field to field were of an entirely different "Style" - Upright stone with only a tight squeeze allowing passage between them.
We now had another short stretch along a road before again taking to the fields which rose gently before us. As we passed by John R. demonstrated another of his superskills -- taking a bath !!!. This is a skill many of us of the shower orientated generation have long since lost.
A steady walk through the fields soon took us to Hutton Priest another tiny but pretty hamlet in this little known but rewarding part of our beloved county. ( Only whisper this to Mick. He's a Yorkie. (That's not a chocolate bar you understand !)
Here Jim, who had earlier spilt most of the contents of his flask, was able to replenish his fluids at a roadside, village pump.
Whilst John W. checks out the possibly, very useful facilities.
Just a couple more fields and a couple more stiles and then, much to Jim D's surprise. we were back at the Borwick Hall car park .
A short walk through pretty rather than spectacular scenery and once again Thursday didn't let us down.
NO RAIN !
Martin's apparently bottomless "Shandy Lake" continues to delight us at the end of each walk.
p.s. At some point during the walk Anthony was retrospectively and deservedly presented with walker of the week. As your writer was too busy being disorganised (as usual) he missed the presentation speech. Maybe someone will enlighten him ?
A few more photos...
One of many "stiles" typical of the area
Part of the ancient buildings of Borwick Hall.
"Who are you ?" but who's asking the question ?
An old post box in Priest Hutton
"The Final Frontier" (last stile) Mike seems to be travelling at "Warp" speed.
