ABBEYSTEAD

"HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN ?"

5+ Miles

Walkers :- Jim C, John R, Martin, Anthony, Danny,

                  Harry, Vic, John W,   Mike, Dave.

We parked at Stoops bridge in Abbeystead where we have parked several times in the past.

From here we set off to follow the southern banks of the united Wyres. The Marshaw and Tarnbrook arms  converge at this point. A short walk up the road  and across the Marshaw Wyre before veering off to the right to follow a clear but often muddy path through a wood. 

A couple of hundred yards into the wood and a rather picturesque set of stone steps led away up a steep incline. Picturesque, that is, until we realised that this was the way we had to go.

They quickly became steep and difficult with a nasty drop to one side. 

After something of a struggle we finally reached the top where we encountered the first of the "Mighty Fallen". A large tree trunk lay across the path.  There was room to pass under it so we were soon able to leave it behind.

The path carried on for only a short distance before debouching into the sunlit open fields.

It was a pleasure now to be able to search for a coffee spot that didn't need to be sheltered from the wind or rain. Over a couple of stiles and  we were greeted by a warm and comfortable grassy bank.

One of the waymarkers we came across from time to time.

Coffee over we dropped steeply down to a bridge over a small but deeply eroded stream.

The climb up the other side of the bridge led us onto what appeared to be the banks of a long since dried up artificial pond which would have supplied a head of water  to...???

Along this bank we encountered the next of the

"Mighty Fallen".  This was not quite so mighty and was also easily dealt with.

Back across the fields again and through two large and quite ancient farmyards. These must have been prosperous farms in the past as their 18C. buildings were both large and handsome.

Once past these farms the land dropped back down towards the river and the bridge by which we needed to cross it.  

Before we reached the river we once more needed to drop down the wooded side of yet another deeply incised stream. Here we came across the third of our "Mighty Fallen"  This one was to present us with the most difficult problem  (and obstacle) to surmount.  A large tree had crashed down the bank and completely destroyed the bridge. Our leader eyed the situation with dismay and before we all climbed over the stile asked "Do we have a bold adventurous spirit who is prepared to check out if we can get through here ?" 
To repeat......The Large tree had crashed down the bank and obliterated the bridge as well as blocking the footpath on either side.

First Vic, followed by Mike stepped into the breach and ventured into the tangled arboreal miasma. They soon declared it impassable but with a little encouragement explored further and declared it might be possible with difficulty.  it was........ WITH DIFFICULTY !

THE BRIDGE !

By crawling through the fallen tree, slipping down the steep and crumbly bank and then gingerly negotiating the shallow but lethally slippery stream we made it to the other side.            Here's how.

John R's history as a fireman and his subsequent training means that he is rarely discomfited by any of the challenges our walks throw at us.

A serenely confident John R.

We now felt we deserved the sun blessed lunch spot we next discovered.

After so many wet, cold walks this group look remarkably comfortable and contented,

No rest for the wicked though as we then had to tackle a worryingly wobbly stile before clambering up some steep stone steps once more. 

Once again into grassy fields. BUT not entirely grassily idyllic. There were some muddy spots into one of which Dave stepped and sank dramatically up to his knees.

It took quite a while to extract him.

After passing through another ancient and handsome farm complex we could see the "Shepherd's Church" up on the hill before us.

Again a short but soggily, strenuous ascent took us into the attractive surrounds of this isolated little church.

The inside of the church was just as lovely as it exterior.

And befitting a "Shepherd's Church" the stained glass contained many images of "Biblical" sheep.

Leaving the church behind us as we left through the prize winning gate ???????

The little sign to the left told us that this gate had won a Gold Medal for it's artistic merit. We were rather nonplussed !

As we crossed the next field we came across these egg shells. Could be either a curlew or a Lapwing (green plover or "Tewit") as the egg markings are very similar.

Our travails, however, were not yet over. After crossing two more foot sucking fields we found or rather did not find the footpath through the woods down to the waterworks by the river, A new path wound it's way apparently in the wrong direction but the old, more direct path seemed to have disappeared. John W stubbornly decided he was going to follow the path as shown on the map (bad decision ! ) After quite a struggle he got through and then waited for Vic who had equally foolishly followed him. By the time we had struggled down the rest of the party were patiently waiting on the wonderful new path.

Vic struggling down the non-existent path.

Can you see him ?

Coffee break please ! ....... and what a spot to take it with a view of a quite awesome weir.

Dave seems to have found a comfortable seat.

Coffees finished and now to tackle the final stretch of the walk. Over yet another bridge. This time strong and safe.

Up past the magnificent weir.

Then a final tramp back to the cars. The ardours of the walk were not to release their grip so easily though. The path along the lake was muddy, uneven and strenuous. to the very end................ it was also longer than anticipated.

WOW ! what a long report. But the walk was so full of interest and challenge that it was nearly as hard to write it all up as it was to accomplish it in the first place. A walk with both man-made and natural beauty and interest.

This had been a totally absorbing walk but your writer has to confess to being exhausted by  it and glad to get to ....................

THE END