CHIPPING

 "BIN 'ERE BEFORE" an Old Favourite.

            8 Miles

Fans :- John W, Danny, Mike, Don, Anthony, Vic, Paddy.

(and Martin )

The car park in Chipping was bursting at the seams with groups of walkers eager to enjoy the magnificent area and the, for the moment, warm sunshine.

The largest group  (at least twenty) were members of the "Ramblers Association " from Manchester whose leader told us they had official permission to walk as a large group. 

They set off at a purposeful pace followed by our "measly" seven,   NO six, 'onest six,  at a rather more sedate amble.

From the very start walks around Chipping are a delight. Here we are dropping down to the defunct site of Berry's Chair Works.

The millpond above Berry's was almost duckless. Just three drakes. Pesumably the ducks were all at various "Maternity Units".

The road led us steadily and sometimes steeply towards the Bowland fells/

They were not to be our destination today even with such inviting stiles and alluring views beyond. 

Parlick can be seen rising majestically in the background.

Keep straight on was the leaders instruction. Ignore any sidetracks.

Many years ago as teenagers we we took up the challenge to scramble through this culvert. Today, as Septuagenarians -  NO THANKS !

Once beyond this gate the tarmac ended and became a track -- and a rather rough track at that.

This track drops us down to a small stream with possibly the most overbuilt stepping stones in Lancashire.

With the morning well advanced and a period of sunshine warming the banks we stopped here for coffee time.

Is Danny cooling his feet at the stepping stones ?

Coffee over,  a short but steep stretch of the track took us away from the stream.

The sun had disappeared to be replaced by a chilling breeze and a blast of hail and rain. As we crossed this stretch of moorland the deeply incised track was in places filled with water causing us to take to the grassy banks.

Soon after this the track turned right to drop steeply and even more "roughly" down to Lickhurst Farm.

Where this strongly worded notice was posted at the farm gate.

From the farmyard the road (now tarmacked) again dropped steeply to follow another stream down to the waterfall our arranged meeting point with Martin.

Sorry Mike but we are not going that way. Please come back.

Martin had already arrived and had had a little adventure of his own......... a small confrontation. eventually aimiable, with the farmer.

LUNCHTIME !

A small lime kiln offered rocky seating and shelter from the still chilly breeze.

There was some doubt as to the existence of a waterfall at this point 

but HERE IT IS !!!

The road now climbed away from the stream with  large open fields belonging to "Her Majesty"  on our left.

 
Should large swathes of  countryside be owned by "Absentee Landlords" ?

 I shall let our readers decide for themselves.

Also at this junction is what must be one of the most remote "Red Telephone Boxes" still operating as such.

This particular area is well known to several of our company.   In the dim and distant past they were members of the XVI Preston Scout Troop, and Higher  Greystoneley Farm was where we camped each Easter, Whitsun and Summer.

The old farmhouse and crumbling drystone walls of memory have gone and been replaced by a trio of  rather swish houses and well maintained garden walls.

They had quite rightly been built in the vernacular style using appropriately "Local " stone.

At this point we said "Goodbye" to Martin who walked back to his car to drive home.

From the new houses yet another rough track led us down to the stream

 Here many of the old trees had ben felled making the surrounds look bare and almost barren.

New trees had been planted though so it should soon regain it's "Sylvan" nature.

Past Lower Greystoneley farm. This too,  is now a rather expensive looking "residence".

It was just a few minutes now before we arrived at the small hill come quarry were we usually stop to finish our flasks. With the weather turning again to cold , blustery damp we were glad to shelter in another ( this time well preserved ) lime kiln.

Limekilns, built in the 1800s, are dotted around this area making use of the small hillocks of Limestone to produce quicklime  and then slaked lime for building and agricultural purposes. Millions of years ago these were coral reefs in tropical seas. How things have changed !

As we walked back towards Chipping Longridge Fell was prominent on the horizon. May I bore you with two Longridge Fell "facts" .

1. As his army marched towards the Battle of Preston Oliver Cromwell is rumoured to have said "That's a long ridge"

2. Longridge Fell is the most southerly fell in the country. No hills bear the title "Fell" anywhere south of this.

As we passed the entrance to Leagram Hall, we left the road to walk through a short stretch of woodland.

It was rather damp in places

......and the bluebells were quite a sight.

Bluebells were not the only springtime flowers on show during our walk.

Banks full of primroses

Uncertain but best guess "Cuckooflower"

White Dead Nettle.

Wild Garlic

Sheep too came in a variety of breeds. All adding to the interest of our walk.

Identifying them is difficult for non-farmers as many are similar and many are crossbred,..but........

Rough Fell ? Dalesbred ?

Black Welsh Mountain ?

North Country Cheviot ???

All of  the above could be well off the mark.

And we musn't forget the cows  who came out of a gate as we arrived in Chipping and chased us down the road as  they went off to be milked.

So back to the now almost deserted car park,  Danny's wife Barbara had baked a Birthday cake for Danny to share with us all. Thank you and a late Happy Birthday.

THE END

JW