BILSBORROW

 MARVELLOUS MYERSCOUGH 4.3/5+ Miles

Marvomarchers :- Jim,  John, Anthony, Mike.

Our walk today ( in Yellow ) started from Bilsborrow Village Hall and having recalculated the distance on the Ordnance Survey Maps I cannot get it to be more that 4.3 miles. However our walkers report distances in excess of 5 miles on their devices. I think we must have "rambled " somewhere en route.  Whatever the distance it remained an enjoyable walk.

It started with a bit of a puzzle. This handsome slab was just outside the Car Park. But on close inspection it tells us that Queen Elizabeth was on the throne since 1952. As the coronation was in 1953 she couldn't have been, could she.

Or have we missed something.

We crossed the A6 and turned left towards Myerscough.

Only briefly, though, as we soon left to walk west along the  Lancaster Canal.

A well built, solid but steep flight of steps took  us down to the towpath.

From which an equally well made surface led us away from Bilsborrow.

This post tells us where and for how long you can tie up alongside the canal.

A few minutes walk took us alongside "Guys Thatched Village". Where we overlooked a bowling match .

At the next bridge we left the canal to take to the country lanes for a while. As we emerged from the canal our way was initially blocked by a large tractor and mowing Machine combination.

It soon turned off the road  leaving our way ahead clear.

The tractor turned into field (Clever trick that 😃) and we continued our walk.

This quiet country lane was busy with traffic as you can see here. it was a warm day for walking and Mike, who cycles this way, assured us there was a cafe not far ahead.

We passed a field where a crop of corn was sprouting in neat rows. You can see how the hairstyle "Corn Rows" came to be so called.

And here's Mike's promised cafe on the roadside at Halliday's Farm Caravan site.

Soon after we left the cafe we began to cross two very large open fields. As there was no visible evidence of the footpath clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey Map we briefly strayed from the true path (That's almost Biblical 😜) but a quick check on the downloaded map allowed us to correct this. One walker had the temerity to suggest we were wandering aimlessly . NO ! NO ! NO !

 

This rather neatly built "Tunnel" was possibly an earlier means of taking the footpath over this deeply cut gulley. An ancient, broken stile now discarded and lying in pieces just to one side , seemed to support this theory.

The ancient, deeply   *** person sitting on the fence was merely passing by. (Careful Mike that top spare doesn't look very safe.)

In the absence of Danny Mike took on the role of gatekeeper

Just a final short field and a minor road to cross and we arrived at "Marvellous Myerscough".

Myerscough has built a tremendous reputation for producing excellent groundsmen (and women) who are employed in many prestigious sports arenas both in the UK and abroad.

Rather than walk along the pathless edge of the road ( Which, like all the other roads we encountered, was busy) . This gentlemen showed us how to get to a footpath that would take us safely, road free to the main campus and the cafe.

 Once through the parked agricultural  vehicles we found and used the attractive  grassy footpath which ran alongside the road just over the hedge to the right.

.....or left in this shot.😜

The cafe, when we got there, was excellent. Reasonably priced and staffed by some delightful people.

The way out from the cafe took through the gloriously colourful plant section.

From here a track would take us through the agricultural fields and past the football pitches and the  golf course. All training grounds for the students.

Now, just ahead of us is the bridge over the canal where we started our walk.

So......back to the A6 and across to the Village Hall, the car and the drive home.

GREAT AREA... GREAT WEATHER... GREAT COMPANY  =  GREAT WALK !

THE END

ASHTON

 TOWN & COUNTRY  3.5 Miles

Barbour Boys :- Danny, John, Anthony, Mike  (Dave & Liz)

We arrived at Haslam Park about 10.20..... "Haven't you been there a few times  before ?".... "Yes".... "Well why are you going again ?".........  "Because there are always new things to see and talk about. So shut up and let me get on with the blog."

After parking the car in the usual car park we were almost immediately on the canal towpath.

The bright green covering on the surface of the canal was caused by rapid growth of "Ginny Greenteeth" more properly called duckweed. Because we were near the end of the canal there is little movement on the surface, further along the canal the flow of water into and out of it keeps the surface much clearer. 

It is thought the legends of a cruel, witch like, monster (Jenny Greenteeth ... the name varies) living beneath this weed were told to keep children away from deep or dangerous waters.

To your writer's surprise once on the canal we turned right, heading into the Preston suburbs, rather than taking a left into open countryside. Ah Well.... lead on Danny.

Coming into view as we followed the canal was Tulketh Mill with it's magnificently tall chimney. Part of Preston's industrial heritage.

Just as on last weeks walk we passed a very brave duck who stood her ground as we walked past. Can you see the ducklings hiding underneath her ?

What's this bush covered in yellow ball like flowers ?

Now an even taller building graced the horizon. St Walburge's Spire which claims to be the third highest spire in England after Salisbury and Norwich Cathedrals. It is 309ft (90 Metres) tall and is a grade1 listed building.

It was only a few minutes before we reached the truncated end of the canal. There used to be a further half mile or so into the city centre where it was linked to the Leeds/Liverpool canal via the Old Tram Bridge, which you may remember we visited a few walks ago.

Shortly before the end we passed over this cheerfully painted bridge underneath which was the entrance to a small, boat-filled, Marina.

We now found ourselves in an area of terraced housing where some of the streets were still "Cobbled". Just imagine....... cobbled streets some laid down over a hundred and fifty years ago and still in good condition. What a comment on the potholed state of our present roads and streets.

A short break for a bit of fun. You will know the phrase about three monkeys. I'm not sure Danny has got his part right unless of course he speaks out of the back of his head.

Our good friend Martin, a regular walker over the years, is now incapacitated but used to be the the headteacher of this school. "Sacred Heart".

From the acres of terraced housing we moved into the more affluent area of Ashton. There were some spectacularly handsome and large houses. This gate gives some indication of the type of properties we were passing. I have to confess that I am a great fan of terraced housing having lived in one for 50 years. (A small house in Longridge and then, as the family grew) a large

Victorian Terrace in Grimsargh.

This, apparently, was originally the Fire Station.

As we reached Blackpool Road we passed St Andrew's school and the Church. We stopped briefly to explore the graveyard with mostly mid 19th Century headstones.

One of the memorials was to a family with the name "WELLBELOVED". Can't really better that as a surname.

Just a short distance now along the busy Blackpool Rd. I know ! I know ! it doesn't look busy BUT IT WAS ! before we arrived at the Parkside Cafe.  Lunchtime.

Just back a step though. Anybody know what these obviously old Cast iron things are set into the pavements, We passed several on our walk.

And look who has joined us for Lunch again. Dave, A most welcome addition to the quartet. We had only waited a few minutes before Dave's wife Liz arrived and parked just across the road to see him across to the Parkside Cafe.

Is this wallpaper too much (tasteless) our great fun ?  I favour the latter.

Aw ! Come on fellas......... Danny spills his tea on the table (Blamed the teapot 😏) and what's Dave doing with his fingers in his tea ? 

Yu just carn't take 'em anywhere.

 Lunch was good and rather delightfully served. The little grey pot, somewhat resembling a miniature pottery kiln, arrived in each empty cup and was the milk for our teas and coffee. Quite charming 

and so back to the car and home after a gentle but interesting stroll.

Well done Danny.👍

THE END