MAWDESLEY

 THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD     4.5 Miles

Munchkins :- Mike, Jim, Anthony and John.

Arriving at Mawdesley

We parked down a side street with the good wishes of a jovial resident whose garden we were next too. Then we were surprised at the unusual start to our footpaths. The paths were neither yellow nor made of bricks just unusually well maintained (in the most ) for countryside footpaths.

Not exactly a "Yellow Brick Road" but definitely somewhat higher class than the footpaths we normally follow.

One glance along the roads of  "Desirable Residences" and it was obvious that Mawdesley was a decidedly affluent community.

After following  this broad track for a hundred metres or so we came to the point where a footpath proper took over. There it is to the left of the gate.

This proved to be a neatly trimmed path with a clean and solid surface underfoot with the sides well defined and neatly trimmed.

This was particularly welcomed by John who was wearing shorts and had no need to dodge nettles and brambles.

The quality of the footpath continued as we left the woodland to walk through open fields before suddenly arriving at an area of neatly mown grass with a bench. This was most unusual.

We surmised that such an affluent area contained affluent ramblers and dog walkers who put pressure on the council to keep the paths well maintained.

There were no stiles only well maintained gates. Perhaps an indication that  the affluent residents were also in a large part,... ELDERLY

There was even a small bridge over ....well nothing really...... though John is trying hard to find something.

Soon, however, we did come to less well tended footpaths (different council?). So much so that Mike and Jim hopped over the fence (trespassing) to avoid the nettles, brambles and mud.

As we arrived at road there was a farm gate which was decidedly "Barred". It had SIX locks (one hidden behind the post)  but there was a smaller pedestrian gate to the side. We wondered what was so "precious" that it needed such security

Rather tasteful "Garden Gnomes" ? Depends on one's idea of "Taste" of course 😖

A small but well ordained residence .

"Oh What would the world once bereft

Of wet and  wildness let them be left

Oh let them be left wildness and wet

Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet"

Gerard Manley Hopkins

I would pity any weed that had the temerity to raise it's head in that garden.

with an equally well ordained pigeon loft (or something). There's a pigeon sitting just above the windows on the left.

Look ! We're off again with a footpath leading us through someone's delightful garden,

"Is this really the footpath ?" thinks Mike.

A short time later Anthony hesitates to approach this bridge, The mud before it was of uncertain depth.

I thought this tree had a face with eyes and well defined eyebrows. There were those amongst us with rather less tasteful ideas as to its appearance.

Once over the bridge the path continued until we came to.......

and.........

Two monks looking for a cloister ?

After leaving Monk's farm we followed the road for perhaps half a mile or so .  Much of it along the quaintly named "Moody Lane".

A fascinating pole this. thinks mike. It's sort of "round" and  "tall" 😄

The roads were quiet and seemingly safe..........

......but what's this ?

On the left of this road sign is a coat of arms.

A closer look was a little unsettling.....

What do we read there........ BE AWARE !😟 of What ?

Perhaps beware of the bindweed. Lovely in the hedgerows but a pain in the ****! in the garden.

We were now on the last part of our walk and looking forward to a brew and a bite to eat at the  Cedar Farm cafe, The last footpath , however, was the worst.

Here's Mike trying to avoid the deep mud. 

John didn't !!!

No matter... the cafe beckoned.  There we are  -- Bottom left in the courtyard.

Very civilised !!!

After a good but slightly expensive lunch we left for the last stretch into Mawdesley.

The signpost to the rest of the busy complex.

EH ? (perhaps that is what we should be aware of..... CHANGE !)

Arriving back into Mawdesley.

Over a final bridge...............

And back to the car and home.

Oh.... and loved this little bird feeder we passed on our walk.

THE END

JW

SKIPOOL

WITHER WYRE WANDERERS ? - 5 Miles 

WONDERERS :- Mike, Jim, Danny, John, Anthony.

A left turn opposite these sadly delapidated moorings in the creek,  took us into this small car park.

Out of the car park and another left turn and off we set on the path towards the Wyre Estuary Country Park.

We had not walked very far when we came across a group of artist trying to capture the sadly desolate abandonment of Skipool Creek.

Somewhere along this stretch was "Ramper Pot"  which it seems was at one time it a tiny but thriving port. . It proved remarkably elusive  Even Google and Wikipedia had little to say about it . I Did discover that a "Ramper Pot" was a terracotta pot used for forcing rhubarb. WE SAW NO RHUBARB !  Mike remembered his parents referring to it as they went for family walks along this very path.

A sign at the yacht club says "Visitors welcome" for coffee etc.   .........  Hopes dashed - it was firmly closed.

Last time we did this walk our route back brought us back to the path through this gap. Not today though. A different route will return us to the cars.

At this point, about three quarters of a mile into the walk, the path took a sharp right turn as it continued along the reed bedecked tidal edge of the Wyre estuary.

 

For the rest of the path, until it reached the "Wyre Estuary Country Park", there were commemorative benches at short but regular intervals.

Some of them invited us to rest a while and enjoy the view that had been enjoyed by their deceased donors. SO WE DID.

Question. What does your average rambler have in his (or her) rucksack ?

Answer.  Waterproofs, a flask, first aid kit or maybe the odd snack .

 

Not Danny, He has a 5 Kilo training weight in his. This being  part of his regime to strengthen has back which has been a problem for sometime.

We've all gottem....... Problems that is not  5k weights........

 I keep telling you. We're not spring chickens anymore.

It's no good having a lovely new signpost to RAMPER POT.  We still couldn't find it.

Mike, who grew up in this area, had walked this way many times before. He thought this strange metal affair, hidden in some thick scrubland, had been mentioned by his dad in relation to Wardsley (ferry across the river) and the elusive Ramper Pot ?

At this point we left the riverside path to climb up to the Country Park's cafe .

And here's Danny moving quickly towards it.

At present the cafe is only operating through a hatch with no indoor accommodation. It is hoped the inside revamp will soon be complete.

The comestibles were nevertheless excellent, generous and reasonably priced, Here's John's  "Four sausage barm cake".

You can't visit a country park without encountering historic displays or relevant  works of art.

Can't say I was much impressed by this "Cormorant".

Mike said he remembered this curious cast iron object from way back. From his childhood in fact. (which is much further than Way Back 😉) What is it ?  Best guess...... a water "Drinking"  fountain many of which were to be found in parks in the 50's.

We were now following quiet side roads back towards Skipool passing, much to your writer's surprise, St Nicholas Owen's Church. Sadly no longer in it's former glory.

Nicholas Owen was the Jesuit Brother/Priest who made many of the priest holes where  Catholic priests hid to avoid arrest and a painful death. This was shortly after the "Gunpowder Plot" when the Catholic religion was outlawed throughout the country. Many wealthy Catholic families risked losing their homes and properties (not to mention lives) by supporting itinerant 

priests. He was eventually captured and died under torture, Officially recorded as suicide 😔

As a youth Mike used to come here for "Clandestine" meetings with his mates, Here they sat on the steps drinking, But drinking what ?  Lemonade, Dandelion and burdock or SOMETHING ELSE !!!  I think we should be told.

" We know but we're not tellin' "! 

In the middle of nowhere there was a cottage advertising Pilates Classes. "What d'yu reckon fellas." " No . You need big balls to do Pilates !"

"Wither now Mike ?"

There were once fields full of teazles as they like wet, swampy terrain.

The prickly heads of Teasels were used for hundreds of years to comb the surface of wool and cotton to create a downy surface for blankets and clothing next to the skin. One manufacturer bought two and a half million heads once. The men who collected them were known as TAZZLE-MEN. They were planted in copious amounts and bought in from other European countries as well.

Off the road and across the fields but only for a short stretch before we rejoined a road which took us back to the car.

Can't resist the allure of a mysterious hole in a tree.

Mike tells us that when he was much younger (He also tells us he is 80 next year), this hut was the headquarters of the local cycling club.

Not long after we slipped through a gap in the hedge which backed on to the Car Park. There's Mike leading the way.

THE END

JW