Lytham Hall 5.5 miles. 50ft of ascent --6.5 miles Walkers Paddy, Jim C, Anthony, Vic, Mick K, Mike H, Danny and Martin.

We parked up on Ribchester Road, our usual starting point when visiting Lytham Hall. The numbers were up compared to recent walks. We set off for Green Drive, a pedestrianised road through a narrow patch of woodland, very popular with well behaved dog owners.

As we entered Green Drive we came across what appeared to be a HMO, but what creatures were living there?

A bit further along the drive we came across a large tree on which several large fungi had set up home.

At the end of Green Drive we crossed Ballam Road and continued along, what on the O.S map, is the continuation of Green Drive, but someone has renamed it. This is not the usual way we go when visiting Lytham Hall but we wanted to have a change, and the map clearly shows this road as a back entrance to the Hall. As can be seen from the photo, some of the more rebellious among us had already decided that there was safety in numbers, and set off along the road, leaving the more timid among us to catch up.

Being rather shorter in stature. some would say, being a shrimp, I am unable to tell you what was attracting the taller peoples attention.

As we walked along the drive, we passed more notices, re-enforcing the private status of the lane. These notices only refer to motor vehicles we reassured each other.

                         Onward, onward walked the intrepid (stupid) eight.

                                                              Hello!  What's this?

This is the very private looking entrance to Home Farm. The fenced off field on the right through the entrance, was inhabited by several horses, and they were clearly not cart horses. If those horses had a mind to escape, a much higher fence than that one would be needed.

But!! The expensive looking gates were open. Clearly the owners welcome visitors, so on we went. Throwing caution to the wind, we figured that no one would turn back a group of old men. Continuing on, some more eager than others, we passed a number of buildings, which didn't in any way resemble farm buildings. The leading group arrived at a junction where the main road turned off to the right. Beside this junction, on top of a post was a security camera. The road leading off to the right was not the way we wanted to go, we wanted to carry on straight ahead through the wooden gate with a padlock on. Looking back the way we had come, the rest of our group were wavering, or perhaps hovering would be a better description, as they didn't seem to be getting any closer. Mike, Vic and myself had decided we were not going to turn back now, and like those horses it would need a much higher gate than that one to keep us in, if we had a mind to escape. The rest of the group were still standing their ground in the distance. I rang Anthony and told him what the situation was, I could hear murmurings of a discussion over the phone, eventually Anthony came back on to say that they had decided to go back, so we arranged to meet them at the Hall. The security camera we observed was not pointing in our direction, so over the gate we went, whilst listening for the breaking of a twig from the woodland on the other side. Once on the other side it became apparent by the approach of dog walkers that we were in the Hall grounds.

                      Before long the magnificent Georgian Hall came into view.

As we entered the ornamental garden and were admiring the statue, a lady came over and told us that the statue was new, it hadn't been there long.

It may be new to its present setting, but new, it was not. The lady has had a repair to her right foot and the deer's front feet are missing.

                        We decided to have a brew while we waited for the others to arrive.

Seeing a hill (The Mount ), it proved irresistible, so up we went. It is a man made mound, made from the spoils, when they dug out the lake in the dim and distant past.

                   

The flower boarder that is tended by volunteers is beautiful.

         

Outside the cafe lots of flowers are on sale. We had our dinner at one of the many picnic benches where the rest of the group, after their long detour joined us, except for Mick who had decided to call it a day and went home.

After dinner we headed for the coast. Anthony had found a shorter route than we usually take,on his app. Leaving the grounds of the Hall, we crossed Forest Drive and keeping the pub to our left, we entered a housing estate comprising many well maintained bungalows and gardens, before turning left along a passageway that crossed the railway line. The path continued, passing between some very expensive looking houses.

         At the end of the drive at its junction with Church Road, is this authoritarian sign.

           From the end of the drive it was a direct route straight ahead to the promenade.

The tide was in but there was a light mist over the estuary, obscuring the view across to Banks and Hesketh Bank.

All that remained was the Hike along the promenade, stopping off along the way to finish our flasks.

The differing mileages shown on the blog heading, refers to the group who climbed over the gate, and the group who retraced there steps. The 50ft of ascent refers to the mount 😜.                                                                                   DK