Yealand Conyers

 

Todays walk starts from a small lay-by adjacent to the public footpath crossing the bird sanctuary at Leighton Moss. After parking and kitting up we set off along the said path. My apologies for the quality of the first few photos but I've gone and done it again. I forgot to check the camera settings before setting off 😡.

After crossing the reserve, we continued along a gravel path that eventually became a road. Noises were beginning to be made, such as, in't it time we stopped for a brew. there was something I had up to now kept quiet about, which was, that further down the road, after passing Leighton Hall, there is a steep hill to climb. "Steep hill?" "We don't do steep hills." But there is a reward sayeth I. There are seats at the top of the hill, where we can relax whilst we have our brew.

                                                        Setting off up the Hill.

The view from our seats at the top of the hill, made it worth the effort. Grange Over Sands is on the top right of the picture.

When we reached the top of the hill, some of the seats had already been claimed by a group of young lads and lassies who were doing their Duke of Edinburgh awards, but their were enough seats for everyone. A young lady teacher did us the honour of taking this group photo for us. After the youngsters left. and we were about to leave, another group doing the award were on their way up the hill. I would have liked to have taken some photos of them, but these days unfortunately it's considered inappropriate to do so.

After having a late brew, It was only a short walk to Yealand Conyers which i am told is pronounced Yeldon Conyers. A long time ago it is recorded, the Yealdon estates owner died without leaving a male heir, so his lands were split equally between his two daughters. As was the norm in those days, on getting married, the land belonging to the daughters passed to their husbands. One of the daughters husbands was named Conyers, so the village became known as Yealand Conyers. The other daughters husband was named Redmayne. We will be passing through Yealand Radmayne later in our walk.

Just around the corner from the junction we were at, is this Quaker meeting hall and cemetery. With views accross abroad valley, and Ingleborough Fell in the distance, it was an ideal venue for our dinner break.

The date of 1692 on the porch of the Friends Meeting Hall gives credence to the claim that it is the oldest Quaker place of worship in the country, although it was restored following a fire in the 18th century. The hall was open, and two of the friends Rex and Diana who were inside welcomed us in to have a look round. Needless to say, there wasn't much to see, not even any benches. George Fox, the leader of the Quaker movement, came to the village in 1652. It is recorded that a Puritan clergyman appeared, armed with a pistol. He wielded the weapon as he asked for a light for his pipe, Fortunately his intentions were thwarted.

      Turning right out of the cemetery, then right again,we crossed a meadow to this farm.

The path ran, but we walked slowly past the farm and an adjacent beautiful cottage garden,

but my photos don't do it justice

Crossing the road from the farm track and continuing down the side of another grand house led us to St John's church, with a tower that looks out of proportion to the size of the church.

The church was open and a welcoming notice invited visitors to have a look round. They had even left the toilet unlocked. Very christian spirited of the present vicar.

                                        Onward towards Yealden Redmayne.

        Arriving at the linear village of Yealden Redmayne with it's large selection of individually designed houses, none of which look to be out of character with each other. A little further on we passed through another small village Yealand Storrs which was also in keeping with it's larger neighbours. Carrying on along the busy road the footpath was discontinued so care had to be taken from here on. We came eventually to a small gate in the hedge on the left. This was another path across the reserve but totally different to the other one. This one hardly had any straight sections, and wound it's way hither and thither, making for an interesting walk.

                                                        The compulsory bridge shot.

The path brought us out at the main path across the reserve, which we had walked earlier in the day, so it only remained for us to retrace our steps along it, back to our cars.

                                                                      DK