Meandanyhony's walk. Preston Crematorium - Grimsargh 7miles

On the coldest day of the year,but with a blue sky, with several layers of clothing on, we set off from the crematorium.

The first part of our walk was skirting the perimeter of the adjacent trading estate, along a path through trees and shrubbery. The path in places was good but in other parts it was a case of ducking and diving to avoid encroaching branches which grabbed hold of and tugged at our rucksacks, and seemed to have a penchant for woolly hats.

After crossing a couple of fields, we came to a large solar panel installation. Our path  had obviously been diverted went down the side of the perimeter fence

Anthony in silhouette. The Tun Brook, a tributary of the River Ribble, flows through a deep gulley, which we had to cross. The path down into and out of the gully was made much easier thanks to good, well constructed steps on either side.

We took advantage of the gulley to shelter from the cold wind while we stopped for a brew

After brew we crossed the bridge, up a flight of steps to cross another bridge. An excellent job, making this walk suitable for families and us oldies.

Two days earlier John W and I walked this way and found a dead heron which, I suggested may have flown into the overhead power lines, John thought it may have died from starvation due to it's food supply being inaccessible because of the ice. Whichever was the case, at least it's provided a source of food for other wildlife, as there is little left of it now.

The Graveyard of St Michael and St Mary Church Alston Lane. We arrived here in time for our dinners. The benches in the sun were very welcome. There is something very peaceful about a graveyard. We've made use of their facilities many times on our walks. 

Dinner over we crossed over Longridge Road to walk along a track/ public footpath directly across from the church. At the end of this track was a group of houses that appeared to have had their driveways remodeled. The public footpath on reaching these houses splits three ways, left, right and straight on, but there were no signs to be seen for any of these paths, or any diversion signs.

A car happened to come down the track and pulled into one of the driveways. I asked the driver where the path was, he asked where we were heading for, when I told him The Nature Reserve he let us through the gate into his private enclosure, where there was a small gate in the corner with a public footpath arrow on it. It would seem that these property owners do not want walkers with muddy boots treading on their new driveways.

Once passed the Nature Reserve we were able to get onto the route of the Old Longridge Railway Line

We followed the route as it crossed Longridge Road, then through the attractive walk until reaching the Railway Bridge, where the walk ends. Here we had to climb a ramp up to the road.  

Turning left towards Preston, passing the church and some new properties on the right, we were then able to cross a stile and make our way back to the railway embankment

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The Embankment gave way to a well made tarmac footpath which led to the Guild Wheel, which we followed back to the crematorium and our cars.

                                                                              DK