SCORTON

THE LAKE DISTRICT  6.5 Miles
   (No..not that one !)

Walkers :- Vic, Danny, Mick, John W, Mike, Anthony, Martin.

Unusually we arrived in Scorton from different directions. Mick from Blackpool. Vic and John from Grimsargh and the rest from Anthony's in Fulwood.

Once we were all gathered together and with the sun beaming down on us from a crystal clear sky, we left Scorton and headed North to find "The Lakes".

Leaving the road after about a quarter of a mile we followed a narrow footpath alongside a small stream.

That spring was well advanced was made very obvious as we passed a "Blaze" of whiteness which your writer thinks was a clump of blackthorn bushes .  He would be happy to be corrected

We soon encountered the first of a number of stiles . Almost all relatively straightforward to surmount.

COFFEE TIME.

This bench was one we had sat at before and as we continued our walk we kept arriving at spots we had visited before. Although J.W. had heralded this as a new walk it in fact was something of a "composite" of several walks over several years. 

We next crossed over the River Wyre by means of Cleveley Bridge only to drop immediately down to the opposite bank. The signpost hardly inspired confidence in the state of the footpath it offered. 

Such was the density of the woodland by the path. (Even as yet leafless) that although we were passing numerous small lakes we saw very little of them.

Here Danny leaves the footpath to climb a bank to get a more watery view.

As we walked we stopped quite frequently to admire the wildlife. A small group birds which Mike immediately identified as Nuthatches hopped and fluttered up the trunks of the trees by the side of the path. Over our heads a squirrel scampered along the branches before launching itself in a series of breathtaking leaps from tree to tree.

We left the woods and broke out into a sun filled field at the other side of which was the motorway.

Over which we were to pass.

They say Photos never lie.... 

This one does. it was extremely busy.... and NOISY !

Down the other side and heading to "Nan's Nook"  perhaps "Nicky's" spouse. 😃😃 Harry had not told us about this relationship.

Nan's Nook proved to be a large area of industrial storage and waste. Only a little further , however, and we came to Guy's Farm. This was an Activity Centre owned and run by the Guides (Girl ?) Association. The footpath, unusually, took us through their buildings.

Once through the passageway we came out into a field with a neat little building - B.B.Q. and Pizza Oven. The gentleman in charge was more than willing to allow us to have our sandwiches at the accompanying table. He asked "Did you always refer to them as a "bunch of old fellas" ?   "Only when we are being polite." we answered.

Lunch over we set off again across the fields first passing a small wooden sculpture....

Obviously a "Boot Camp."

….and soon arriving at a large and well situated caravan park.

Once out of the caravan park we had our first CLOSE encounter with a lake.

On the lake was an irritably, territorial swan which was intent on chasing the geese away from where it presumably wanted to nest.

Here is the said swan in aggressive mode. The geese have very sensibly fled the scene.

The path soon left the lake and re-entered the woodland. A deer proof fence kept the wildlife (deer, foxes ?) away from the managed and planted areas.

There was also a stile which we did not feel obliged to use.

The path now led us in an almost straight line to the "Zenith" of our walk - STREET BRIDGE

We paused briefly on the bridge to admire the small weir a little way upstream.

Once over the bridge we turned away from the road and started our journey back to Scorton. Immediately off the road was a small bridge over a stream. 

"Sheesh ! That bridge must be stronger than it looks."

Here mike acquired a walking stick (or LOG !)

With more lakes, now to our right, we crossed a field....

,

 …. and soon re-entered the ubiquitous woodland. As we entered the wood there was a naturally spectacular feature.

A fallen tree formed a sylvan bridge over the path.

It had fallen some years ago as this was not the first time we had walked under it.

The path wove it's way through the wood

 and fallen trees continued to dog our footsteps.

The path continued through the wood until we arrived at bridge beyond which steps led up a steep bank and once again into open fields.

Across a couple of fields and then through the narrow confines of a very "Private" and unashamedly expensive farm transformation.

With self propelled, woolly lawn mower !

After the farm we rejoined the tarmacked road back to Cleveley bridge where we again used the picnic benches to finish off our flasks and held a quite hilarious few minutes discussing  public statues in Preston (or the lack of them).

We were now retracing our steps back into Scorton, Once again guided by unusual  signage.

Here we see a couple of old ruins and then we passed  the "Blazing" bushes again.

and over the little bridge.

The news that day was full of global scientific excitement that a BLACK HOLE many billions of miles away had been photographed for the first time.
"Tish-Tosh"  What's so exciting ? We found one just next to the footpath.

So.… back to Scorton, the cars, Martin's shandy and Home. A lovely walk in delightful weather,

THE END

p.s. An apology. JW said that tree creepers crept DOWN trees and Nuthatches UP. 

Wrong ! On checking his bird books he discovered that Tree Creepers go up and nuthatches do either. 
Three Brownie points deducted