Claughton and Brock Bottoms 8.5 miles Walkers Anthony. Vic. Paddy, Mike H. Mick K and Danny

All kitted up and ready to embark on this weeks adventure. Starting from the car park at Barton Grange garden centre we are on our way

After crossing the A6 we passed through the used car lot beside the railway footbridge, where one or two high end cars were on sale.

Crossing the footbridge took us onto a path running alongside the River Brock.

The gentle sound of the river was disturbed by the noise of the M6 motorway passing over it.

After crossing a footbridge over the river, we made our way along a private road to the inaptly named New Bridge, which has been there since Adam were a lad. This is our usual place to stop for a brew when passing this way, and so it was today.

Crossing over the road we continued following the river along a path beside some (well out of our price range houses), but where the owners had taken pride in keeping the path well maintained.

As we passed the wheatfield in the background, the crop looked like it was ready for harvesting, but the growth was looking stunted. The farmers on this occasion had obviously not been crying wolf 

On reaching Walmsley Bridge we crossed the metal stile and turned left crossing the bridge and on up Walmsley Bridge Road, passing this well known natural feature.

A short distance along the lane brought us to a stile on the left. Crossing the stile we entered a boggy field devoid of any livestock, but with ample evidence that they had been there. Not I may add due to an abundance of cow pats, but by the deep depressions in the soft ground, which made progress rather slow. After crossing another stile and another field, we arrived at May Lane. Turning right then immediately left took us onto Smithy lane which led to to St Mary's RC Primary School.

A couple of hundred yards past the school, on the right is the well kept church graveyard, and our dinner venue. 

Retracing our steps, we passed the school and continued straight ahead on a footpath which brought us out further down May Lane.

We continued along May Lane until we reached a bend in the road with two mirrors on a post, at which point we turned right along a farm track.

The track, as it neared a farmhouse turned left and entered a wood (Bannister Hey Wood). Carrying on along the path we crossed a footbridge. After crossing the bridge the footpath split. We took the path to the right, but right was wrong. 

We had to backtrack and follow the other one, which broadened out into a long uphill stony path out of the valley

At the end, nay, top of the path, we turned right onto Stana Lee Lane.

First right was Walmsley Bridge Lane. We arrived at the bridge from the opposite direction from the way we had set of down it earlier in our walk. We rested here and had a last swig from our flasks, before heading back to Barton Grange along the same route as we had travelled at the start of our walk.

                       Thanks Anthony for a very enjoyable walk.