Walkers :- Paddy, Anthony, Vic, Harry
John R, John W, Danny, Martin
For once our drive to the starting point was smooth and untroubled. We were soon turning into the "Water Park" and parking alongside one of the many lakes,
The weather forecast was not good and we set off in a rather dismal drizzle.
Heavier spells of rain had been forecast but although the rain continued it never really amounted to much and gradually petered out altogether.
In spite of the inclement weather the Water Park was undoubtedly an attractive place to walk with lakes, streams and pretty woodland.
It was obvious that some care had been bestowed on it. This evidenced by the well laid hedges we passed.
Danny enquired whether or not our "ROOT" lay across this natural bridge. He was firmly informed that our "ROUTE" did not. Onward please !
The Water Park came to an end and we stepped out into open fields and into MUD.
MUD !
We crossed a couple of large fields before arriving at a tarmacked road on the corner of which we were given a noisy greeting by a trio of honking geese.
Our mystery photographer is Danny
We turned right and after a short walk uphill along this road we came to a larger road which we crossed to once again take to the fields, Not for long, though, as we entered another wood which immediately offered a spot to rest and take coffee. (or tea !)
Continuing our walk through the wood we were treated to some fascinating sights. Fallen trees lent a twisted eeriness and their very age gave them character.
" Oooooh ! "
Pearls of wisdom from Harry showing us an
"Oyster" fungus.
Head of a Dog or Sheep ? What does this fungi encrusted log look like to you ?
The woodland sloped gently at first and then steeply up for a short distance before bursting out onto a hill atop of which was the "Billinge Beacon" It seems this ancient spot was used during the war as an observation post looking, as it does, over both Liverpool and Manchester.
All four sides of this rather plain box-like Beacon were covered in Graffiti which was somehow almost acceptable and seemed in places to be rather well done'
This hill is one of many throughout the country which are designated as "Marilyns" and just as there are "Munro" baggers (people who seek out and climb certain designated mountains in Scotland) so there are "Marilyn" baggers though their efforts are quite literally at a lower level.
You may wish to google Marilyns and Billinge Beacon to find out more about this intriguing spot. The writer and Vic learnt later that evening that a bowling friend had actually done the fitting out of the underground chamber when it was updated during the "Cold War". Wow ! Before leaving we paid a courtesy visit to the nearby "Trig Point"
This was obviously the high point (literally) and Zenith (?) of our walk and we dropped quickly down to begin our return journey.
We soon left the Beacon behind. There it is in the distance and another short walk took us to "Crank Lane". Our next photo is a view of Crank Lane complete with a group of "Cranks" (Sorry dear reader but you would hardly expect your writer to miss such an opportunity... Would you ?)
We were hardly on this road long enough to kick the mud of the soles of our boots before we left it again to return to the world of MUD.
MUD !
We made steady progress along the farm tracks as we now looked for somewhere dryish and out of the increasingly chilly breeze. As we breasted one hill the flat area of the Lancashire/Cheshire plain was spread out before us. To our left, a little distance from the main track, a promising wooded copse peeped over the near horizon We left the track and found a waterfilled hollow which offered shelter and seating........ LUNCH !
Lunch over we climbed out of the hollow and made our way back to the MUD. Not before J. W. found he had left his GPS behind. Thank you Harry and Danny for helping to find it.
MORE MUD !
EVEN MORE MUD !
From where we had lunch we could just make out, through a grey haze, the Great Orme in North Wales and the Anglican Cathedral and the dock cranes in Liverpool. Now as we walked we could see below the complex of buildings that we used to know as the Heinz 57 factory.
From here we were moving in long straight lines through an arable landscape. At one point we crossed a deeply sunken minor road. John R was first to cross it and "Hung about" on the other side as we caught up.
Some of the fields had been recently ploughed and the freshly turned loam contrasted sharply with the washed out stubble. So much so that Paddy spotted an amusing silhouette of a face at the ploughing's edge. I am sure you will see what he meant. Look carefully.
Nearly home now as we followed an old hedgerow down into the edge of Orrell.
As we approached our walks finale "Town and Country" still had things to offer.
A large clump of snowdrops in the hedgerow
A "Designer" grid.
A very upmarket Garden Gnome
....and amongst the ubiquitous (there's that word I promised) Canada Geese. A RUDDY SHELDUCK. (That is a standard adjective not an expletive.)
Before we go may I introduce you to a subdivision of the Meanderthals. The OLD CROCS BUNCH.......
Several of us find "Crocs" useful. They can be easily slipped on to come home in after wet, muddy boots are removed.
THE END
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