WALKERS :- Martin, John W, John R, Danny
Anthony, Mick, Vic.
Up the M6 and then a weaving drive deep into the Wyre Valley before parking in a small gravel-surfaced car park just beyond Abbeystead.
Leaving the car park
Out onto the road, across a bridge and off into the fields.
This was a walk we had done before some 7 years ago. Perhaps this led to overconfidence that immediately had us going astray . Close to the path we came across the first of many stone signs seemingly telling us that this was a footpath. But wait - that is not a sign for the Wyre Way !!
We continued along this path towards Lee Bridge quite unaware that we were NOT on the W.W.
Over the bridge and once again across the fields. A few minutes later a rather stern farmer told us "There is no footpath there. " Oh Dear ! He signalled that we should return to the road. Here he soon relaxed and with his wife soon had us heading the right way. Right or wrong our walk continued it's picturesque way until a wayside "Seat" near "Dunkenshaw" offered us a perfect coffee spot.
We were now following the "TARNBROOK WYRE" . but so was the "Grim Reaper".
To repeat a sign seen in the New Forest. "Speed isn't Funny if you're a Bunny*
"In the midst of life....." and all that.
We continued along the road passing the delightfully named "Ouzel Bridge" before arriving at the tiny hamlet of "Tarnbrook". Here the tarmacked road came to an end and a track led us over the moor towards Gilberton Farm and Spreight Clough.
During the walk there was some discussion as to the meaning of the word Clough. Brushing aside all the silly answers (a football manager !) the dictionary appears to say... a small, deep valley or ravine - a cleft in the hillside.
During the walk there was some discussion as to the meaning of the word Clough. Brushing aside all the silly answers (a football manager !) the dictionary appears to say... a small, deep valley or ravine - a cleft in the hillside.
At this point we were confident that we were now really on the Wyre Way. A wayside information board happily confirmed this and so.....briefly on to the moors . The first of the stone waymarkers was confusingly upside down and told us we were following the M and M way. We were not fooled. (unusually !)
Through the next farmyard and lo and behold - A bridge ! What next ? You've guessed . A bridge photo (of course)
A pile of telegraph poles just over the bridge demanded to be sat upon but we carried on to a barn a couple of hundred yards further on. Lunch time !!
A pile of telegraph poles just over the bridge demanded to be sat upon but we carried on to a barn a couple of hundred yards further on. Lunch time !!
As we dined the group decided that John W had to be punished for past "Crimes" (Getting us lost and weedy jokes - totally innocent of course) and a session on the treadmill was ordered,
As we sat dining we were visited by a young man taking sheep to a higher field and inside the barn a sheep and two lambs were sheltering from the cold breeze.
JW got a shock as the D*****d thing started to roll !!!!
As we sat dining we were visited by a young man taking sheep to a higher field and inside the barn a sheep and two lambs were sheltering from the cold breeze.
Lunch over it was onward and upwards. Not too much further and we came across a lamb hiding in the long grass whilst it's mother watched us anxiously, bleating all the time.
The picturesque nature of our walk continued and we stopped frequently to admire the views. (catch our breath ??)
I think the planners of this circular walk must have foreseen the confusion of elderly gentlemen and took every opportunity to reassure us we were still on the right way. (or more cynically, perhaps they did not want the general public wandering all over prime sporting land.) Either way here we see the logo on a stone stile.
The picturesque nature of our walk continued and we stopped frequently to admire the views. (catch our breath ??)
Danny next to Spreight Clough.
I think the planners of this circular walk must have foreseen the confusion of elderly gentlemen and took every opportunity to reassure us we were still on the right way. (or more cynically, perhaps they did not want the general public wandering all over prime sporting land.) Either way here we see the logo on a stone stile.
As our route took a sharp turn we were once again presented with a reassuring sign.
The path now angled down towards our next target the "Tower Lodge" which when we last visited, 7/8 years ago, was being renovated to receive "His Grace's " weekend shooting visitors. "His Grace" being the ridiculously wealthy Duke of Westminster. 🙀 say na more John !
We had now joined the famous Trough of Bowland road as it followed the course of the Marshaw Wyre back towards Abbeystead, For perhaps a mile or so we followed the highway before once again leaving it to follow the winding course of our second River Wyre of the day. Throughout our walk birds had been seen in abundance . This stretch was no exception. As well as domestic (white) ducks we saw Mallard and Canada Geese, Curlews and Green Plover (lapwings) Snipe and Oyster Catchers. Indeed Vic found a couple of duck eggs lying on the grass (?) NOT in a nest ! He may well have eaten them by now.
If anything, the terrain became even more attractive as we neared the end of our walk. We stopped in a lovely spot to finish our flasks,
As we walked along the course of the Marshaw Wyre. Abbeystead Hall hove into view on opposite bank. I'm afraid I find it difficult to understand how such a building could be considered little more than a "Holiday Home".
As is always the case, just because our walk is almost over it doesn't mean that the walk simply peters out.
The path left the river bank and climbed steeply through a sparse wood.
Only a few more minutes and we were back at the cars where Martin produced his most welcome bottles of ice cold Shandy. Thank you once again Martin. Thanks also to Anthony for leading what was a most excellent walk with a kaleidoscope of scenic delights. To misquote Shakespeare's St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V
"Gentlemen (Meanderthals?) in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here."
Things we saw along the way..........
The path now angled down towards our next target the "Tower Lodge" which when we last visited, 7/8 years ago, was being renovated to receive "His Grace's " weekend shooting visitors. "His Grace" being the ridiculously wealthy Duke of Westminster. 🙀 say na more John !
The Duke's little guest house.
We had now joined the famous Trough of Bowland road as it followed the course of the Marshaw Wyre back towards Abbeystead, For perhaps a mile or so we followed the highway before once again leaving it to follow the winding course of our second River Wyre of the day. Throughout our walk birds had been seen in abundance . This stretch was no exception. As well as domestic (white) ducks we saw Mallard and Canada Geese, Curlews and Green Plover (lapwings) Snipe and Oyster Catchers. Indeed Vic found a couple of duck eggs lying on the grass (?) NOT in a nest ! He may well have eaten them by now.
If anything, the terrain became even more attractive as we neared the end of our walk. We stopped in a lovely spot to finish our flasks,
As we walked along the course of the Marshaw Wyre. Abbeystead Hall hove into view on opposite bank. I'm afraid I find it difficult to understand how such a building could be considered little more than a "Holiday Home".
The path left the river bank and climbed steeply through a sparse wood.
Only a few more minutes and we were back at the cars where Martin produced his most welcome bottles of ice cold Shandy. Thank you once again Martin. Thanks also to Anthony for leading what was a most excellent walk with a kaleidoscope of scenic delights. To misquote Shakespeare's St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V
"Gentlemen (Meanderthals?) in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here."
Things we saw along the way..........
Shouts of "Paxo" and "Cranberry Sauce" failed to disturb this bird.
"Give us a hand !"
One dead tree being replaced by hundreds of new ones
Poached Eggs ?
Tiny puffball fungi
The same numbers marked on ewe and lambs. I didn't know sheep could read.
Unpleasant pheasant !!
Go through open gate or climb a stile ? I'm sure treatments are available.
Pints all round then driving ? ( Ah well you see it is less than 0.5 % alcohol)
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