LYTHAM

SNOWDROPS by the MILLION 7 Miles.

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


"I wandered lonely as a cloud 
that floats on high o'er vales and hills.
When all at once I saw a crowd 
A host of Golden Daffodils...…

……….Ten thousand saw I at a glance....

Pish Pash !... Eat your heart out Wordsworth.  Today we saw snowdrops by the million !

We parked just off Saltcotes Rd. on the outskirts of Lytham.

Just a short distance down the road and we were following the woodland track towards the Lytham Hall estate. Out of the wood and down another road and we arrived at the gates of the estate.

Our walk began in a stiff breeze with cold rain blowing in our faces but by the time we reached Lytham Hall itself the rain had dried up.

Jim C appears to be inviting our friends to investigate this picture frame, one of several around the grounds.

No paddy !  It is supposed to frame a lovely view. 

It is with concern, that at this point, I have to report that we seem  unable to pass any tempting cafes we come across. …………. ( Oh...  Who cares ? )

The café was populated by a group of very talkative ladies. Their coach driver, Roy, was a friend and bowling colleague of two of our group.  ( Unfortunately your writer's camera was causing him some concern at this point but hopefully others will have photos of our café visit. )  

Out of the café and off through the grounds first remembering the initial purpose of this walk --- SNOWDROP VIEWING.

With John's camera still dodgy it was good to see Danny taking lots of photos as we went on our way.

Just like last week, the wintry sun lent a mystical air to our surroundings.

Out of the woods and briefly through a modern housing estate.

…..before once again plunging back into a wood. A private wood with public access. "Witch Wood" within which a witch is buried ( under a Wych Elm perhaps ? ) though which witch we did not know. 

James examines the memorial stone to the witch though which witch we...………. "Oh. Don't start that again !"

The wood was only short and we were soon back onto the public highway.

Not for long though and a short distance along the road we turned left to cross a narrow stretch of the golf course on which Anthony had once taken a lucrative picture of Prince Andrew.

In order to leave the golf course we had first to cross a single track railway line.

We were warned NOT to trespass on the railway but JW did trespass (just a bit) to get one photo as we crossed.

Once free of the golf course and the railway we followed the roads as they took us to Fairhaven Lake where we had planned to have lunch. 

Here, as we sat having lunch, Anthony displayed his magician's skills as he magically quartered his banana BEFORE he had peeled it. 

Ow'd 'e do it ?

With the sky now a clear blue we sat in the shelter and enjoyed the gentle warmth of the winter sun.

As we sat quietly enjoying our various sandwiches. (Boiled egg in my case) some reckless individual (no names mentioned but think classic Irish !) Decided to recreate a scene from Hitchcock's "The Birds"

 Suddenly we were surrounded by quacking ducks, cooing pigeons, cawing carrion crows and screaming gulls a dreadful cacophony. birds like this one.

The peace of our quiet lunch was shattered. One might think that our Hibernian bird feeder had lost his head. But no !   Look there it is in the puddle.

Have you guessed who it was ?

Lunch over and rucksacks back on shoulders our path lay alongside Fairhaven Lake.

Rain ?  No ! No ! Just look at that blue sky.

Martin stands and gleans info about the lake.

Look at those legs....living Lowry.

We followed the edge of the lake to eventually emerge on the promenade as we approached the distant "White Church". The far side of the lake was alive with construction vehicles where the coastal defences were being upgraded.

"I must get back on my bike and be on my way." Says Mr. Whiteman.

Beyond Fairhaven Lake the coastal work meant that we were unable to rejoin the promenade proper and had to follow a sandy track at the rear of the large properties along the main road.

Waiting for the group to gather before setting off along the sandy track.

The track took us behind the impressive wall of the large properties on the main road. One of which was "Stella Matutina" well known to several of the group.

Looks like a bunch of snowdrops has escaped from Lytham Hall.

A rather nice summer house in one of the walled gardens.

And big houses need big gates !

Back on the tarmacked prom we paused briefly to catch our breaths.

Here's a Chord-ial picture.  "A" minor and "A" augmented on a bar.

 How nice..... "G" major has joined them

Off along the prom on or final stretch of the walk passing as we go Lythams famous windmill.

There is an old Irish saying "May your shadow never grow less."

But there is a reasonable limit though !

A final stretch along Lytham green before joining the road for the last half mile to the cars .

An old friend of a walk that still offers lots of interest and pleasant ways to tread.

THE END