The Meanderthals: SCORTON

GO BEFORE - GUBBERFORD 5+ Miles

Walkers :- Anthony, Vic, Mike, John W

and Martin, Dave.

After turning right as we reached Cabus, north of Garstang . we followed the road, Gubberford Lane. till it crossed the river Wyre where we immediately turned right and parked a short distance down this lane. An unusual name we pondered until our smart phones told us it was a colloquial corruption of "Go before".

Leaving the cars we carried on down the lane towards Woodacre Hall. As the road took a sharp right turn we left it to pass through a small industrial yard and cross over the West Coast Mainline railway line,

As we had walked down the lane Mike had regaled us with tales of camping in the surrounding fields as a young teenager.

Once over the railway we dropped down to the Elysian fields of Mikes youth. Memories of joyous times "Messing about in the river". There is, perhaps a certain "Melancholy" about childhood memories of times gone forever. Perhaps best summed up by A E Housman's poem.

Those Blue Remembered Hills

Into my heart an air that kills.

From yon fair country blows

What are those blue remembered hills.

What spires what farms are those.

That is the land of lost content

I see it shining plain

The happy highways where I went

and cannot come again

Fortunately Elysium was not at that time spoiled by the rattling thunder of trains and the equally loud roar of traffic on the M6 between which we were sandwiched. Conversation was at times impossible.

Over the motorway and down to a bridge leading into the fields.

as we walked across the fields the roar of the Motorway gradually diminished.

Ahead of us was a wood and once again a tree, though fallen and "Vanquished", was still totally magnificent.

The wood ( a private one) contained numerous fallen trees. One such tree provided seating for coffee time.

As we walked on through the wood Vic pondered the lack of berries on the holly bushes ( It is Midsummer ! ) but then he found one.

Out of the wood and across the fields again with a much reduced roar from the now more distant motorway on our left.

As we walked through the fields we passed a very handsome renovated house. Some people have money it would seem.

Out of the fields and on to Tithe Barn lane which led steeply but briefly up to Higher Lane.

This was an an extraordinarily picturesque road.

Earlier in our walk we had discussed Hydrangeas and whether it was acid or alkali which made them blue. Once again our smart phones came to our aid and told us it was acid soil which made them blue
SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE ? RED, PURPLE, PINK, BLUE and WHITE

Higher lane led us to Snowhill Lane which in turn took us down to Scorton village.

Nicky Nook remains ever popular and as we walked down to the village a steady stream of walkers passed us going towards or away from the fell.

Nearing Scorton we passed a sort of decorated garden where two young ladies told us how they led " Educational walks" around their four acre garden and during the summer presented entertainments for children.

We also passed a charming "Mother and child" woodland picnic. They happily gave us permission to photograph them,

.........and a "Floral Bike.

As we entered the village there were Martin and Dave come to "Dine" with us and accompany us on the last part of our walk.

Lots of lunchtime seating near the children's play area.

WHO'S FOR LUNCH ??

But what's this ? The Three Wise Men. Hardly ! More the Three Why's Men.

Why is martin sitting in the rain with his coat unfastened ?

Why is Dave pretending to be a teenage boy ?

Why is John pretending to be Captain Birdseye ?

Actually it's a "Wobbly" Knees contest.

Food finished we set off down the road (Gubberford again) to the finish of today's walk. Most of it along a well maintained footpath between the river and the road.