Danny's view of........Burnley (Back, after a long absence!)

The entrance to Towneley Park (viewed from the park)

"It's **cold!"

....but....what's this!  Spring already?

Towneley Hall (not open to Meanderthals!)

The memorial to the Armed Forces

It's not John & Anthony arguing over the route this time.
(Harry's not getting involved!)

The entrance to a tunnel on the
Burnley to Manchester railway line

The brick structure referred to in John's report

The Leeds Liverpool canal in the centre of Burnley

Burnley bus station from the canal

The drained lake in Thompson Park

Three Meanderthals and a Garden Gnome!
.....and a very grumpy looking blind gnome at that (John)

Back at 'The Turf'. They kindly allowed us to use their carpark

Not 'elite' enough for Meanderthals!

BOOTS, BURNLEY and BUMPS-a-DAISY

BURNLEY 6.5 Miles

Walkers :- Danny, Anthony, Harry, Mike,
                   Martin, John R, John W.

"These boots were made for walking" but they won't walk by themselves. So Danny had to go back home for them. And THEN we set off !

We soon arrived in "Beautiful" Burnley and magically managed to make our way to "Turf Moor" football ground. 

There was a chilly wind coming off the moors and we all wrapped up warmly before setting off. A short walk through the old terraces (houses not football stands) and we found ourselves crossing the river Brun into Towneley Park.

 The paths through this rather attractive park took us alongside a golf course and eventually led us to our first watering hole the cafe at Towneley Hall. Not, however, before those of us with less than cast iron bladders were cruelly taunted by the water feature in the grounds,

 After a welcome coffee in the cafe (thanks Harry) we made our way round the hall's magnificent buildings 

 and took the track uphill and away through the grounds.
Out of Towneley Hall and across the road where a track led upwards towards the moors where on previous occasions we had visited the "Singing Ringing Tree" . No moors on this walk as a right turn took us alongside a deep railway cutting and, to our childish delight, a train emerged from the tunnel we had unknowingly passed over . (Yes ! Yes ! Mike you knew it was there.....'cos you had the map.)   

A little further on the track veered to the left but immediately in front of us the ground rose to a mysterious brick construction.  Intrigued, we climbed the grassy bank to have a closer look. 

Our inspection revealed that it had been designed by local primary school children and sponsored by a local brick company. What it was, however, remained a mystery. As we descended from this mossy mound the local geologists were able to record a tremor of seismic proportions as John W's 16 stone frame hit the ground with considerable force. The irony being that he was in the middle of reciting the story of a previous walk when a Meanderthal had worn trainers on a muddy slope and had come to grief.  Guess what John W was wearing......... correct.       Sympathy was shown by all but there was a corollary upon which I shall elucidate later.
Back onto Terra-firma or rather tarmac-firma and a short steep drop down to the railway line we had been following.  Across the line and once more into the terraced streets of Burnley.

The internal alarm clocks of several of the walkers were by now trilling and pinging away and a lunch spot HAD to be sought. We were at the beginning of the "Straight Mile" part of the Leeds/Liverpool canal which we were to follow. Anthony told us of a decent lunch spot a little way in the opposite direction. Not in a rush, we turned round and soon found it.

 

 Lunch over we retraced our  steps to march along the "Straight Mile" which would take us to the geographical zenith of our walk. As we turned back an almost poetic sight lay before. A scene that contained all the elements of a cliched view of the industrial north.

 

"Dreamed a dream by the old canal,  Dirty Old Town.  Dirty Old Town."

At the end of the mile was another handsome Victorian park complete with boating and paddling pools and lots of other classic attractions. It lacked one ingredient that we sought - an OPEN toilet. A curtain must be drawn around the next few minutes.... sufficient to say that Meanderthals emerged from the park feeling quite comfortable.

Leaving the park we were soon once again admiring the superbly built terraced rows as we made our way back to "Turf Moor"

 Here, at the home of Burnley F.C. where that chilly wind was still blowing, Martin announced the arrival of winter proper by treating us all to tipples of fiery liquid (I can't spell it's real name).

And so into the cars and a sunblinded journey home. 

Oh Yes...the corollary....

At various intervals, various persons, asked John W if he "had everything he needed" or "Was he warm enough",  When the response was a qizzical look from John they would, with great glee, produce from hiding whatever piece of clothing or equipment John had left or forgotten at their last stopping point or dramatic fall.......... B******S !

A few photos not used in the report

Coffee Time

                                                                       I think the record is "Queen"  "I want to ride my bicycle."

The start of the "Straight Mile" ... a little over a kilometre actually

"MERRY CROSS THE MERSEY"

LIVERPOOL 4 Miles

Walkers :- Anthony, Martin, Mike, Jim, James
                   John W, Paddy, Harry, Tony (visitor)

This was the longest short walk we have ever done !

After picking up Jim C. we arrived at Ormskirk station where our guest walker Tony E. (John W's brother-in-law) was waiting for us. We soon parked, bought our tickets and boarded the waiting train for Liverpool Central. 

 We were soon leaving the train in Liverpool and after the obligatory "Elderly Gentlemen's" visit to the facilities we set off to our first  target - St Georges Hall. Here we stood outside to admire the poppies which had originally adorned the Tower of London.

 Harry admires the er....sandbags ????

While Martin.............Thinks !


We then climbed the steps and entered the stunning hall itself. Here, surrounded by such incredible grandeur we felt obliged to sit and partake of our first coffee.

 

It was difficult to drag ourselves away from this fascinating place but our second target beckoned. So uphill and through the university campus till we reached the Catholic Cathedral "Paddy's Wigwam". (the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King)

This atmospheric building kept us in thrall, especially as one of the attendants recognised Tony as the teacher of her children and engaged us in conversation. It was not long, however, before "Bread Alone" lost it's biblical resonance and we searched out the cafe for lunch. "Soup and a Roll" (More like half a loaf !)

Our "Walk" must be continued........so the comforting warmth of the cafe had to be left behind as we headed along Hope St. to our third target.

Past the "Everyman Theatre" and into the "Philharmonic " Pub,   (This is supposed to be a WALK !)  where halves 
all-round were consumed in the Victorian splendour of this 
 incredible pub.

 It was beginning to get increasingly difficult to drag ourselves out of this array of welcoming hostelries. Indeed we left Mike and Martin (M&M ?) to finish their drinks as we set our course for target 4. The Anglican Cathedral. On route we passed the  "Luggage sculpture" 

To explore the whole of this colossal edifice would take far longer than the time at our disposal but with the help of several of the attendants we were given a small but fascinating insight into a few of its "secrets". Here is an attendant showing us the mechanics of the baptismal Font,

The day was beginning to race towards its end so we left the Cathedral and headed, by way of target 5, China town, down to target 6 - the Albert Dock.

 As we walked round The Albert Dock it was decided that Caffeine levels were becoming dangerously low and ANOTHER warm and inviting cafe enticed us in for coffees and Hot Chocolates - SINFUL !

 As we sat chatting over our THIRD set of drinks a glance at  Harry told us that

the day had definitely run into the buffers and it was time to head home. (Sorry Harry couldn't resist.) but not before the rest of the group had also run into the buffers.

 A short(ish) walk now took us back to Liverpool Central where the train soon had us back to Ormskirk and the drive home.

I must point out that this "Walk" was not simply an urban food and drink "Fest" . As the last picture shows we did visit an area of trees.

This was a brilliant outing which gave us much more than I could fit into this short report and we will certainly be returning to Liverpool to revisit some of these targets and explore new ones.  Well done Anthony. 

FINALLY - A few pictures not used in the report.

Approaching 
St Georges Hall

A blast from the past for visitor Tony (Former pupils mum)

A Friendly "Rozzer" guarding the set of the BBC's new "Peaky Blinders" series

A well endowed stallion ........
.....Wink Wink, Nudge Nudge

Harry clocks 
the Albert docks

"Ho-o-meward bound"

Recently spotted in a camping shop and photo sent to me by my daughter-in-law Denh Pham  (pronounced Ying Fam)


"Now is the Winter of our Discount Tents"

What a good idea!

Thanks, Danny.