WHALLEY - WISWELL

 UP UP and AWAY !  7 Miles

WALKERS  :- Anthony, Danny, Paddy, Vic, John W.

"Meet in the car park in Spring Wood half a mile outside Whalley." said Anthony today's leader. So we did.

Just as in most public parks there were many paths to take. Each one offering the prospect of a wonderful sunny day ahead.

But as is our wont we missed the first stile and had to clamber, with difficulty, over a fence.

With the sun shining and the damp grass sparkling a lush green we angled  uphill towards a stile on the horizon. The path was not obvious and with subtle changes indirection every so  often we arrived at our goal - a hill top with views.

With 11 0'clock approaching we decided to take a break a  earlier than usual and parked ourselves a little distance below a ruined building.

Anthony is comfortably seated on his recently purchased collapsible stool whilst Vic, who was impressed with Anthony's stool and bought one himself, struggles to sort it out.

Coffee break over we continued onwards and UPWARDS ! It wasn't long before we left the fields and took to a small country lane. although small it was busy and we had to decide that we would ALL move to the SAME side of the road when a vehicle approached.

After about twenty minutes of "Car Dodging" we left the road to once again climb UPHILL (quite steeply) to pass a large quarry.

Just as we started the climb a little friend gave us a cheery wave (with it's tail) before disappearing into the bushes.

At the top of the hill with the quarry beyond us.

From this point it was downhill all the way - well nearly all the way ! As we descended the hill we passed a large stone with a small hollow scooped out in the middle. This reminded us of the "Plague Stones" where people left money in a pool of vinegar to pay for goods (food) left here so that there was no contact between communities. Eyam village in Derbyshire being the prime example. In our Corona Virus times it was a little  DEJA VUE !

Evenly spaced slots around the edge of the stone indicated that some form of structure had once been fixed over over it.

And so, steeply down. Almost as difficult as climbing up.

Once past this prosperous farmhouse/residence the road led steeply down to the equally prosperous village of Wiswell.  LUNCHTIME !

This multiple award winning village held one or two mysteries.

What did the words on this overdoor window signify ?

The Freemasons (I thought) helped each other towards prosperity. This fellow looks to need a lot of help.

Leaving Wiswell we once again took to the fields. It was at this point we began to think that in recent years all the stiles had grown bigger and more difficult to surmount. Perhaps it wasn't the stiles but what else could it possibly be ?

Back to the fields with the Bowland fells in the far distance.

Your writer being proved a liar as he tackles a perfectly acceptable stile.

Everywhere we go there seems to be new housing being built. Green spaces are being gobbled up. BUT  we need houses. Not sure thay all need to be very expensive. exclusive, executive houses though.

Through a few more fields and we arrive at our next stile beyond which was the railway line.

Our delusional group wished to emulate the BEATLES on Abbey Road.   Oh Dear !  That is not a Zebra crossing dear friends and beetles come in many forms - Ladybirds, glow worms, dung beetles, cockroaches - take your pick.

Soon after we crossed the railway lines we arrived at a road which took us over a bridge bearing a blue plaque.

Leaving the road we crossed a large field full of horses and cows (with Calves !) fortunately after an initial interest they chose to ignore us. Over a bridge (Danny takes a "Bridge Photo)

We next arrived at the Whalley bypass a VERY busy road. The footpath we wanted to take had, to our consternation, simply disappeared. This obliged us to walk along the bypass where pantechnicons like awesome behemoths thundered past. It was rather scary.

After about half a mile we crossed over the road (not easy as traffic roared past.) and dropped down to a road leading into Whalley. As we approached Whalley centre a  bench offered seating for our final emptying of flasks . The bench was outside a care home. Rather appropriate really. 

Once into Whalley we took a broad but rather scruffy pathway leading up towards Spring Wood. This took us underneath the dual carriageway which passed the park.

Immediately after the bridge a kissing gate took us into Spring Wood and just a couple of minutes after we arrived at the cars. An excellent if rather long and tiring walk. Well done leaders.

p.s. Whilst looking in my bookcases for something "light" to read I came across this classic. I have NEVER read it. Tried several times but it does not "Do it" for me. The humour, if it is humorous, passes me by entirely. Perhaps I don't have the intellect to connect with it. I thought however that at least one of the Meanderthals might find it a good read. Do let me know if you would like to borrow it.

THE END

JW