WALKERS :- Dave, James, JIm, Harry, Mick,
John W, Martin, Danny, Anthony.
An old favourite reached along a new road.
For your writer this was the first time he had driven along the new road from the M6 to Heysham. He found it disappointingly short. How much per mile £???
The walk starts at Overton (top right) passes Trumley farm to meet the coast at Pott's corner. It the follows the coast past "Sambo's Grave" to reach Sunderland point. It then turns north through Sunderland keeping to the right of Trailsholme and back to Overton
We drove through the attractive village of Overton and parked in the expansive pub car park just before the marshes began. Ignoring the road across the marshes we followed the "other" road and headed to the coast. After perhaps half a mile or so we left the road and climbed through the hedge and into the fields.
After clearing the nettles Mick is first over the stile.
Followed by the rest into this lushly green field.
The footpath led straight across this field but we could not square it with our consciences to flatten a path through so we crept round the edge until we came to this track which took us directly to the next gate.
The next field ran alongside a large collection of farm buildings where a cheerful young man was happy to chat about his business. "Bio Mass" - the production of firewood.
Now we crossed a couple more fields before returning to a tarmacked road which was surprisingly busy. We surmised that the presence of several caravan parks was contributory to this "heavy" traffic flow.
Tall reeds lined this road and was perhaps indicative of the close proximity of the marshy shore.
It wasn't long before before we reached the shore and settled (as planned) on a convenient concrete "log". Even so an official complaint was lodged that coffee time had been late. The complainant was politely told to .........off !
Unfortunately, dear reader, a warm sunny day does have a tendency to reveal some ghastly sights.
The view before us as we "coffeed" was rather of a mechanical nature prompting the use of binoculars to scan the horizon for more interesting views.
Coffee break over we resumed our walk now following the shoreline at the edge of the marsh. This at first was a broad farm style track which eventually left the shore leaving us to continue on a narrow meandering trail towards Sunderland point.
Behind us now, you can see the mechanical diggers parked near our last resting place. (not sure that's a good choice of phrase Mr. Writer.)
We ambled along the narrow and rough path until two benches hove into view marking the area where we were to find "Sambo's Grave".
( We make no apology for using what is now politically or socially unacceptable language to describe the gentleman's grave. It is marked thus on the map. We cannot change history and we treated both the name and the resting pace with the utmost respect.)
Before paying our respects at the graveside we settled on the benches to have our various lunches. We were joined at lunch by several curious cows (bullocks ?)
"He's ignoring us. Let's try that one,"
"No luck here either girls"
"Aw.... go on...... give us a bit."
The grave itself might be thought by some to be adorned with less than good taste. Taste, however, is a very personal concept and as most of the tributes had been placed by children their taste was in the writer's opinion, entirely appropriate.
Perhaps the poem, written by the Rev. says as much as need be said.
Lunch over we left this peaceful corner of the peninsula and tramped on towards the "point". And rocky going it was too, with some examples of natural drama along the way.
Rounding the point was in itself rather rockily dramatic.
Once around the point, the rocky terrain underfoot was replaced by a scattering of rocks and sticky, sandy, mud.
Ahead of us the first of the houses in Sunderland ("A land apart") came into view and it turned out to be a well maintained handsome specimen as well.
Throughout all of our walks the wildlife and particularly in the summer months, the wild flowers are a constant joy. Even the rather "fierce" ones like this Sea Holly.
As we stepped up from the sea shore itself and onto a concrete ledge/path we could see where the deep mud had been carved into mini canyons by the tide.
A short distance along the concrete path we passed the aforementioned "Handsome" house. With the history of slavery at this former port, was there a hint of the colonial in it's design ?
As we continued past this enviable house in such a glorious position we discovered a fishing net of an ancient tradition. A "Haaf" net, to use which the fisherman (or woman) must stand steady in the flowing tide waiting for salmon to "knock" into the net. On a past walk we met a lady who claimed she was the last female Haafnetter in the country.
Soon we were on the shoreline green of Sunderland, full of admiration for the style of this atmospheric old seaport.
Even this telephone booth now used as a flowery greenhouse was somehow in keeping. Notice, too, the defibrillator on the wall.
A short stretch of raised pathway led onto the village's old quayside where the ships too large to travel up to Lancaster discharged their cargoes. Sadly some of these included slaves.
As we walked, the gulleys beside us were quickly filling with sea water. This added a certain frisson to our walk. (There was NO danger really !!!)
The tide was rapidly filling the ditches beside the road along which we were walking. Then............
As we neared our walks ending the water was just beginning to creep onto the road. The cows, however, seemed to have no worries whatever and even seemed to be mocking our slight anxieties.
At the end of the road we came across one spelling mistake that my "Spell Checker" could not correct. No not "Bazil", that's correct. Shall I point to it ?
"No Hills" had been promised but there was a final rise in the road as we reached the car park.
At this point Martin announced that he had forgotten to bring the walker of the week trophy. (He got it last) Everyone cheered. No embarrassing moment for anyone then. But John W. had a spare in his car albeit silver rather than gold. "Boo !" said the mirthless bunch. " 'ard Luck!" said J.W. and the trophy was presented to Harry. Well done !
Rounding the point was in itself rather rockily dramatic.
Once around the point, the rocky terrain underfoot was replaced by a scattering of rocks and sticky, sandy, mud.
Ahead of us the first of the houses in Sunderland ("A land apart") came into view and it turned out to be a well maintained handsome specimen as well.
Throughout all of our walks the wildlife and particularly in the summer months, the wild flowers are a constant joy. Even the rather "fierce" ones like this Sea Holly.
As we stepped up from the sea shore itself and onto a concrete ledge/path we could see where the deep mud had been carved into mini canyons by the tide.
A short distance along the concrete path we passed the aforementioned "Handsome" house. With the history of slavery at this former port, was there a hint of the colonial in it's design ?
As we continued past this enviable house in such a glorious position we discovered a fishing net of an ancient tradition. A "Haaf" net, to use which the fisherman (or woman) must stand steady in the flowing tide waiting for salmon to "knock" into the net. On a past walk we met a lady who claimed she was the last female Haafnetter in the country.
Soon we were on the shoreline green of Sunderland, full of admiration for the style of this atmospheric old seaport.
Even this telephone booth now used as a flowery greenhouse was somehow in keeping. Notice, too, the defibrillator on the wall.
A short stretch of raised pathway led onto the village's old quayside where the ships too large to travel up to Lancaster discharged their cargoes. Sadly some of these included slaves.
No slave this just a wandering gnome !
A rather intriguing sculpture. Birds Yes, but what's at the bottom ?
Being marine biologists they knew about the tides and soon passed us in their university van waving with derision as we "Thumbed" a lift. We neither needed nor wanted one. We found ourselves walking slightly more quickly along this submersible road.
As we got to the end of the village it was obvious that the tide was coming in. It was after 2pm and the high tide was soon after 3pm. We had to get a move on before the road was covered. We could get home across the fields but that would be long and tedious. As we started on the tidal road we met a trio of students from Bangor University doing some sediment profiles on the marsh.
The students can be seen digging to the left of the sign. Here is one sealing a sample tube.
As we walked, the gulleys beside us were quickly filling with sea water. This added a certain frisson to our walk. (There was NO danger really !!!)
The tide was rapidly filling the ditches beside the road along which we were walking. Then............
As we neared our walks ending the water was just beginning to creep onto the road. The cows, however, seemed to have no worries whatever and even seemed to be mocking our slight anxieties.
At the end of the road we came across one spelling mistake that my "Spell Checker" could not correct. No not "Bazil", that's correct. Shall I point to it ?
"No Hills" had been promised but there was a final rise in the road as we reached the car park.
It now only remained to de-boot and enjoy Martin's always welcome ice-cold shandies. Thanks AGAIN Martin.
At this point Martin announced that he had forgotten to bring the walker of the week trophy. (He got it last) Everyone cheered. No embarrassing moment for anyone then. But John W. had a spare in his car albeit silver rather than gold. "Boo !" said the mirthless bunch. " 'ard Luck!" said J.W. and the trophy was presented to Harry. Well done !
THE END.
A Few More Photos
"Scarlet Pimpernel" (has colour variants) also known as "Poor man's weather forecaster" as it closes when the sun goes in.
Throughout our walk Heysham Nuclear Power Station loomed on the horizon
Pinocchio's Grandfather ?
Some dead wood with a log.
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