Walkers :- Paddy, Harry, Jim C, Vic,
Mike, Frank and John W.
With Anthony unable to come with us for several weeks we still met at his house and after offering our good wishes we set off to pick up Jim C in Penwortham. Only a very short while afterwards we were parked up at the Brickcroft reserve. Here we chatted briefly with a young lady (warden) who was kitting up to trim the edges around the ponds.
Out of the car park and across the road to a narrow lane leading out to the marshes and the "Ribble Way". That this was, or had been, a prosperous area, was clearly evidenced by the many well and handsomely constructed "Villas" we were to encountered whenever we walked through built up sections of our walk.
It wasn't many minutes before the road gave way to a narrow, tree-lined footpath with a rather awkward stile to negotiate.
Our walk continued along a quite "atmospheric" almost tunnel like path. here we are crossing the first of a number of less than sturdy bridges we were to encounter during our walk.
Our planned walk led us westward in a fairly straight line until the path forward seemed to vanish as we came to a 90 degree right turn. As this eventually took us where we wished to go we happily followed the new direction. It took us past vast areas of glasshouses. Typical of this agricultural area.
Next we arrived at the well known Marsh Lane which if followed would have taken us to the locally famous "Dolphin Inn". Those of us of a certain age will remember this as an isolated, almost Hole-in-the-Wall pub out on the marshes during the sixties. It is now a celebrated eating house. More of the expensive Old, New and refurbished houses lined the road. Here is one that had the good grace to display a sense of humour.
The message on the gate reads " Any person who omits to shut and fasten this gate is liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings" so there !
We did not follow Marsh Lane down to the aforementioned "Dolphin Inn" but forked left to where a large black (of course it was BLACK stupid ! ) Carrion Crow cawed at us from the very summit of an unusually lofty pylon. Just after Marsh Farm we left the road to go in search of the Levee which marked the start (end ?) of the "Ribble Way". but as our reader will know "Meanderthal" caffeine levels need constant attention.
Although the footbridges we encountered were not of the usual Lancashire County Councils default standards
the stiles and kissing gates certainly were. Rather grand in fact. Someone had obviously spent money on them. A short stretch of open fields and then we arrived at the levee which marked the tidal edge of the River Douglas or Asland as it is also called.
It's confluence with the Ribble could be seen in the near distance across the Marshland. The levee curved away to our right with the salt marshes to our left and the fertile, well-drained fields on the other, inland side. After about half an hour ambling along this raised bank we arrived at levee "crossroads". Here a large sluice drain led out towards the two rivers, The tall banks gave us an ideal, sheltered, lunch spot.
From here (once refreshed of course) we turned our faces away from the river banks and followed the track as it led us towards a distant Longton. Initially a confusion of stiles (5 within 50 metres) took us off the track and into a wide open field,
Tread carefully gentlemen there are cracks in that bridge and your companions to the right are already looking confused by the plethora of stiles.
We followed the edge of the first large field as it led us to the dodgiest of the days bridges. A mere plank really. Vic "Wobbled" his way across it and here is a rather hesitant Mike following.
This rickety "Bridge" ( I'm being generous here) took us back onto a long straight lane which in turn led us , briefly, onto Marsh lane and back into the outskirts of the village. We followed this "Skirting" lane for some distance before turning sharp right and heading for the village centre. Once in the village we put up a very feeble resistance to the lure of a delightful cafe the results of our resistance can be seen below.
Tea, Coffees and at least one Hot Chocolate ( for me dear reader ) were generously provided by Paddy. Once again, duly refreshed, we set off through the village on the final stage of our walk. But that was not the end. Our walk is entitled "Longton Brickcroft" and whilst we had parked there we had not explored the site.
So.... a couple of detours later, we arrived at the brick croft and walked along the ponds' edge. Here, dear reader I have to report on the childish outcries of grown men who stamped their feet in a "Paddy" when they realised that we were going past the parked cars ( I exaggerate...... a bit ) And so we finished our walk by circling round the largest of the croft's ponds.
So.... a couple of detours later, we arrived at the brick croft and walked along the ponds' edge. Here, dear reader I have to report on the childish outcries of grown men who stamped their feet in a "Paddy" when they realised that we were going past the parked cars ( I exaggerate...... a bit ) And so we finished our walk by circling round the largest of the croft's ponds.
Two very old teenagers on their mobiles.
And so back to the cars and home but not before the hirsuite gentleman above shows us his map. Having "Cocked Up" his GPS and failed to to print out the map of the route he had to revert to his Boy Scout days and rely on the lo-tec "Map and Compass".
WE DIDN'T GET LOST !!!!!
WE DIDN'T GET LOST !!!!!
The map clearly shows the confluence of the Douglas and the Ribble.
Might I just finish by sending our good wishes to Margaret Dickinson, a follower in Canada , who contacted us recently. Thank you Margaret. If you would like us to explore another area you know (not too far away from Preston) let us know and we shall try to accommodate you. You know Anthony's email. Mine is guitar2pluck@yahoo.co.uk
More photos of the day...............
More photos of the day...............
Is this a case of the blind leading the blind ?
THE THINKER
"What is it Gentleman ? ........Keep it clean !
No comments:
Post a Comment