GALGATE

 BEDRAGGLED & BEFUDDLED  6.5 Miles

Soggy Souls :- John W, Mike, Mick, Anthony, Danny.

After the drive up the A6 from Preston we parked in an unusually crowded village hall car park in Cockerham.

Those of a "Sensitive" nature should perhaps read the next bit with their eyes closed as we started our walk by going up the Willey to find the Cocker !

The day started grey but dry and you may have noticed that Mick has joined us this week after a wonderful cruise to Norway. 

We were soon out of the village and into the countryside. It was not far before we arrived at a group of large buildings.  One looking like an old cotton or corn  mill with the unusual name of "Up Town". Subsequent research informs us that the whole complex is being redeveloped for sale in individual units.

It's  purpose didn't seem clear as we passed by......  dwellings, farming or business ? We took photos of course before moving on.

Perhaps Danny's photo might give a bit more clarity to our puzzlement. We left pondering it's use but then our attention was drawn to some magnificent beasts in the adjacent fields.

What are those two ?  "Mates of mine" came the reply from just over the fence.

We now left the "Tracks" and took to open fields. At about this time John (today's leader) began to have trouble with his phone which contained the map of today's walk.  in the absence of a planned route we followed the edge of the field towards a small wood within which we found seating for our brew time.

Brew time over Danny and Anthony, whose phones were working properly, helped John to get back on the planned route. This led across large featureless fields with no indication of footpaths crossing them. It also began to Rain !  Gently for now.

The cropped lines held the danger that the diagonal which the footpath should take was nowhere apparent and we drifted off course.

The path came close to the corner of the field we were in but unfortunately on the other side of a barbed wire fence.

Into another large featureless field again with no obvious footpath. Bit of a struggle but we managed to get through the barbed wire

Which direction now ?

By checking our "working" phones and aided by memories of previous walks we eventually arrived at a bridge over the mighty River Cocker.

Can you see the "Mighty" Cocker in this photograph ? NO ?  Well it wasn't easy to see as we crossed over it either !

The Footpath on the map once again led across large fields with no indication on the ground of it's presence. Again memories, though dim, told us in which direction to walk.

Danny in the forefront as usual crosses a stile heading towards Ellel Grange and the nearby church which can be seen on the horizon.

And here's the Cocker again which has looped back after we crossed it before. The rain was now continuous.

We tumbled and stumbled down a steep slope and angled our way along the side of a small wood.

A gated gap took us through the wood towards Home Farm with Ellel Grange sitting on the hill to our right.

Ellel Grange. The International headquarters of "Ellel Ministries" (?)  which it's literature calls  a "Healing Centre". It does not appear to have any links with the mainstream religions. (The healing seemed to be spiritual rather than physical )

Heading towards "Home Farm"

It was still raining steadily, (not heavily) and stiles were proving difficult as they were not well maintained and were slippery and wet.

We were now looking to join the Lancaster Canal which would lead us into Galgate.

This looks like a minor incident in the Ukraine.

Down towards the canal with Ellel Grange still in view. The Bridge we had earmarked as the point at which we could join the canal was just like all the other arched canal bridge but almost uniquely gave no access to the towpath. We had to walk on !  It was also different in being not one but two similar bridges alongside each other. Named on the map as "Double Bridge. Only a short distance , however, till we reached the "Junction" where the Glasson arm leaves the Lancaster Canal.

The sort of stile seen beyond Danny was one of several we encountered from here. We thought they were built at a time when people were somewhat smaller (Slimmer ?) as it was quite a squeeze to get through........... You may think what you will .

It was now just a short distance along the canal to our planned lunch stop in Galgate.......... The dry , sheltered and relatively comfortable club hut of the Bowling Green.

Lunch over we returned to the canal but did not initially follow it but took  a well defined farm track back to the junction.

John, irritated by the shenanigans  of his phone, was quite befuddled by the number of Bridges and locks we had to count before we crossed over one of them. (Bridge and lock 3 !) Fortunately Anthony was thinking more clearly and came to the rescue.

Across to the other side of the canal and following a well defined farm track through the fields.

Before arriving at Cock Hall Farm.

Personally I don't think that spare tyre will fit in place of that flat one.

Once through the farmyard more fields and stiles lay before us.  This one with ONE step  up but THREE steps down.

Each step being green, slimy, and slippery !

With the rain still falling continuously as we came to the next farm a large dry barn offered an irresistible spot to finish our flasks.

This was Batty Hill Farm. A large unit. We actually counted 25 tractors Ranging from smaller workaday models to the huge monsters whose   tyres alone would cost more than a small runabout. (I exaggerate a little..... I think)

There were 45 cows in this row and there where many more rows behind.

From here the track became more of a road and we very soon arrived at the main road through to Glasson and on to Lancaster.

Just a few more minutes and we were back at the cars. The Car park was full of mums (and dads) picking children up from school. Boots and waterproofs off and into the car and home. 

A damp, rather confused but nevertheless enjoyable walk

THE END 

JW

p.s. A serious lesson learned today. Technology alone cannot always be trusted. Always have Back up.  Probably my fault. I had plugged the phone in overnight so that it was fully charged and I suspect I had not pushed the plug in firmly !!!

SOooo                Technology = Smart phone.  

                             Back up = Printed Map

Further advice........    Check the idiot in charge !