OVERTON

BAZIL FAULTY (Couldn't resist)  3+  Miles

 Manuel-alikes :-  Vic, Anthony, Jim D, Danny

                             John W, Mike, Andy, Frank.

A rather short walk this week but with mostly "rough" paths and lots of interest it certainly seemed further. We drove right through Overton and parked opposite the refurbished "Globe".  Our usual spot when visiting Sunderland Point and "Sambos Grave".

Although the weather of late has been relatively dry the paths were decidedly "Damp". Perhaps recently covered by the tide.

We followed the shoreline looking for a left turn that would lead to an Ordnance Survey triangulation post. We came to a stile..... but what a stile ! possibly the most unusual stile we have met.

The first stile we have encountered that was so high it caused nose bleeds. 😃👃

compounding it's unusualness was the presence of a perfectly normal stile just a few metres away. As you will see shortly.

After climbing the stile a short uphill stretch took us to the Ordnance post,

Ooops... A rare phenomenon...... a sloping horizon !

Six gentlemen and a "poseur".

After a few minutes admiring the views across parts of Morecambe Bay, The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, not to mention our own Lancashire fells in the Forest of Bowland, we dropped down the slope to the "Other" stile. taking us back to the Shoreline.

Did I say other "Stile". It was actually a very easy kissing gate with a few steps leading down from it.

Coffee time !

Coffee time with the easy kissing gate behind us .  Where's Vic ?

Is that the "Naughty Step"  ?

As we sat drinking our brews, horses and a carriage rode across the distant marshes or so it seemed . They were on the Sunderland Point road.

Flasks packed away and off we set again following the high tide line. The "wrack" line, as it is termed, was quite messy.

We then stopped to examine some attractively carved stonework which Anthony suggested might have been dumped there.

A little further along we came to this large stone with an iron ring in it.  It resembled the stones used in cheese presses but might just have been a balance weight.

The catapult was Danny's idea !

We set off again along the squelchy footpath until a voice from above called to us. No... it was not "The Lord". It was Mike who had found a much dryer and more comfortable path on a high bank (levee ?)

The elevated nature of the footpath we now followed opened up sky-filled views across the marshes.

The local council had decided to improve the nature of the footpath along their shoreline by replacing old decrepit styles with new sturdy kissing gates. They had then decided that each gate should bear a name. How nice !

This one was aptly named Sunderland view.

....and there's Sunderland village across the muddy creeks.

Eventually we had to drop down to the muddy path again passing as we did the sad and rather smelly remains of a sheep.

We were now approaching the tip of Bazil Point and the banks had been strongly fortified against the relentless power of the twice daily tides.

 

As we reached "The Point" we stopped for a group photo.

But who took this Photo. John (usual photographer) is in the photo. So not him. The finger of suspicion (bottom left)  points at Mike. 😕

Lunchtime !

You're right Mike. We can't all sit on that.

Right again Mike !  it's not raining so we don't need shelter and it is rather smelly anyway.

Ah.  That's OK a raised seat with a view.

And look ! Another named kissing gate.

"Glasson View".... and there's Glasson Dock" across on the other side of the Lune.

Once beyond the tip of the land the path virtually disappeared and we were weaving our way through boggy turf.

A cross the muddy creeks beyond the dodgy looking boats we could see the northern tip of the Bowland Fells.

There was no "official" footpath here but a lady passing by had advised that people did walk this way we and should  look out for some stone steps as these would take us towards the church we were heading for,

And here they are................ 

The steps led into a narrow path and as we walked up it Danny spotted an attractive Blue flower in the hedgerow. He used his phone to identify it as "Large Leafed Periwinkle". It may well appear in his version of the blog.

The narrow path took us up into the graveyard and eventually the 12th century church of St Helens. Much of the church has been added to over the years of course.

A 'phone call earlier in the week had led us to believe that the church would be open. Sadly it wasn't.
 

This looks as if it might be one of the older parts , THE DOOR   not Andy.

On the outside of the church was a defibrillator .  Your writer must bite his tongue here as several jokes come into mind.  All probably in dubious taste.

Feeling rather disappointed we left the church and continued our walk through the outskirts of Overton before following a second narrow path towards the village centre.

As we walked through the Village further points of interest emerged.

Are these wells of ancient origin or just modern structures built as points of interest in the garden

The Village is obviously proud of its ancient church as we passed signs telling us how to get to it. "We've been" we said. "It's Shut !"

And finally as we approached the cars, Danny, not content to just identify wild flowers, spotted some Primulas he thought would look good at home. 

Back to the cars and home !

THE END

JW

  p.s.   This Bazil was in fact - NOT Faulty . Sorry !