SILVER LINING !

SILVERDALE 4 Miles

WALKERS :- Anthony, Martin, John W, Vic, Danny.

A  leaden sky and rain hammering on the conservatory roof did not bode well for today's walk and lashing rain as we turned onto the motorway did nothing to encourage us.  BUT.... every cloud has a silver lining and ours appeared as glimpses of blue sky and fluffy white clouds peering through the sombre greyness.

By the time we were parking up in Silverdale the rain had stopped and the day had become quite promising. 

 Where better to park ?

Soon we were following well trodden paths through the outskirts of Silverdale.

  

At the back of some terraced houses were some amusing installations.

  

Unfortunately a couple of large rats were also observed at the bottom of the wooden fence. 

This is a very prosperous area and the path weaved its way confusingly in between some rather swish establishments. Some very large and showy. Others small and  desirably pretty.

From the rather gloomy shade of the woodland footpaths we burst out into a sun-filled clearing. Before us was a rectangular pool within a stone wall beyond which could be seen a rocky limestone cliff. There were seats scattered round the clearing so here we sat for coffee.

At the foot of the cliff we had seen beyond the pool was a well. Water trickled out of the rock into a crystal clear trough like pool and then onwards into the rectangular pool a little below it.   What was it ? 

 Vic and Danny looking into the "Well".

With vows to investigate the mysterious waterworks later, we left the "Well" and followed the path as it climbed steeply to a stone "Gap" stile out of the wood.

A gentle climb through two fields and we found ourselves climbing another stile before beginning a steep and slippery descent towards the coast.

The path down through the scrubby woodland was narrow, steep and at times tricky to negotiate, Mud, grass and bare patches of jutting limestone each took their turn to keep us on our toes (literally at times) , We   ( or at least I ) were/was distracted by some remarkably fine blackberries offering themselves for consumption on either side of the path.
At the bottom of this path another stile took us onto a grass covered levee upon which the warm sunshine encouraged us to stay. 

 The "Levee" separating marsh (right) from fields (left)

Lunch over it was back over the stile to continue along the path now following the shoreline in the direction of "Jenny Brown's Point" and beyond that "Jack Scout".

Although the path was now following the contours i.e. technically level, it still presented difficulties.

Here's Vic negotiating a short but steeply rocky bit.

While Danny and Martin choose an easier route.

The tide was well out and deep gullies carved their way through the sea-washed turf as we progressed towards "Jenny Brown's Point" .

Our path was now easier to follow as the grass and rocks had given way to firm, sandy mud.

As we rounded the point a strange building appeared before us. Was it a "Chimney" and if so what was it for - or was it a "Lime kiln" if so it didn't fit the pattern of lime 
kilns we had come across before.

 Chimney or Limekiln ? Who knows ? 

If you do let us know, (guitar2pluck@yahoo.co.uk)

A bit of later research seemed to indicate hat this structure was connected to copper or iron smelting in the 18/19C. It's good condition might be because it was never used or has been refurbished. Accompanying buildings have long since gone. Any further info ?

 At this point we left the immediate shoreline to join the coastal road. Here we encountered a further mystery. As we arrived at the road there was a disused quarry on the other side.  But what had the double row of posts set into concrete been used for when the quarry had been working. In some places cross spars made them  look somewhat fence like.  

In spite of the dire forecast of possible heavy showers the day continued sunny and bright. The views across Morecambe Bay were quite enchanting.

The dark line near the horizon is the remnants of a failed land reclamation scheme.

We now followed the road for a while but wondered where we might find the fabled "Giant's Seat". Certainly not by following the road.  At this point a strangely "Domestic" looking gate invited us back onto the gorse and heather filled shoreline. 

Here, after a scrambly search,  we found the seat.

There it is. Up there .

An ideal spot for.......coffee of course and to shed our sweat inducing and not required waterproofs

Behind the seat hidden in the rocks was a "Geo-cache" which we had discovered a couple of years previously.  Our message left then was still there. We were now in the area known as "Jack Scout".

Back up to the road which we now found to be surprisingly busy with all manner of people walking towards us. Most, obviously not serious walkers. (Like what we is ! ). Rounding the next corner the reason became obvious. A Caravan Park. Our pace, never exactly rapid, became even more tortoise-like as we constantly stopped to chat.

On the next corner was a smaller version of the Giant's Seat. Here we see a "Giant" of a man sitting on it. 

(Who's kiddin' who ?) 

Legendary Giant or over sized Garden Gnome ?

With Silverdale and the car just around the corner we again stopped to chat. This time to a family of cyclists.

And so, with the first shower of the day beginning to spatter around us we arrived back at the car. Here we once again enjoyed our shandies before setting off home in the same weather conditions in which we had arrived. POURING RAIN !!!.

A short ( in length ) walk in a seemingly endlessly delightful area. 



Unused Photos :-

Jenny Brown's Point ?

Back to the road from Jack Scout

 This is a...erm...er......thingy !

Vic and the "Thingy"

More Photo's

Two to One it wont rain today

One of many new stiles and gates. A rare but welcome site

John in miniature and busts of James and Vic

Eee that's good

John displaying his trophy whilst vic prepares to reward him for find of the week

And Walker of the week

And Joker of the week

("This Is Your Life J.W"   Was it 'cos I was in red ?)

BUFFALOS & DEATH VALLEY !

BARTON to INGLEWHITE 7 Miles

WALKERS :- Mike, Danny, Vic, Martin, James, John W.

With today's walk "advertised" as flat, unchallenging and ultimately "Dull" we parked the cars in an amazingly large lay-bye (for a country lane) and set off on a walk which actually proved to be, at times, very interesting, quite challenging and NOT in the least dull.

Jepps Lane, in which we had parked, continued for some way  crossing as it did the M6 motorway.

 "He's at it again." Thinks Martin - "But what exactly is it he's at ?"

As Jepps Lane gave way to a farm track we came across the first evidence of the waterlogged nature of the terrain ahead of us.

 "Double, Double, Looks like trouble"

Once on to farm tracks proper it quickly became obvious that we were crossing farmland that was prosperous and well tended. Large, modern and well maintained gates coupled with sturdy , clean stiles were the norm.

Always on the look out for interesting, dry and comfortable coffee spots we could hardly resist this pile of logs.

Coffee and a snack.

Thirsts quenched we continued along the track to arrive at the large group of buildings "Park Head" farm perhaps better known as the cheese manufacturer at Carron Lodge.....
 
Here we came across our first surprise. Inside one of the buildings we passed were a jostling group of large beasts with big horns. "What are those ? " was the question asked of a passing worker. BUFFALO ! came the astonishing reply. Quite obvious when we looked again just entirely unexpected.

Wow !    Of course. if you make "Buffalo Cheese" you need Buffalo (Buffaloes ?). 
"What are they like to handle ?"
"Difficult. If they don't want to do something - they won't."

Hope those bars are strong. These are the animals that kill more people in Africa than any other species. (including Lions)
Oops ! Cardinal Error, These are not African Buffalo but their domesticated Asian cousins. Still wouldn't fancy walking through a field of them.

We continued through this very large complex of buildings , meeting as we did the owner who was known to those of us who bowled for Whittingham Club. After chatting briefly he pointed us in the direction of the footpath which would lead us to Latus Hall Farm. The path went through the "Back Yard" of the farm which like many farms was littered with old rusting equipment. We crossed a small bridge and emerged into a very boggy field then on to another field full of apparently over-ripe wheat. 

It was at this point we discovered that Danny had come with ulterior motives. He was "Foraging." the poncey name for what we as kids called "Blackberrying" an ancient and worthy and worthwhile rustic pastime.

We walked on through Latus Hall Farm which seemed to have been developed into a group of extremely "Des-Res's". 

On reaching the highway shortly afterwards,  a left turn would continue our walk or a right turn would take us quickly into the tiny hamlet of Inglewhite.  We turned right. 

A seat in the middle of the tiny, triangular village green was an ideal spot for lunch .

As we sat, a delightful lady came out of one of the houses to take photos of the "Lovely People" on the green.  DID SHE MEAN US ? Apparently she did !!!.

And here she is.

Lunch over we set off to go back past the point at which we had joined the road. First however we paid our respects to the village cross.

Not far beyond our entrance point the road took a sharp right turn but our path lay straight ahead across the fields. The Gate was locked and the stile to one side of it proved not a little challenging ( !!! ) 

Once past these obstacles we felt a little confused but soon had ourselves back on track until we came to an overgrown bridge around which secateurs had to be used to enable us to get across. 

  Here's Vic chopping away with the secateurs. There's a bridge in there somewhere.

Once across the bridge we had a couple more fields to negotiate and a farm to pass before arriving once more at a highway. First, however, we had to cross this raging torrent of a ford. NOTHING daunts a Meanderthal !!!

We only took to the road for a few minutes before once again following farm tracks towards our final destination.

Just as we had arrived at the side of the road, however, was a motoring mirror which your writer approached.

"Mirror, Mirror on the road. 

Is this John about to be mowed" 

(Down,  by a large tractor)

Past Fisher's Farm and then Jack Nook Farm and across another sodden field and we arrived at the motorway. We were ready for a break and were looking for a place to sit with our flasks. The vicinity of the motorway was FAR TOO NOISY !

Up over the footbridge

Then down the other side.

Once over the motorway the obvious choice was a tree filled hollow not many yards away. This sheltering fold found us a little reluctant to leave it was so pleasant sitting in the warm afternoon sun. But...upwards and onwards.

"High on a hill........... "

In another hollow across the field "Death" confronted us ........... in the form of a group of mysteriously dead trees. We immediately christened it "Death Valley" (It was in another hollow)

From here we followed the edge of the busy motorway over a couple of stiles 

 across a final large field , through a gate and onto Jepps Lane close to where the cars where parked. Martin's Shandy once more and a final presentation by Mike of the "Walker of the Week" trophy to John W for delivering a good walk when a DULL one was promised. 

THE END

Unused photos :-

 A LOG for the BLOG

Farm equipment ?????

Mike and some very large rose hips.

A vital part of Mike's Anti-Altzheimers system. 
You'll need to ask him.

The locked gate we struggled past to continue our walk.

I'm sure many will recognise the Green Man at Inglewhite

Mmmm.......

 

"PADDY POWER" one of our group, who is not with us and shall remain anonymous, does not like the structure behind us

 Climbing out of the warm sun-blessed hollow in which we took our afternoon coffees