Padiham 8 miles Walkers Anthony Vic Andrew Frank Mike and Danny

After parking up on Wyre Street in Padiham, we returned to the main road (A 671) and turned left. After crossing the bridge over the River Calder, a short walk brought us to the well signposted entrance drive to Gawthorpe Hall.

     The long tree lined drive also serves as an access road to Burnley F Cs training ground.

The hall is not yet open to visitors, so the main entrance being in the sun was the ideal place for us to have our morning brew. Getting up from my perch next to Frank to take this photo, unfortunately spoiled the symmetry of the photo, but there again, it's probably a small price to pay.

The hall was built in the early 17th century by the Shuttleworth family who had lived in the area since 1330. During the Civil War Sir Richard Shuttleworth was a strong Parliamentarian. In 1642, he and his troops defeated the far superior army of the Earl of Derby at Read Bridge.

The high level walk from the hall is part of the Bronte Way. In the nineteenth century Charlotte Bronte visited the house on a number of occasions. The Shuttleworth family left the hall in 1970 and it is now in the hands of the National Trust.

          

        

We exit the hall grounds back onto Padiham Road. Crossing the busy road we head down through a housing estate on our way to the Leeds - Liverpool canal

The day, although sunny and still, was never the less still quite chilly for sitting around. So spotting some seats in the sun in a children's playground with no children around we took advantage of a little warmth from the winter sun to have our dinner there.

        

                                              Anthony opted for a seat with a table.

                                       On reaching the canal we set off westward.                               

                        

Danny wasn't paying attention and led the group "A bridge too far". We should have left the canal at the bridge in the background, but he didn't realise until we reached the next bridge along the canal.

Back on track, we enter an area known as " Sweet Clough Greenway ", a local Nature Reserve, (a possible area to explore for a future walk) at the end of which we walk a short distance along a disused railway line.

After negotiating our way through a modern housing estate we arrive back in the older part of town where stopping by this bridge, a chap seeing us looking at the maps on our phones said "eee thas not lost in Padiham are the". "No, No" I replied, but he went on to tell us a way to where we were heading anyway. We continued following our own route back.

Crossing back over a different bridge spanning the River Calder we arrive back in the main part of town, Being in the lead, as we approached a Zebra Crossing we decided to wait for the others to catch up before pressing the button. The others caught us up, except Vic. "Wheres Vic" we all said, but no one was sure where the last place we had seen him. After waiting a while longer, someone suggested that he might have gone the way that chap had mentioned. I set off back looking for him and followed the way the bloke had suggested, eventually arriving back at the Zebra Crossing, by which time everyone had gone. I crossed over, making my way back to the car. Yes you've guessed it, Vic was already there. Grrrrr
He had gone the way the man said and got back to the car from the opposite direction.
                                                                 The End  DK




 








 

LYTHAM

 SNOWDROPS     5.5 Miles

SNOWMEN :- John R, Mike, Vic, Anthony, Danny, John W.

                                                  Mick K (briefly)

Todays walk is marked by the Blue/Black line

Each year, in Springtime, Thousands of Snowdrops put on a fabulous display in the grounds of Lytham Hall. So do the Meanderthals  though not in thousands and definitely not fabulous.

There's not thousands of snowdrops there !  I know. I know. We haven't got to the Hall yet.

We parked in our usual spot and were soon at the start of the avenue through the linear park.

The park had been "tidied" up and looked more more like a park than a wild wood. Is that Good or Bad ?

Some trees had been thinned out and cut up.

Some had been marked for further attention; Others were obviously very important had had been fenced in to stop them escaping.

These very attractive leaves, growing in the now open spaces in the wood,  belong to Arum Italicum. Related to "Lords and Ladies " AKA "Cuckoo Pint" or  "Arum Lily,"

Once out of the linear park we followed the road towards the drive up to the Hall.

We have no idea what these were but they were growing near the Hall's entrance arch. 

As we approached the Hall (Sorry no photos as we have been here so many times before.) We were pipped at by a small car coming up behind us. 

It was Mick Kilgallon, our Blackpool Meanderthal, arriving with his wife Maureen and two grandchildren, coming to see the snowdrops.

In spite of written warnings not to consume our own food and drink we sat, happily and undisturbed,  with our flask at one of the  tables

The Kilgallons with grandson peeping from behind.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE SNOWDROPS ?

HERE THEY ARE !

What's this ? Some sort of art robbery ?. Someone appears to have "nicked" a picture.

Did you entitle this Snowmen? Don't think Aled Jones will do much singing about this lot.

Piles of bark chipping ready to be used around the gardens.

I hope you are not treading on the emerging crocuses (Croci ?) whilst taking photographs.

Bye Bye Croci !.............................

.....should be bye bye snowdrops but that doesn't trip of the tongue so neatly

Out of the woods and through a modern housing estate before seeking the footpath towards the promenade.

Over the railway bridge 

And past that "Snooty" sign again.

And out onto the "Seaside

But not before spotting this simple solution for getting short legged (and overweight) dogs into the car.

" I must go down to the sea again

To the lonely sea and the sky........

..........Where the wind's like a whetted knife"

John Masefield

Well there was certainly a bitingly chill wind blowing so we sought shelter for lunch time.

Is that bin making some sort of comment ?  Absolutely n.......................

"Oh,,Oh the Hokey Cokey .....

Rucksacks packed and off again.

As we walk along the prom we discover that "Art" is not restricted to museums and art galleries.

Not far along the prom before we crossed the green to enter Lowther Gardens.

And look who we bump into .... BOBBY BALL... A leg end in his own lifetime. a well loved  resident of Lytham.

ROCK ON BOBBY !

Originall "Rock on Tommy" his partner

Still bringing smiles to faces.

Lowther gardens had more to show us though. 

In the shrimpers pond there were some very large carp cruising amongst the weeds. 

A little further along was a Wicker Man reading. (Have they seen the classic horror film "The Wicker Man" ?)

And so we left the park and began the final plod back to the cars.

Danny has been strangely affected by our meeting with Bobby Ball.

As we headed towards the centre of Lytham there were yet more points of interest.

St Cuthbert's body did a nationwide tour it would seem. Resting briefly in Lytham.

There was yet more artwork as we passed a street mural or "Muriel" as Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden would have called it.

I don't think we ever shall.

but com' on...... it's the middle of February.

So... through the centre of Lytham then a slightly tortuous route through side roads and back to the cars,

THE END 

JW