Meandanthony Walk Walton -Le -Dale 6.5 miles

Our walk started from St Patricks R C Church in Walton -Le -Dale. Heading east, we soon came across this old milestone built into the wall

A little further on, these grotesque gargoyles adorned the gateposts of a house. H'm, each to their own. Actually I quite like them.

I don't think I've ever seen heather come into colour quit as early as this. Blooming heck!

                  The memorials to the famous contralto, born in the mill village in 1912.

As we walked along the lane alongside the River Darwin towards Banister Hall Mill listening to the birds singing. The peace of the morning was violated by that dot in the sky.

                                         Why do helicopters make so much noise?

                      A lovely display of snowdrops in this garden on Potter Lane

During my school days, I often used to go to Red Rocks with my mates. The said Red Rocks were a succession of waterfalls in the River Darwen. The rocks were very slippy and perhaps it was for that reason they are no longer there. The rocks were very soft and were covered with peoples initials and love hearts. Does anyone else remember them?

Further along Potter Lane, a footpath / drive on the left leads to a large gas installation. From here, after crossing a well constructed stile, and crossing a couple of fields, we came to Cuerdale Lane. 

Crossing the motorway bridge, after a few hundred yards, we turned right, down a farm track towards Cuerdale Hall.

                Part way down the lane, an ideal spot for our dinner presented itself.

Cuerdale Hall on the south bank of the RiverRibble. It was near here that in 1840 The Cuerdale Hoard was found. According to an article on Google, it was the largest Viking Treasure Trove found outside of Russia.

                The rickety condition of this stile, made the crossing of it a bit wabbly.

The former Horrockses Cotton Mill on New Hall Lane in Preston, dominates the skyline on the other side of the river. St Mary's church is just to the left of it.

                        Looking west, the church tower of St Leonards, top centre

Climbing back up to Cuerdale Lane the pleasant position of this seat, tempted us to stop for a brew. This gentleman who happened to be on a walk himself, stopped for a chat. A seasoned walker himself, by his own account, like us, he knows how to get lost, and finishing up walking much further than intended. On one occasion 21 miles he said.

         St Leonards School looks like it may well have been built from the local red rock.

The church of St Leonard. In the tower is an inscription. "This is the body of Samuel Brook, who was killed on his way to The Assizes". Obviously someone took the law into their own hands. Extract from Towns and Villages of Britain. Lancashire.

The path leading out of the graveyard leads down to St Patricks, in the background. It was not uncommon for Roman Catholics to be buried in Church of England cemeteries in the past, before the municipal cemeteries were opened.

Down at the bottom of Church Brow, this tiny house, looks like it may have been squeezed in as an afterthought.

A detour up Chorley Rd, and around the perimeter of the Holland House estate led to a path through the woods and down to the River Darwen again.......

                  ....... and thence to a footbridge back to the Old Blackburn Road.

Along the frontage of St Patricks primary school were these novel Stations Of The Cross.

                               Thanks for an interesting walk Anthony and Michael.                                                                                                     D K