COLNE

BOUNDARY BOUNDERS !

Bargain Basement Blokes :- Danny, Harry, John R,  
                                                 Anthony, Mike, Martin, 
                                                 Dave, James, John W.

The drive along the M65 was unpleasant as the view through the windscreen was of grey shadowy shapes with the spray making vehicles barely visible beyond a few yards in front. But we all arrived safely and parked up at "Boundary Mill" Here we made use of a  trolley shelter to don full waterproof outfits. Then off we went  to follow a  strip of woodland alongside "Colne Water".

            Leaving Boundary Mill Car Park      

Passing through a rather fetching developments of cottages

The path by Colne Water.

It wasn't long before the path took a right turn away from the "water" and rose up towards the road,

The "Road" turned out to be a small side road that led to a terrace of neat house with gardens across the road in front of them. We had been here before.

Once past the terrace the road rose again to meet up with the Leeds-Liverpool canal

We turned right to follow the canal as it made it's way under the motorway (Strictly speaking the canal was there first so it was the motorway that had made it's way OVER the canal.)

COFFEE TIME !

The rain, though light, was persistent so we took shelter under the second carriageway of the motorway for our morning break.

With the rain still drizzling down upon us we set off towards the nearby Barrowford Locks.

The locks when we reached them were EMPTY !

……. and a decidedly loquacious gentlemen explained what they were doing to regenerate the locks.

The works had forced us to the other (non towpath) side of the canal for a couple of hundred yards before we crossed back and continued in the direction of Leeds.

At the next bridge we left the canal and climbed up to a narrow side road.

Just beyond the bridge a pair of handsome shire horses looked hopefully in our direction  (Maybe we were carrying food …. they thought !)

They were to be disappointed.

"If we pose for a photo do we get a reward ? "

That Danny had nowt. Let's try this James he looks nicer."

  "Sorry. We've no food but there's no need for the long face."

We continued along this road leaving it after about a quarter of a mile. 

then taking to the fields before crossing another small road.

As we crossed the road John R was caught speeding by a roadside camera. He had exceeded the groups maximum speed limit of 1.7 miles per hour.

He might have got away with it were it not for the crime being caught in a roadside mirror !!!

Once over the road the path entered a rather scrubby wood and eventually split. Leading in several directions.

We were NOT lost but paused to make a decision which path to take.

A friendly, dog walking, local stopped to enthusiastically give is directions. We thanked him profusely and then completely ignored his confusing advice.

Leaving the wood through a rather neat little stile...……

…… and then crossed a couple of fields before arriving at a road junction and a lovely little pub with the curiously spelled name of "The Crossed Gaits".

At the back of the pub was a large beer garden and the sparkly. young landlady happily allowed us to use the picnic tables for our lunch.

Her friend watched us carefully to ensure NO TROUBLE !

Such a friendly guard he was that we all gathered round to take a photo with him.

The landlady told us how they catered for walkers at the pub and invited us to come along for lunch whenever we were in the area again. A good thought. We shall see.

Off again and following the fields alongside the narrow and speedily dangerous, Barnoldswick Road.

Taking the fields to avoid the busy side road did have it's downside with some very wet and muddy stretches.

As we crossed a further narrow lane we came across yet another dramatically ageing tree.

Across this road was "Slipper Hill Reservoir" and Mike

 recalled how his parents (grandparents ?) always called reservoirs "Reser voys", Others, too, remembered this use of the dialect or colloquial language. We hardly saw any of the reservoir as we turned down the lane and continued our walk.

Our next stopping point came as a surprise to John W as we suddenly arrived at the parapet that marked the  entrance to "Foulridge Tunnel". Flask finishing time !

To one side of the parapet was a small building which resembled nothing less than a jail. Danny dressed entirely in black looked like a suitable customer !

Peering through the steel door's grill we could see electrical control boxes and surmised that the building held the control mechanism for the "in and out" traffic through the tunnel.

We slipped down to the canal and continued our walk in the direction of Liverpool (we hoped to arrive in Colne first )

Yes. Definitely hope to get to Colne first !

After about  half a mile we left the canal to go through the fields again.

The fields ended at a gate close to a handsome farm building ….

The reader will have noted that I did say the BUILDINGS were handsome.

Once beyond this gate a short uphill stretch soon had us joining a well structured "Track" which drove arrow straight alongside a disused railway (now just a cutting)

This was to take us , after a couple of road crossing back to the Boundary Mill car park and our vehicles.

After a dreadfully wet and blustery forecast the weather was actually very reasonable and even ended in a little sunshine as we downed the welcome shandies.

and there were promises of spring throughout our walk.

Though some bushes still clung tenaciously to their winter coats.

We even saw some very rare birds..

All in all an excellent walk. Well done leader (AD) and caterer  (MG).

THE END