Meandanthonys Walk. Capitol Centre, Frenchwood and Avenham 5.5 miles.

After parking up at the Capitol Centre in Walton-Le-Dale we set off along Victoria Road towards Preston. After crossing the bridge over the river, we turned left along The Boulevard. When Danny was a lad their used to be an ice cream and snacks kiosk on the opposite side of the road. Shortly after the kiosk there was a narrow track that led uphill to Frenchwood. It was known to us kids as Plum Pudding Hill. (Yes another Plum Pudding Hill), but alas the track has now been blocked off. We continued on, turning off The Boulevard towards Christ The King high school. Close by is another narrow path that snakes it's way up between some allotments, exiting on Southern Parade. This is the view looking back down the path.

           Cable House. Virgin Media's local H Q, on the corner of Frenchwood Knoll.

    There couldn't be a better place for an uninterrupted open aspect for the satellite dishes.

                        The entrance to the small nature reserve on Frenchwood Knoll.

                                  These are the only wildlife we saw today though.

                                                                         And these.

Coming out of the Knoll. we arrive at the river. The bridge ahead is part of todays walk, but first we have other stops to make.

Heading back uphill into Avenham Park we come to the Belvedere with the white facade of the Italianate Avenham Tower behind and above it. Anthony recalls, in his youth, there was a ships mast in front of the Belvedere. It was salvaged from one of Nelson's ships, the HMS Foudroyant, which came to grief in a violent storm of Blackpool.

                  Morning brew enjoying the lovely view down the valley to the river.

             No visit to Avenham Park is complete without visiting the Japanese Gardens.

                            About to cross the disused Combination railway bridge.

                            Over to the right Is the main line bridge north and south.

Over to the left is the Old Tram Bridge, only used as a footbridge, but now closed to the public for safety reasons, and with no firm plans in place to carry out repairs to this much loved bridge.

After crossing the Combination bridge, a few hundred yards further on, the path is watched over by these sinister looking individuals. On a dark night with perhaps a low lying mist, anyone unfamiliar with this art work could get quite a scare

A frequent dinner venue for us,when roaming these parts, is to take shelter under the pavilion of the bowling club on Factory Lane. Today however, with the sun shining, we opted to sit out in the open on one of the benches. 

The afternoon saw us making our way towards Lostock Hall, then through Walton Park Nature Reserve.

     Some alpine rockery plants, eager to show off their flowers at the firs signs of spring.

                                  The bridge over the River Darwen.

The River Darwen, having negotiated several weirs, waterfalls and rapids on it's journey down from the hills and moors of East Lancashire. has lost it's youthful vigour as it flows  gently into the River Ribble at Walton. We also have reached the end of our walk and are likewise moving along very sedately back to our cars.                                                                                                                                         DK