Walkers :- Danny, Anthony, Mick, John W
Mike, Jim D, Martin, John R.
After pulling off the congested M60 and negotiating the busy roundabouts we almost missed the small entrance to an amazingly little used and peaceful Car Park. This only a few yards away from the busy bustle of Greater Manchester's road-clogging traffic. And the bonus ?..... it was free ! Here we are preparing to set off.
........... ORANGE !
Here we get a clue to the super affluent area which surrounds this stretch of the canal.
Large, half-timbered, Mock-Tudor houses were two-a-penny. (perhaps that price could be multiplied several million times.)
It was now a question of "Follow the yellow brick road" or rather yellow watered road for a short distance before we were further delighted by a simple but elegant bridge which carried a very well laid cobbled "street" over the canal.
Cobbles yes. But hardly redolent of clattering clogs.
Once over the bridge we were confronted by an area of "parkland" which again was lined by costly residences. More half timbered and even thatched dwellings with spectacularly tall brick Tudor style chimneys. The writer's somewhat left-leaning soul baulked at admiring them but it was impossible not to.
Another short stretch along the urban highway before a right turn took us down a dirt track with cow filled fields to the left. We briefly crossed these fields to investigate a small wood-enclosed lake which promised a decent coffee spot. It's littered and soiled banks ,however, quickly sent us back to the track. Opposite the stile into the field a steep bank took us up onto the towpath of the "Orange River" once again (We do visit some exotic places.)
This we followed for some distance until we came out at another busy roundabout at "Monton".
Coffee time was by now decidedly upon us and the well tended entrance to a park offered the perfect spot. Enough seating for all eight of us and sunshine as a free-gratis extra. Only yards from the busy traffic but still ideal.
The first deviation from our route was a planned one as we crossed over the road to visit a very strange sight, A Lighthouse on a canal ???? Tempestuous winds must scour the moorings of the canal and terrible jagged rocks lurk beneath its orange surface. Though,I must say, it seemed extremely tranquil today.
Back across the road and past our coffee spot we entered the park to continue our walk. Here we were greeted by a rather unsavoury sight. A rubbish bin overflowing with bags of dog poo ! AAaarrgh !
Parks, we have found, can be rather tricky places to negotiate as their paths frequently split and diverge. It is not always obvious which path leads us in the right direction..... and so we erred. Only temporarily, of course and we were soon back on track. The path dropped us down past a small watercourse, aptly named "Folly Brook" and onto the disused railway track which we would now follow for almost a mile. At one point we entered a tunnel. Here we are entering it,
And guess who exited it first. Yes. You're right. and there he is in the distance. P.P. ( the "Penwortham Powerhouse")
We left the old railway line and entered a section of magnificent old Beech wood. Obviously a managed parkland. I think called the "Old Warke Dam" . A children's playground offered us a great spot for lunchtime, Not the play area itself, you understand, but the large tree trunks forming it's boundary.
As we sat enjoying whatever lunch we had each packed a passing, young, gentleman kindly offered to take a group photograph, THANK YOU SIR !
On our way again and through the woods until we came to the Motorway where a right turn took us back ,once again, down to the disused railway.
This time we only followed the track for a short while before entering an area of smart suburban housing. This led to a little confusion as once again our way forward was unclear . After an encounter (briefly and distantly) with a very upmarket looking bowling green and a gentleman who firmly but politely informed us that we were on private land, we at last got back on track.
Here we entered an "Enchanted Forest". I feel it must have been "enchanted" as the behaviour of several of our group became rather erm....... unfettered, as bouts of total irresponsibility followed. For instance ...........
Here we have a high-flying Holleran.
And then, when a perfectly solid and safe set of stepping stones were available, Danny chose to take a somewhat more precarious route
Here we entered an "Enchanted Forest". I feel it must have been "enchanted" as the behaviour of several of our group became rather erm....... unfettered, as bouts of total irresponsibility followed. For instance ...........
Here we have a high-flying Holleran.
And then, when a perfectly solid and safe set of stepping stones were available, Danny chose to take a somewhat more precarious route
I mean, never mind Danny, but what if he should fall on the totally innocent Jim. I ASK YOU !!!!
The next photo has been purposely blurred to avoid embarrassment.
We were now on the last lap of our walk. Although we were skirting the motorway the bucolic nature of our walk was not diminished.
As we, at one point, briefly grazed against the path we took on our outward progress. Instead of following the same route in reverse a bridge led us away and onto a different path. As we paused on the bridge we were joined by some little strangers who seemed delighted to pose with this bunch of old F---s (Fellas )
The car park was now very near but before we arrived there we came across the church of St Mark. A striking Victorian building with a magnificent and well maintained interior.
Outside
Inside
And so back to the car park where the always welcome shandies were dispensed and MIck was presented with the walker of the week.
The next photo has been purposely blurred to avoid embarrassment.
We were now on the last lap of our walk. Although we were skirting the motorway the bucolic nature of our walk was not diminished.
As we, at one point, briefly grazed against the path we took on our outward progress. Instead of following the same route in reverse a bridge led us away and onto a different path. As we paused on the bridge we were joined by some little strangers who seemed delighted to pose with this bunch of old F---s (Fellas )
The car park was now very near but before we arrived there we came across the church of St Mark. A striking Victorian building with a magnificent and well maintained interior.
Outside
Inside
And so back to the car park where the always welcome shandies were dispensed and MIck was presented with the walker of the week.
This could re-ignite the "Wars of the Roses" as the trophy goes "Over the border".
A few more photos :-
Parental advice to children..... "Never talk to old men on park benches."
Another bridge .. another photo opportunity
BORSTAL ? No a catholic Primary School.
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