WORDEN PARK

 PARKING MAD !   5.8 Miles

NOISY PARKERS :-  Danny, Anthony, Frank, John W, 

                                   Mike, Jim C, Vic, Andrew (guest)

Parking Mad ?  Well annoying certainly. We parked in the Main car park  and discovered we were only allowed to stay 2 hours, No good . We parked in quiet side street and were immediately accosted by a resident. "Access only. You can't park here." "Oh Thank You  ******* ! " We said. We finally found parking spaces not too far away in Fox Lane.

And so we set off.

 

After searching for parking it was almost coffee time by the time we arrived at the cafe. We took and early break.

Leaving the cafe we walked  briefly through the park till we came to the Cedar tree. 

Immediately in front of us now was the "Maze"

We actually struggled to find the entrance even before we tackled the Maze itself.

We are ashamed to say that we did not "crack" the maze even though most of us have done it before. "Easy..."  we had said.

Off we go following the paths through the maze.

Looking for this.

JOHN W GOT THERE !!   ( He Cheated )  In our defence we did not linger long at the maze as we were already behind schedule with our walk. (Our walks have schedules ???)

We continued our walk through the park, where Danny had been a few days before to watch his grandson in a football match.

A few minutes later the track left the park to continue towards Schleswig Way.

The tack led us to a roundabout on the busy road,

Here we found one of Leyland's historic industrial products.

On another roundabout a few miles north on this road is another industrial artefact. A TANK. We must plan a walk to visit it someday.

Just past the tractor, as we headed towards the River Lostock, we stood and puzzled at this sign.  What did Ww TW stand for.

Have you any ideas what it stands for ?  Danny eventually came up with a suggestion. It stood for......................... ?

The track ended after a couple of hundred metres and just across a field was a bridge which would take us across the River Lostock.

John W took this photo.

But he didn't take this one. So who did ?

Frank takes a moment to look back along the track we have just followed        I Think !

Just beyond the bridge a fallen tree forced us to duck.

Just ahead of us now were the Rugby pitches of Leyland's Ruby LEAGUE club "Leyland Warriors" who are strongly supported by "Wigan Warriors". John W's grandson plays here.

Good to discover that horses can read !

and here's an excellent message for them to read.

Lunchtime.

Next to the rugby pitches/

We retraced our steps to re-join the path that led through the woodland edging the river.

This took us out onto Slater lane in the Moss Side area of Leyland . A left turn followed by a right turn took us through the suburbs until we eventually found ourselves outside one of Anthony's watering holes.  Dunkirk Hall.

Across the road and fifteen minutes later we dropped down to a narrow path alongside Mill Brook.

This path took us down to a track junction where we asked a passing couple

if we were on the right path for Worden park,  They assured us we were but wanted to direct us to a part of the park we didn't want.  When we showed them on the map where the GPS placed us. They said "no" we weren't there and as locals they knew better than us. Quite right.   Foolishly JW , instead of quietly thanking them and walking on, tried to explain that GPS would be accurate. I think they were rather offended and we did not part on good terms.

We carried on through the woodland and then housing estates, passing as we did St Mary's High school, and soon after arrived at the Northern edge of the park.

Flask finishing time.  And what great seating we found.

Flasks emptied and now to tackle the final short stretch of our walk.  Along the northern edge of Worden Park.

With our walk nearly at it's end it was simply a matter of following the edge of the park back to the gatehouse.

There was no lack of interest as we walked.

The children's sandpit occupied by Teddy Bears.

What's this then ?

A rather imaginative row of Cycle stands !

A new toilet block.

Unisex too........ and why not as long as they are discreet units.

C'mon you two. You were at the back when we set off (see first photo).

Look !  Those two are well ahead.

Through the park gates down the drive and along the road back to the cars.

Not quite over though. We have in the past visited St Mary's church, The rather spectacular circular church about half a mile away.  Here though was the original church now just a facade but probably still in use as the graveyard is behind it.

That's it walk over. John in his usual forgetful manner had left the map of the walk and his phone (with route mapped out) in his car and had travelled in another car. We did , however, still manage the planned route step by step.

THE END

JW