LEYLAND - MOSS SIDE

WHAT PRICE PARADISE ? 4.5 Miles

Walkers :-  Martin & John W

"WHAT PRICE PARADISE"  Let me explain. Your writer was looking for a new walk on his computer (Ordnance Survey App. ) Two of his grandchildren - Ingrid (10) and Erik (7) said " We'll plan you a walk Grandad".  and so they did (with help from Mum (?? )  ).  Their surname is PRICE and their planned walk would take us to PARADISE PARK.    So... there you are.

Martin and John set off from Slater Lane.

and after crossing Schleswig Way entered the River Lostock linear park.

At this point the sky was a vivid, brilliant blue -  "Sky blue"   in fact though there was a bitterly cold breeze blowing. 

Perhaps ten to fifteen minutes later we came to Dunkirk Lane,

Quite close to the well known Dunkirk Hall pub/restaurant. Note the paucity of traffic.

Across Dunkirk Lane. and back along the Lostock linear park. At this point a bridge took part of the path away across the river and the signage seemed to indicate that this was the route of the "Leyland Loop" which does for Leyland what the "Guild Wheel" does for Preston.  i e.   A circular cycleway and footpath around the town.

The morning was well advanced and as a path-side bench hove into sight we decided to stop for our coffee break.

Thirsts assuaged we set off once more only to discover, just a little further on, a "Sunkissed Beach" on the banks of the River Lostock . Would you credit such a thing in wintery Leyland.

It is rare to finish a walk without being greeted by one of nature's little friends. This walk was no exception. on a tree, to the side of the path, we spotted a very rare specimen indeed. 

A most exciting sighting of a member of the "Largencia Plastica Papillionia"

or "Large Plastic Butterfly". What a thrill ! 😲Must make a note for the next Naturalist meeting.

A little further along the path split into two. Which way to go ?  We went left ,though in the end it didn't matter as the both led to the same exit onto "Longmeanygate

Once back on the highway another left turn took us to a large roundabout on Schleswig Way. "Bobby's Roundabout"......... Who's Bobby ?

Here he is .

JW is always amazed by this sculpture and the artist who cut all the plates of steel and fitted them together to make this wonderful animal.

Across Schleswig Way again and back into the wooded footpaths.

Now we were walking between the highway and a large industrial estate.

Throughout the day the temperature never rose above freezing so mud was never a problem as it was all frozen hard.

Our arrival at the point on the map which was the apogee of our walk and lunchtime coincided.  So once we were in Paradise Park we looked for a dining spot.

There was still a chill breeze blowing so a sheltered spot was sought......... and found.

Next to a frozen pond in a sheltered dip with lots of seating . Fantastic.

The writer's daughter (Cheeky so and so) warned us that there was a hill in the park that we old fellas might find challenging,

Here it is.........

We manfully rose to the challenge............ so Yaboo !

Paradise proved difficult to leave (who would want to ?) the paths were confusing and there was a multitude of exits. Which one did we need to take. Eventually we  found an exit which allowed us to make our way once again to Dunkirk Lane.

Across this road then wending our way through a maze of modern housing looking for "Nixons Wood.   We found a "Wooden Pig ????"

" Found Nixon Wood. It's down here " says John

The woods had recently been thinned and pruned and the branches had been used to line the footpaths.

And look !  Good omens for better times ahead.

The path through the woods would soon take us back to Slater Lane and the cars but not quite yet,

It seems, however, that horses can't read.

Or perhaps they can.........

Almost home now just one more point of interest. A pond with it's own solar powered pump to keep it topped up. Wow !

Looking at our route on the map it seems we had entirely circumscribed the area west of Leyland known as Moss Side.

THE END

Thank you walk planners Erik, Ingrid and their Mum.