CHIPPING

VALENTINE'S DAY
A MUCH LOVED WALK 6 miles

LUVVIES :- John W, Anthony, Martin, Danny, Paddy
                     Vic, Mike, Mick K, Dave, James.

Bone Idle !!  Late on Sunday night and in a grumpy mood a sleepy eyed J.W. decided not to plan a new walk but take the easy  option of leading and old favourite. His own PARTICULAR favourite in fact. So... 10 o'clock saw us booting up in Chipping's car park.

And setting off through the village.

passing, as we did, the 17th C cottages. One with the "fire" plaque on the wall.

and the memorial stone to John Brabin. Possibly the villages greatest benefactor.

At the war memorial we turned left up the "Quiet Lane" and shortly afterwards stepped off the road to follow the parallel footpath through the wood.

Snowdrops again.

This short but pretty footpath soon took us back onto the highway but only for a few yards to where the driveway up to Leagram Hall led us away up the hill to the left.

About halfway up the hill we arrived at a walled woodland.  Something on the other side of the wall held our attention.

MORE SNOWDROPS !!

To one side of the road, as we continued on our way, the remains of a dead tree begged to be photographed.

Even as a dramatically rustic photo-frame.

The faster group had now arrived near the top of the hill. (The reader must understand that when your writer  describes this rise as a "Hill" there is a combination of poetic licence and hyperbole) and here. WITHOUT CONSULTATION the "racers" settled down for an early coffee.

Mind you, it was a rather delightful choice. A lovely view.

The slower plodders had to make do disporting themselves upon the body work of a mechanical digger. 

Does Mike (left) look comfortable to you ?

Coffee time over we walked on past the Sheep's Milk and Cheese farm. 

Meet the workers.

Through this farmyard and following a track which quickly took a right turn as it headed for the next farm house tucked away in a small steep sided and wooded valley. As we approached this we passed a strangely bubbly pool.???

The views along this section were simply superb.

In the distance.... Longridge Fell and beyond that Pendle.

In the foreground...………

More milk and cheese workers.

Then we arrived at the next farm which seemed to have been converted to a des. res. (desirable residence)

The footpath which used to go straight through the yard had been moved. Here we are emerging from the altered footpath on the OTHER side of the farm.

Through the gate and up a short rise before dropping down a narrow lane leading to a derelict farmhouse parts of which had been rebuilt.

There were some obvious signs of dereliction/

"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones."

Perhaps we felt the need to wash the contamination of or feet.

But there were signs of new life to come.

Lady birds waking up in the early spring sunshine.

Once through the farmyard and a couple of hundred yards on we came to a well shod farm track leading down to Lickhurst farm, 

Hole-y trees seemed to be the order of the day and by the side of the track we met another one .

Past the rather sprawling Lickhurst farm and down to stream as it splashed it's way down the narrow but very picturesque valley,

The road eventually came to shallow bridge at which point it left the stream to climb steeply away to the left. We, however, stayed with the stream and crossed over a small but amazing bridge which traversed the stream in a single span of solid stone.

This was the idyllic spot we invariable use for lunch whenever we do this walk.

Lunch over.  Ready to carry on. But first there's an opportunity for a Br...………….. You've guessed it !

Then time for one more photo before shouldering the rucksack and taking up one's stick.

A tree that appears to be hugging itself.

Would you believe it ? The beggars have cleared off and left the photographer behind !

At the top of the hill seen in the last photo is a phone box. For the first time in years it appears to be in some kind of working order.

People certainly seem to know their place around here.

The last named place brought with it powerful waves of nostalgia to three of our company. John W. Anthony and Martin camped here many times during the late 50's and early 60's as "Brussel Sprouts" (Boy Scouts) in the 16th Preston Xaviours Scout Troop. Here's the evidence.

This old photo, taken nearly sixty years, ago shows John W. Patrol leader of the "Kingfishers" on the last day of a camp at Greystoneley. On his right (photo left) is Hugh O'Donnell. Paddy's brother.

Once past the new houses, where once only an old farmhouse stood, we dropped down back to the stream.

Then back up a rather slippery and rocky path.

Past this beautifully moss encrusted old gate..

and walking on until we arrived  Knot Hill the disused limestone quarry  we as scouts had known as the "Treacle Mines" complete with it well restored limekiln.

"Do Not Feed !"

Just above the limekiln a seat had been placed. As we sat finishing our flasks the views from this were  quite magnificent and with the sun soporifically warm, it was with some reluctance that we dragged ourselves to our feet to finish our walk.

As well as the seat (just vacated) can be seen the ironwork guarding the opening down which limestone was tipped to be burnt and used on the fields and in building work.

From here we soon reached the road again and a steady plod took us back to Chipping.

where once again Martin's Shandies were warmly welcomed before we climbed into the cars and set off for home.

THE END