LONGRIDGE

MILES of STILES   6 Miles

Stylish Stilers :- Mike, Danny, Anthony, Vic, Jim, John W.

Our start today was to be Longridge Ignoring the "Road Closed" signs we drove up Higher Road, past "Club Row" which has claims to be the country's first "Building Society". People clubbed together to build the first house and then went on to complete the others ) We had  parked quite close to the entrance to the caravan park.

We crossed the road and dropped down the lane next to the empty restaurant building.

After passing through an area of mainly desirable residences we left the town to cross a field which bore evidence of previous "Industrial use.

Crossing the field wonderful views opened out to our right.......

.....before we ducked through the bushes to approach our first stile.

This file was not "Standard" and was the first of many stiles several of which were also "Not Standard".

Only a few yards to the second stile which was quite a "Regular" one. This took us into the fields below the caravan park.

We could immediately see the next stile, in the field corner and leading up into the caravan park.

This innocent looking stile required a team effort to get everyone over.

We passed briefly through the caravan park . Remarkably well laid out and quite attractive.

Then climbing up onto a side road which led down to a small lake. with views of some very modern accommodations. This former "Quarry" was, many years ago, used for community firework displays. 

and there was a very imaginative "Bench",..................................... Coffee Time !

Our path now led us along what could possibly merit the title "Green " Lane.

The green lane quickly changed  it's character to become merely a sunken footpath.

At this point Danny suggested that as himself and John W took most of the photographs we had never been seen together on a walk. So we put that right.

But what's this . Has someone caught the attention of the Paparazzi ?

NO !  but this stone has .

The inscription reads ! RAUFFE RADCLIFF LAID THIS STONE TO LYE FOREVER    AD 1655"    Well 367 years is not quite "forever" but give it time.

There are many legends attached to this stone and the two neighbouring farms,  We have rehearsed these before so I shall leave you to research them for yourselves (Google ?)

We followed the track to Cottam House farm which was hardly very welcoming. Regardless of the works which were taking place  a notice, obviously placed prior to the works, told us to walk quickly through the farmyard and not to loiter.  Loitering might almost be classed as our "Activity of Choice" and walking fast is, for us, long since a part of history . So Ya boo to you Mr notice poster.

Once through the "Rapid Transit" farmyard we found ourselves following a stream which at one point had it's bed concreted ???   WHY ?   If it was to aid vehicular crossing there was no evidence of any such activity.5

Down through the fields and across the  road leading to Hurst Green to an overgrown stile.

Danny takes his secateurs to the overgrown stile

It was still difficult to negotiate. Another subnormal stile !

The next stile was a quite different "Style".

But much easier to negotiate.

Once over the "Stonewall "stile the fields dropped down to a shady wood. Another stile, this time rather wobbly, had to be tackled to get into it.

Even stone steps kept up the "tricky" theme being steep , slippery and with a handrail hardly more than knee height.

It is usually possible to identify trees by their bark. Not this one. It looked in need of one of the many skin treatments advertised on the television, "Because it's Worth It !"

As we continued our walk we came across a cottage called the "Old Smithy" which was in a rather dank spot and the wall hangings gave it a rather creepy aspect

Our next encounter with the surreal came just around the corner where we passed a house with two random gargoyles stuck on the wall.

As we continued our walk down this wooded valley we encountered some rather pretty riverside spots before arriving at some obviously very expensive houses and gardens.

A Bridge photo ? Someone else took this and was, I think,  unused to handling so small a camera had either touched the lens or caught the sunshine .  "No names no pack drill "

I think perhaps warm, moist hands may have misted the lens as the final one taken was OK. That is if you consider any photo of JW to be OK !

After crossing the bridge we took to the fields again but with GREAT CAUTION.

On the right you will see two figures keeping well to the side of the field.

Under the clump of tree to the centre left you might just have seen this group of cattle.  Why cautious ? Because the group of "cattle" were not all cows.

Amongst them was this magnificent but SCARY  beast. A large , black Bull. We escaped unscathed. Once across the field of frights we looked for a lunch spot. Nothing much appealed so we settled for the grass verge alongside the road. Lunch over we set off for the final stretch of our walk.

Back on the road for a short stretch before an unusual METAL stile took us back into the fields again.

As we approached the next farm complex we stopped to admire these wonderful sculptures.

 

I think Danny is taking his admiration a little too far ! You don't know where he/she has been !

As we entered what was obviously a very prosperous farm yard two young men were there. John W went to enquire about the sculptures and was greeted with warm handshakes . To his surprise it was a family he knew well as all the children had been in the same school classes as his children and their friendship had continued.  It was the HOMESTEAD of the Andertons. A local and very well respected Family butcher. Who actually supplies meat throughout the North West, BRENDAN ANDERTON. I use the word "Homestead" as there were 3/4 separate residences each houses an Anderton family,

From here we briefly followed the Longridge to Ribchester road 

before turning right to follow a shady lane back up the hill to Higher road and the parked cars.

Once again , there on the horizon, was Pendle. I had not previously realised just how this  hill dominated the area in it's solitary isolation.

And so we turned our back on the views and set off for home after one of the best walks we have taken in recent months. It contained a kaleidoscope of views and  interesting sites as we passed by.  Well done Danny.

THE END

JW