CLITHEROE

 JOHN'S "BLOODY" LATE START ! 4.5 Miles

Patient Participants :- Danny, Vic, Martin, Mike

                                       Anthony. Jim, James ... John.

After driving to the wrong bridge (Brungerley) John and his passengers arrived late whereupon John cut his finger and needed medical attention ( a plaster) from his companions, Eventually we set off..............

After parking opposite the sports centre near Edisford Bridge we walked past the Tennis club and followed a footpath between the river and houses at the edge of the town.

On the fence of one of the houses was a, by now, rather tattered tribute to Capt. Tom.

Not long into the walk we arrived  at this  rather substantial bridge over the River

Here Jim plays the part of Roman hero Horatius who bravely defended a bridge against an overwhelming Etruscan army.  Do not turn your back Jim. One of Horatius's many wounds was a spear in the buttocks ........ Ouch !

We were not to cross thus bridge and soon the path by the river ended at these houses and we had to climb up through an older and rather attractive part of Clitheroe.

This bold, proud cockerel was the first of many sculptures and models we encountered during the day.

"Hey Robin. Wasn't there supposed to be a big heron here to help us ? "

"There certainly was Bluey. We'll need a bit of "Muscle" if we're supposed to keep people out of this road,"

"We're just bantams we don't live down a posh, exclusive road."

No. They lived in a rather random, unkempt allotment style area as we left the suburbs of the town.

Along with horses and some rather noisy braying donkeys.

Ahead of us we could now see the famous (or perhaps "Infamous") Clitheroe cement works.

Out onto fields as we left the jumble of sheds and compounds.

Across the river we glimpsed Waddow Hall the headquarters of the "Guides" Association.

We turned away from the path which led directly to Brungerley bridge and followed a footpath towards a new housing development on the edge of the town. Here a pile driver was booming out it's strikes across the fields whilst over the town the castle kept watch.

We soon reached the road and turned left towards the bridge but only a short distance along we crossed the road to enter the Brungerley Sculpture Park.

Once again we had drifted past our usual coffee time and as it was now noon our leader decided we should take lunch here.

On leaving the park this sculpture assailed our eyes. It was apparently a pot of porridge boiling over !  Who, however, would add snails to their porridge ?

Out of the sculpture park and a left turn had us plodding gently uphill towards the centre of Clitheroe.

At our age we all need a men's room 😰

On to the high street and up towards the castle.

Oh dear. We don't want to get involved in the European "Sausage Wars".

Into the park and up to the Castle. As we entered JW nearly "Lost It" when a notice at the bottom of the drive informed us that the Museum was open but the CAFE WAS CLOSED !   AAaaaargh !

 

The men of the North Country 

I saw them for a day

Their hearts are set on the waste fells

Their skies are fast and grey

From their castle walls a man may see

The Mountains far away

An extract from "The South Country" by Hilaire Belloc

Here are two men of the North Country looking at the far away Pendle which is technically just a whisker away from being a "Mountain".

A short climb up to the Castle's Keep allowed these shots of our friends down below us.

Then back down from the keep to take this shot of faraway Longridge Fell (left)  Parlick Pike (right) and if you look closely, Beacon Fell just peeping over the lower slopes of Longridge fell .

and there's James still up at the keep.

Well Well   Flanagan and Allen perhaps !

A panoramic shot of the Bowland Fells. Not, as it looks, a ridge but a plateau reaching up as far as Lancaster

An arrow slot in the castle walls grimly brought to mind the day's news of five people in Norway being murdered by a man with a bow and arrows,

Anthony doesn't seem to think much of the stone trough.

How did this get here ? it's a turret (spire ) from the houses of Parliament .

(You should have read the information boards John ..   yes . you're right I should. )

"Wow ! Look out "

It's OK  . Its just a work of art. Rather realistic though.

Another work of art.....No. Not the one in green...though both are a bit "Fishy" 

Leaving the castle behind we made our way through the park back into the town in search of a cafe.

And we found one... here we are waiting for............

.......One Black Tea......two Americanos + milk  ...... and four Cappuccinos

All that was left now was a short tramp through the side streets back to the car park at Edisford Bridge

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this gnome inhabited front garden of a terraced house.

Then over the rail lines and back to the cars.  A good walk with lots of variety Well done Anthony.

THE END 

JW

As you read through the blog did you spot the hero ?  No ?   Well there is definitely one in Clitheroe.