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"