The Meanderthals: CHORLEY

A FOX'S PAW 9 Miles

WALKERS :- Anthony, Paddy, Vic, Martin, Harry,
John R, John W, Danny, Mick K, Mick C.

With the wind blasting through the treetops we parked in a far corner of Morrison's car park.

Leaving the car park we walked through the short side streets of Chorley some rather quaintly named …

Perhaps not the most prestigious address.

….. Now following the A6 main road we strode south towards the Yarrow Bridge.

Approaching the Yarrow Bridge pub.

After about half a mile we turned right, off the main road and after passing yet another new housing site (they seem to be sprouting like mushrooms wherever we walk.) we crossed the road to plunge into a rather dark looking wood.

It was at this point we came across our first "Fox's Paw" (comic slang for a "Faux Pas") As in many woods the footpath weaves and wanders and splits and rejoins. At times it is not easy to follow the correct path. On this occasion we didn't. Perhaps we should have been warned by the dodgy bridge that presented itself before us.

As you can see in the background the main body of the group chose to clamber round this "Horror". Only Danny and Paddy were bold enough to venture across.

It quickly became apparent that the path was gradually disappearing and we would have to clamber up a steep and long bank to get back to the true path. We set off upwards and quickly decided that we needed a break (Coffee Time).

Suitably fortified we recommenced our upward journey. OH DEAR ! This was to be one of the hardest sections of any walk we have done for a long time. The ground was exceedingly steep and covered in loose detritus. Every step had to be carefully chosen and any false move was rewarded with a backward slide on the slippery surface.

Almost to a man, help was needed (and proffered) in order to get to the top. In some cases a rope was used to stop people simply sliding backwards down what could have been a dangerous slope.

If you look carefully you will see a rope stretching between two of our walkers.

It was some while before we were all gathered at the top of what, on looking back, (literally) was rather a precipitous slope. We did get a tiny reward for our efforts in seeing a quite magnificent tree.

The path was now broad and clear and by comparison level and we set off once more to continue our walk but not before noticing that one of the trees atop our ferocious slope bore the remains of "warning keep away" tape. Now they tell us !!

From here we were soon out of the woods and into civilisation where we followed the metalled roads for the next mile or so.

Hmm. Very nice... but what's it there for ?

Our woodland adventure had taken us about an hour and we had now emerged about 200 metres further along the road from the point at which we had left it. NOT FAR ! Ah well... onward ever onward.

Perhaps a little prayer for better fortune ?

We soon left the road again and dropped back down into the Yarrow Valley Country Park.

Another mythical beast ? (No not Danny. He's a "Mysterious" beast.)

We followed this woodland path which eventually brought us to the more well trodden "Park" like section of the Valley. Here we encountered "Other People" a sure sign that our way would now be less hazardous. The walk, never less than fascinating, now assumed a more prettily gentrified aspect with lakes and copious benches and picnic tables. LUNCHTIME !

Do this bunch look happy to you ???

The strong wind had hardly abated and although the ambient temperature was not particularly low by the end of our lunch we were feeling "Wind-chilled" and were happy to get moving once again.

On our walks we frequently come across that strange but rather charming practice of hammering coins into a tree or log to create a "Money Tree" Mick C had never seen one before so here was a first for him.

By money tree standards this was still a "Fledgling".

The path followed the edge of the lake eventually emerging at a car park with a café and more pertinently TOILETS. Being gentlemen of a certain age we availed ourselves of this facility.

The road beyond the car park led us took us initially in a straight line.

"PADDY POWER"

before reaching a junction at which we turned left to walk upwards and across the Yarrow River after which we left the road and slipped down into a rather overgrown footpath. This followed (very closely) the banks of the River Yarrow.

After a few hundred metres the path left the river bank and our hearts sank as once again the path began to diverge and looked to be heading straight up a steep bank. Another Fox's Paw ?

The path was not an easy one to follow...….

Apart from the meandering path itself, it seemed to have allies in the trees which were equally determined to make life difficult. As it turned out we were to be spared the difficulties of our earlier woodland "Challenge" and quickly emerged onto a good clear path alongside a golf course.

A warm sun was now shining and the wind had dropped as we laboured across two meadows of long clinging and tiring grass. Through a noisy dog filled farmyard and along another footpath to the next farm where a wrong turn took us half a mile out of our way.

Back through the last farm again and onto a very dusty road were we had to constantly step aside as large trucks rumbled noisily and dirtily past. Out onto and across a couple of busy main roads and we found ourselves at the entrance to Astley Park.

As we walked up the drive of this lovely park we spotted these bat boxes attached to the trees.

It was , however, a bee rather than bats that were in our minds or at least a BEE-line...………...straight to the cafe.

After welcome coffees and teas thanks to MIck K we set off on the last leg of our walk. Through the lovely grounds of Astley Park passing, as we left, the Tudor splendour of Astley Hall.

Past the lake.....

…..and out through the gates onto the A6...

Just the streets of Chorley to negotiate now and back to Morrisons and the cars. This week Martin WAS with us to distribute his ever welcome gift of chilled shandies.

Anthony assured us that this walk was the easy option out of the two he had in mind... OH YEAH !!!! Well done the survivors (All of us actually)

A walk with many excellent and exciting qualities and one or two...... um ...er….aa

THE END

……...not quite.....