BORWICK

"CHEEPERS" BY THE DOZEN 6.5 Miles

Good Eggs :-  John R, Anthony, Danny, Mick, Martin, Vic
                         John W, Mike, James, Jim , Dave, Paddy.

With a magnificent turnout (Twelve-12) we parked our cars (with permission) In the car park of Lancashire Education's Borwick Hall Centre. 

  Who'd have thought today's leader was a garden gnome from Borwick Hall ?

After a quick thank you to the Borwick staff for the use of their car park we set off down the road. After about half a mile we turned off the road to take to the fields.

Through a rather scruffy farm yard and briefly down a grassy track - not actually in fields yet. 

The track led us down to and underneath a railway arch.

A very determined looking Jim C leads a shuffling bunch through the tunnel and past a large bale of straw .

This is a very interesting photo John......😕 

But then over a rather attractive little bridge.

and at last into a field !

Those of the greyhound persuasion shot off into the distance (where they waited) whilst the tortoises patiently tackled the first stile.

We were to encounter several different styles of stiles on today's walk the next one was of the "Squeeze" or "Pinch" variety and was just a little difficult to negotiate.

Here Dave squeezes through a stile which was so narrow even our boots were too broad to slip easily through.

We followed this large, lush field for several minutes leaving trails in the wet grass.

Let's play "Follow me leader" across this sloping field.

By now, dear reader 11 o'clock had come and gone. There were mutterings of mutiny within the ranks.
Coffee had to be taken. But where ? A sort of construction storage site provided us with seating of a sort so we settled down with our flasks.

Over in one corner were some recycling skips. but there was also  strict warning.

Sooo……. the fridges and washing machines we always carry had to remain firmly in our rucksacks.

We quite contently sat chatting and drinking in this "Junk Yard" blissfully unaware that a much more endearing spot was on offer less than 50 metres away.

Here it is...…

So much nicer I am sure you would agree.

This was a lovely spot on the Lancaster canal which we followed for only a couple of hundred metres before turning away ……..

….and joining the road as it passed "Capernwray Old Hall and Farm.

In the wall of one of the buildings we passed was this post box placed there in the reign of Queen Victoria.

We did not stay on the road long but took a right turn leading to a supposedly award winning caravan site. We did not walk as far as the caravans but once again took to the fields just as we arrived at the edge of a wood.

Death and taxes are inevitable as the old saying goes . We might add "Queues" to the list.

As well as the catkins visible on the trees as we passed by there were other reminders of the approach of Spring.

"Don't mention Mint Sauce anyone !"

It hardly seemed more than a few minutes since coffee time but our watches told us it was lunch time and we were just passing picturesque patch of woodland... with "seating".

Don't think Martin likes that mouthful.

We sometimes wonder if Vic's ancestors might include Greta Garbo...….   " I Vont to be alone !"

This Meanderthal found a comfortable tree

This meanderthal used a reclining posture

This Meanderthal…......…….Don't Ask !

Leaving the little wood we continued along a narrow rocky path until we reached the next stile.

On reaching the next stile we discovered yet another style (of stile).

Before us now was a long stretch of open fields which led us into a narrow "Green" lane. This in turn led us to the road through Over Kellet.

This particular style had a dog hatch and a curious ancient stone with a ring attached and placement holes in it. It also bore instructions which the ever willing Mike was happy to demonstrate ( Oh yeah !!!).

and then the rather overgrown and narrow green lane.

Then we were into "Over Kellet" a village with some rather handsome old buildings.

and a large open green.

Almost immediately we turned our faces away from the village and headed north towards Borwick.

As we left the village we passed a large house with a red cross built into it's frontage. what or why this was here we did not find out. We also passed a couple of troughs into which water was continuously running. Refreshment for people or animals ? Who knows ? The water certainly looked clean and crystal clear.

Vic noticed that there were coins at the bottom of one of the troughs -  Typical b----y accountant !

After about half a mile and after passing a large house which had once been the Tythe Barn we reached a junction.

A left turn had us plodding steadily down a country lane flanked on either side with large, well tended, open fields which were it not for the ever present mist would have afforded some delightful views.
Eventually we came to a canal bridge which most unusually had traffic lights which as we arrived were set at stop.....so we did.

Here, the day's leader, ever the democrat (ahem !) offered a choice of final routes FARM TRACKS ? or CANAL TOWPATH ? By 2 votes to 10 (abstentions) the canal won.

So we crossed over the bridge and followed the canal towards Borwick. (some took longer to cross than others.. see above.)

 Canals invariable provide points of interest as we progress. Here we see a milestone with daffodils pretending to be some sort of commemorative stone.

Here we stopped to look over the parapet of a deeply cut stream at an old watermill.

And so onwards to Borwick Hall and Martin's ever welcome shandies. John W went back into the grounds of the Hall. Unfortunately he was released after only a short stay.

pleasant walk on a rather sunless day but thankfully no rain until the very last minutes.

THE END