The Meanderthals: May 2017

HARROCK HILL 7.5 Miles

WALKERS :- Jim C, Jim D. Danny, John W
Anthony, David, Vic, Mike.

Mawdesley is a village thinly spread over a wide area but in every village there is always a church. We duly parked next to the church. ( I might point out that two of our members were not with us today being already at a church for a days "God Bothering".)

Merely yards from the church we climbed over a stile and along a narrow enclosed path lined with nettles. This was the first walk on which shorts were widely worn. TYPICAL - just when the nettles were at their most pernicious.
With great forethought Danny had brought a stout stick and led the way bashing at the nettles with no quarter given. Soon the footpath took us out onto a wide gravelled path and then almost immediately onto a tarmacked road.

The days bright, warm sun casts deep shadows as we walk

We followed the highway for only a short distance before arriving at Cedar Farm an activity centre for children and shopping place with cafes Quickly passing through this centre we once again took to the fields and farm tracks. At precisely one minute to 11 o'clock Big Ben's chimes rang out from Anthony's phone and the group stood still to observe the minutes silence along with the whole nation out of respect for those killed in the Manchester Terror attack.

We now followed a wide, well surfaced farm track constantly stepping aside as massive tractors and trailers carried silage making grass from the fields to the farmyard. The farmyard through which we then passed watched by a row of contentedly munching cows.

Once through the farm we were in search of a coffee spot ( Aren't we always ?). A shady tree provided our best option. ( Someone commented that after a winter of moans about the wind and rain we now found ourselves trying to avoid the sun and warmth !!)

Jim C and Dave on the lookout for the drink drivers the sign is warning about.

Danny found himself a special brew place and seems to be doing a little celebratory dance.

"Yes Buttercup you might well look askance"

Our walk, so far on the flat, now began to rise as we approached our target "Harrock Hill". At first we toiled up a steep part of the road before realising that we had missed the turn (only narrowly) and had to turn briefly back.

From here the road ended and we climbed steeply again up a grassy hillside with the flat west Lancashire plain spreading out below us.

From here one of last weeks destinations, Blackpool Tower, could be seen (not by your writer) and so could St Walburge's spire in Preston ( I believed them !)

Off the grass and into the woods which clothed the top of Harrock Hill.

Near the top of the hill we passed a young mother carrying one child and heavily pregnant with the next. We asked when her child was due. She replied, "Two days ago !" Quite frankly, she put our masterful, manly Meanderthals to shame. Our admiration knew no bounds though the possibility of an imminent delivery rather unsettled us.

At last we reached the remains of the old windmill were we intended having lunch. (You will have noticed over time that the important intervals during our walks are always well planned ! )

The windmill almost seemed to be growing out of the solid rock of the hill. Green lanes led up to and under it. Wagons could go under the mill to deliver their grain and return to collect the resulting flour.

Lunch was taken here . Not without some entertainment provided by Danny.

A Dangling Danny

Our route away from the mill took us down one of the green lanes. BUT SOMETHING WAS MISSING !!!!!! 🔚

The view from the bottom of the green lane was too good to ignore and a seat had been deliberately ( ? ) placed to take advantage of it.

I think the view can be seen at it's best ABOVE the seat Vic.

At this point someone decided that a hairy-legged photo was de rigeur. Perhaps not the best idea of the day.

The road once again continued steeply down hill . Coming up was a young lady on a horse. A LARGE house (does that large brown animal look like a "House" to you dear reader ? No it's a hor-R-se.) which I estimated at about 16 hands. ( "You little liar ! She TOLD you it was 16.1 hands," " OK OK she did." )

At the bottom of the slope we consulted the map, No we didn't. you must ask Anthony why. Then we took a wrong turn. Quite fortuitous, actually, as it allowed us to explore a quite interesting area.

Past a carp lake, (see beyond walkers)

Through a field of buttercups.

Past a skeletal Carp.

Only to find ourselves back at the spot we had left 40 minutes before. ( Don't tell Jim D. He's in a hurry ! )

In a large and obviously expensive house and garden was another horse. A bronze one.

As we approached the end of our walk we arrived at Cedar Farm which we had passed through at the start of our walk. After a hot day, ice creams all round seemed very appropriate and VERY welcome.