COPSTER GREEN

OLD WALK - NEW BRIDGE 5+ Miles

WALKERS :- Martin, Dave, Anthony, Paddy
                       Danny,  Vic, James,  John W. 


Did Richard III have waterproofs when he was looking for his Horse ?

He seems to have joined us on todays walk !

We had parked on a small "Lay by" alongside the green at Copster Green after coming up "Lovely Hall Lane", . Could there be a better start. Well....yes actually,  as it started to rain as we stepped out of the cars.

No matter, we were soon on our way and after crossing the busy A59 we followed a pretty lane down and into the countryside.

Vic, ever nosey, investigates the dark interior of a barn. Is James being led astray ?

With the long grass in the fields thoroughly wet and a "dreek" drizzle filling the air, we were feeling decidedly damp by the time we stopped for coffee.

We were not alone in those damp fields as across the fields came a brightly coloured group of fellow (sister ?) walkers.

"They're BEHIND you !"

They turned out to a group of Asian girls (and a boy) doing their "Duke of Edinburgh's" expedition. Being fitter and younger they soon overtook us and plodded on. Each bearing a map and hoping to follow it.

Across another sodden grass field passing an almost picture book  pond

 before a stile took us into yet another herbaceously aquatic field.

The long grass does not appear to have bothered  Richard III - still with us.

Another stile...…….

…..and another....

….another !.... this is getting silly.

But the Lord be praised !   We had reached a road and were to leave stiles behind for some time. 

Across the road was a small car  park and a steep path which led us down to the River Ribble close to the "Sale Wheel" a bend in the river .

 Here was a large pool in which the turgid water circled slowly before escaping to flow onwards to the distant sea.

Our friends the D of E group where taking a break here so we quickly passed by and continued upstream towards Dinckley.

A large tree had fallen quite fortuitously parallel to the path. Such fallen trees seem to give passers by an irresistible urge to give them money. This "Log" was no exception.

The path twisted it's way along quite high banks giving occasional views of the tumbling river.

There  seem to have been storms since our last visit and fallen trees abounded. This one right across the path.

After surmounting several such obstacles we continued through this picturesque wood  (Marles Wood) and were once again overtaken by the enthusiastic group of girls.

Before leaving the wood we came across one of the local Super-heroes...…. "CAPEMAN" .

As we left the wood a kissing gate caused a queue and we temporarily caught up the the D of E bunch.

Once clear of the woods we were once again in grassland but from here the grass was short and nowhere near as wetting as the previous ones. 

With views of the river opening before us it seemed an appropriate time for us to take lunch...… BUT WHO IS THAT WITH US ?

RICHARD III... CAPEMAN... or yet another mysterious figure ?

Meanwhile the clouds began to clear. Blue patches appeared and a warm sun smiled down from the sky.

With a welcome sun shining from an increasingly blue sky waterproofs were discarded and we set off to view the new Dinckley Bridge.

And there it is in the distance. 

We were soon there and climbed onto it to take a closer look at this replacement for the old bridge which was so much more fun. (it was a suspension bridge which bounced up and down as you walked across it.)

Oh look !   Danny has joined us at last.

Come back Dave. We're not going that way.

Our way now lay along the river bank but only for a short distance till we reached the complex of buildings that constituted Dinckley Hall.

Oh, That reminds me.....Of what ?...… Er...Dunno.

The Hall was guarded by "Private" notices which kept the peasants at bay. (Money speaks ! ) It certainly looked superb from a distance.

The old Hall was now only a small part of a large group of buildings most much more modern. With close perusal banned we had to content ourselves with photographing a Monkey Puzzle Tree...……

……..or a part of it complete with monkey.

The road climbed away from the hall and took us past a building we had come across before.The last time we passed it a voice from the wall (loudspeaker) told us not to walk on the lawn. The "LAWN" was this patch of grass in the middle of the track.

"I can see you Vic. Get off that lawn immediately !

It was "Road Work" for the next mile or so passing, as we walked, some very desirable residences. (We've done it again ! We really must plan a walk in some less affluent places)

We now came to a junction we were informed that a new bridge was being constructed but as Vic Is fond of saying "Yeah. We know that."

Across the junction and back into the fields again

Passing yet another flock of sheep

and tree of the week perhaps ?

One more stile...…..

…..and it was time for our "Flask finishing" coffee break.

We sat by a delightful little stream which appeared to have been visited by May procession "Strewers".

But no . Delightful white flowers were growing all along it. "Pond Water Crowfoot" seems an unkind name for such a upliftingly pretty plant.

and there was a BRIDGE !!!

Just a final tramp back to the cars and Martin's shandy and possibly a "comfort" break 😀

THE END

Todays blog brought to you by the "Hirsute Human Co."

Cast in order of "daftness".

Richard III.....Danny Kirby

Capeman…..Danny Kirby

Mysterious stranger at lunch...… Danny Kirby

D.of.E group...… Blackburn girls sextet (+1)

Sheep..... Ewe Woollies co.

all other parts played by the "Meanderthals AmDramSoc."