HURST GREEN

GREENGORE

This walk was how long ?..........

 3 Miles No.  

        3.5 Miles No.  

                4 Miles No 

                     4.5 Miles No.  

                        4.8 Miles Yes !

S-mile-ers :-    John, Paddy, Mike, Anthony, Jim, Danny.

It was Danny's Birthday today.🍰🍰🍰 so cake was expected and duly arrived at lunchtime. Well done Mrs Danny (Barbara) 😊

It was also polling day in the local elections as evidenced by Hurst Green's Hall.

By the look of it people in Hurst Green don't get too excited about elections.

Leaving the car park we turned right and before reaching the gates into Stonyhurst grounds we dropped down to the left to follow a mainly narrow path above Dean Brook as it made it's way to feed into the Ribble.

The trees and wild plants were a delight to the eyes being a bright, fresh green.

Because of our later start coffee time arrived quite quickly. A tangle of tree roots and fallen tree branches provided adequate seating.

And we even got our first glimpse of Dean Brook hidden previously by the dense woodland.

Thirsts satisfied and rucksacks packed we set off uphill towards Geengore

BLUE BELL TIME 😀

The path continued on it's almost claustrophobic way.

Lunchtime arrived before we reached Greengore House and we had barely seated ourselves and got our "Butties" out when a farmer arrived with a load of sheep.

Sussex crosses the farmer informed us.

Sadly Shaun (Sean) the sheep was NOT with them

You will notice the farmers arm. He was counting the sheep as the left the wagon. I felt compelled to warn him not drive for fear of falling asleep !

HE LAUGHED !

                                   Mike        Paddy           John       Danny   Anthony

(Jim behind the camera)

       

OLD FELLAS ON A BENCH

Paddy in Poetic Pose

There's Jim turning his back on us.

Hello !   Something looks interesting. Or is it just a Les Dawson Sketch ?

Oh Yes ! There is something interesting. It's Greengore House. Grade II listed and reputedly a 17C Royal Hunting Lodge.

The path continued beyond Greengore and seemed to be getting rather "Damper" the further we walked.

We passed by a rather "Spooky" tree base which almost demanded to be photographed.

 .......... So I photographed it.

About half a mile beyond Greengore we left the main path and climbed upwards towards  a small wood and beyond to the open fields. As we had already walked 2 miles OUT ...... JW began to suspect that we would be walking more than the expected 3.5 miles.

"Which Way Danny ?"     "Left"

It now became muddy, VERY muddy. A wrong step and you were over the ankles in thick, glutinous mud. Hence the very cautious walking styles in the photos.

Danny remains remarkably mud free. He must be interrogated about this ????

Once over the top of the hill the ground underfoot became much drier.

A steep descent through the wood brought us to open fields.

Here we took a short breather. Danny took this pause to regale us with a long tale of a Japanese dignitary who's final resting place was in Hurst Green's parish burial grounds.

Farmyards are often littered with machinery and quite frankly "Junk".  This was no exception.

The next farmyard (more of a converted "Des Res" )  was much neater and uncluttered.

As we walked two "features " caught our attention.

A profusion of the very pretty wild flowers "Lady's Smock" and...............

........... a classic Hill Top Copse.

For the next mile or so we walked across open fields.

THEN DISASTER (hardly)

We battled our way through a very swampy corner and over a most awkward stile only to discover we should have stayed on the other side of the fence. Danny's only mistake (that we noticed !)

It was a rather pretty corner though.

After much searching and dithering we finally settled on our route and headed for a low but tiring hill at the top of which was an Ordnance Survey Trig point.

As we climbed up the sheep ran down with Pendle Hill as a distant backdrop.

Was there something interesting over there ?   Not necessarily but the photographer told them to look as if there was.

Oh Look ! We've passed close by that classic Copse we earlier saw in the distance

Anthony is pointing out the wooded ridge on the northern horizon.  Longridge Fell.

John had to be included in this photo ...... Really ?..... Are you sure !.. Why ?

Here's a bird we've seen before. A tinplate pheasant.

The obelisk we are studying is the memorial to the Japanese chap Danny had told us about earlier.

Flask finishing time in St John's Churchyard.

Hurst Green is well known for of the dwellings down in the depth of Dean Brook valley. We dropped steeply down to them and after passing some renovation and new build we climbed steeply out. At least one member found this an exhausting finish to the walk.

Ah Well. At least we got some sympathetic looks from some equally ancient residents.

In spite of the difficulties this was a walk full of challenge and interest. Well done Danny.

JW

p.s.  Danny. I have a selection of long tape measures you can borrow for your next walk. 👍😖😀😀