WYCOLLER

"UP  'N'  ATOM   LADS"

WALKERS :- Anthony, James, Danny, Paddy
                       John W, Vic, Mick K.

We drove past "Boundary Mill".  "You drove PAST Boundary Mill ????".    Yes ! We drove PAST Boundary Mill to Laneshaw Bridge and parked in a delightful linear nature reserve which followed Colne Water. We set off, immediately passing a café where a young lady assured us they were open until 4pm.

With a welcoming sun in a clear blue sky the well founded path wound it's way alongside the river. leading us imperceptibly upwards towards the tiny hamlet of Wycoller . A place seemingly frozen in time.

As we walked we passed various points of interest most of which hinted at a historically industrious past.

 James examines a stone post. What was it for ?

The !Friends of" had provided useful information post at intervals along the valley

Including one at this unusual "Zig-Zag Fish pass

The path crossed and recrossed the river at times leading us well away from it's banks until eventually, With the main road from Laneshaw Bridge on the hill above us we turned right to follow  the "Ferndean Trail".

Here we are following the trail with the houses of Laneshaw in the distance behind us. Coffee Time.

We were not alone in this popular spot. A group of lady walkers (Burnley Ramblers) stopped to chat.

And Dave though not on the walk was with us in Spirit (well actually in Wood !)

This pleasant path continued alongside the river until it dropped down into the edge of the village. Virtually every building we passed was a melange of antiquity and perhaps "Intrigue".

Why did this house have an enormous water tank on its roof ?

Having arrived in Wycoller we did not linger but straightway crossed the river by the ancient pack horse bridge 

…. and for the moment ignoring the ruins of "Ferndean Manor" climbed steeply out of the village to seek our main target of the day "THE ATOM"

The path led arrow straight up the side of the hill. We took advantage of several points of interest to catch our breaths as we rose up it.

The rows of large standing stones running in lines down the hillside. The remains of ancient vaccaries from historic cattle "Ranching"

The masses of brilliant red berries which be-jewelled the holly bushes.

…. and then a view of the "Atom" sitting atop the hillside.

Can you see it ?   mmmm…….. Come a little closer with the added bonus of romantic horse shot.

Behind us the view stretched way into the distance with Pendle just visible on the horizon.

The path continued upwards with the "arrow" bending and levelling out as it headed towards the top. An errant John W decided to take the field route accompanied by Mick K. Both routes took us to the Atom but JW's choice ended in a very steep stretch. The OTHER route was the better choice. 

The ATOM is one of four PANOPTICON art installations in the area. We have visited both this and the others before.

This rather "Alien" like structure seems to have had a rather "Alienating" effect on two of our pals !!!

LUNCH TIME !

As we munched and crunched our lunch we were surrounded by some rather dramatic "Hedges" and views.

There's Pendle again on the horizon

Lunch over we briefly carried on along the elevated footpath on the side of the hill...……...

  

………. passing through a gentrified farmyard where John W saw a fox.....er….. no 'e didn't.

A short bridge took us across a now small and deeply cut river before putting us on the track leading down to Wycoller.

As we plodded down towards the village the fascination of the walk continued. What for instance is this "Monstrous Maw" ?

It's the root system of this tremendous tree.

A little further down the track we came to the single span stone clapper bridge which is reputedly England's oldest bridge.

 England's oldest...…  The bridge ? …….. er….s'pose so !

Onwards down the path

Till we came to the ruins of Wycollar Hall (?) which apparently was the Inspiration for Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" which we have of course all read...………. haven't we ???

Hot stuff this....The fireplace.. the FIREPLACE ! not the old F---s. 

The fascination of this place held us for quite a while before we moved on.

Another Clapper bridge

We left the hall and crossed back over the pack horse bridge before leaving the village and retracing our steps back to the linear park where our cars were parked

We were now following the path along which we had started our walk but still there was fresh interest.

Did we go through a tunnel ??

Don't remember doing !

Yu little twister !! 

A steady plod through this lovely part of Lancashire

..and with the sun slowly setting we arrived at the café where we had been promised a closing time of 4pm. It was 3pm so coffees, teas and hot chocolates all round.

Don't despair Paddy...It's like this Two teas ...er no ONE tea. Three no FOUR hot chocolates or was it three .... how many wanted coffee. me...and me...and me. Have you got all that waitress...………….. NO !

Ah well. Got it right in the end and we all enjoyed our drinks.  Thanks Paddy.

THE END