FULWOOD/INGOL

 READY...STEADY...WAIT !  5.5 Miles

CAMEREROS :-  Danny, Anthony, Dave, John                                                      Mike,  Jim C,  Vic,    Martin

Confusion over parking directions meant that it was 10.30 before we began today's walk which initially took us from the bottom of Belton hill up through deepest suburbia.

Careless photography meant that our walkers were being shadowed by a menacing figure. (Well.... me actually)

We soon joined the busy road which would lead us to Preston's premier rugby club.... Preston Grasshoppers..... "THE HOPPERS".  (It was the fact that Lightfoot Lane seemed to have TWO if not THREE separate parts that had caused confusion to one driver  who was unfamiliar with the area.)

Leaving the main road we turned into Lightfoot Green Lane to walk past the "Hoppers" club house. We soon came to a left turn down a narrow lane ( Sandyforth) just before the road rose over the M55 Motorway.

Although some of us were some distance behind.

"Deepest Suburbia" , just like Jack's beanstalk just keeps growing with new developments in all the fringes of Preston.

A short stop to consider our progress and decide about coffee/lunch break. Shadow man there AGAIN.

A delightfully neat little bungalow with a scintillatingly  imaginative name.  "The BUNGALOW "

Once again we were back on yet another part of Lightfoot Lane.  The building of a new road "Tom Benson Way " is the cause of this mish mash of the original roads.

"THE BUNGALOW"   (to be fair it looked as if this might have been the only bungalow in the road when it was built.)

In our younger (much younger) days Nog Tow was a far flung rural hamlet we would bravely venture to on our bikes. Not any more. Suburbia is rapidly overwhelming it.

We were now looking for a lunch spot

With our late start we had suddenly realised that coffee time was long gone and we would have to combine coffee time with lunchtime.

Seating areas were at a premium but we eventually found one just across Tag Lane (?) sandwiched between a child's play area and a large pond. 

Something seems to have startled Danny. Is it the possibility that Martin is about to stick his sandwich up his nose.

Here we sat or leaned to eat our butties . Although we are not teenagers we never the less can often be seen checking our phones which have become an essential part of our lives. Especially on walks when we are confused. (That's most walks !) Map apps on phones have possibly made our GPS systems redundant.

The gently warming sun and the restful seating look to be having a soporific effect on Mike.  I hope he doesn't leave anything behind but  packs everything into his rucksack when  we set off.

Time to move on.

Hello.....   Danny has left the group and is going back. Why ?   We shall have to WAIT for him. One of our group, no names mentioned but remember the warm sun and comfortable seating, has left a glove behind and had turned back to look for it. We will have to WAIT for them both.

All together again we crossed another busy road and passed through the crowded car park of the "Ancient Oak " pub. No cars but dozens of benches just a fraction of which are in the photo.

A sturdy bridge led us out of the pub's car park.

All of today's walkers are there including the photographer who's diet seems to be working as again  he is only a shadow of his former self.

By now we were heading back towards our starting point and about to go under Tom Benson Way.

The Victorians left us a legacy of beautiful town parks. Our generation's contribution to this tradition are the numerous footpaths and cycleways both inside and outside the urbanised areas.

A Bush ? A hedge ? A Defence ?   Which ever , it is certainly a lovely sight.

Cotoneaster or Pyrocantha ?  Writer leaning towards a cotoneaster. what do you think ?

 

Oh look  !  Someone's lost a single black glove. I don't think that our walker would wear a glove with furry cuffs though.

Past Wychnor now and following Walker Lane towards Boys Lane.

Just at the bottom of a steep hill (the only one of the day) we turned left to follow a narrow pathway leading to a linear park following Sharoe Brook.

Only a short distance along the path we spotted a log pile which positively begged to be sat upon.  Time to finish our flasks off.

The footpath looked well used and seemed popular with dog walkers.

A bit of a conflab at this point.  Which way ? "Through the tunnel " said our confident leader.

"Hey you lot. Wait for the photographer ! " 

Not far from Belton Hill and the cars now as we continue to follow  this decidedly attractive footpath.

Harry Potter fans will remember the "Womping Willow " which featured in one of the episodes. This tree looked like a "Womper" but it was an oak not a willow.

I think trees such as this with twisted branches are termed "Contorta" but I may be mistaken. 

One more Bridge to cross........ and a gentleman out walking cautiously steps to one side .  Covid aware ?

 

....... and here we are back at the bottom of Belton Hill.

An excellent local walk in spite of the challenges. Well done Danny.

THE END

JW