Claughton and Brock Bottoms 8.5 miles Walkers Anthony. Vic. Paddy, Mike H. Mick K and Danny

All kitted up and ready to embark on this weeks adventure. Starting from the car park at Barton Grange garden centre we are on our way

After crossing the A6 we passed through the used car lot beside the railway footbridge, where one or two high end cars were on sale.

Crossing the footbridge took us onto a path running alongside the River Brock.

The gentle sound of the river was disturbed by the noise of the M6 motorway passing over it.

After crossing a footbridge over the river, we made our way along a private road to the inaptly named New Bridge, which has been there since Adam were a lad. This is our usual place to stop for a brew when passing this way, and so it was today.

Crossing over the road we continued following the river along a path beside some (well out of our price range houses), but where the owners had taken pride in keeping the path well maintained.

As we passed the wheatfield in the background, the crop looked like it was ready for harvesting, but the growth was looking stunted. The farmers on this occasion had obviously not been crying wolf 

On reaching Walmsley Bridge we crossed the metal stile and turned left crossing the bridge and on up Walmsley Bridge Road, passing this well known natural feature.

A short distance along the lane brought us to a stile on the left. Crossing the stile we entered a boggy field devoid of any livestock, but with ample evidence that they had been there. Not I may add due to an abundance of cow pats, but by the deep depressions in the soft ground, which made progress rather slow. After crossing another stile and another field, we arrived at May Lane. Turning right then immediately left took us onto Smithy lane which led to to St Mary's RC Primary School.

A couple of hundred yards past the school, on the right is the well kept church graveyard, and our dinner venue. 

Retracing our steps, we passed the school and continued straight ahead on a footpath which brought us out further down May Lane.

We continued along May Lane until we reached a bend in the road with two mirrors on a post, at which point we turned right along a farm track.

The track, as it neared a farmhouse turned left and entered a wood (Bannister Hey Wood). Carrying on along the path we crossed a footbridge. After crossing the bridge the footpath split. We took the path to the right, but right was wrong. 

We had to backtrack and follow the other one, which broadened out into a long uphill stony path out of the valley

At the end, nay, top of the path, we turned right onto Stana Lee Lane.

First right was Walmsley Bridge Lane. We arrived at the bridge from the opposite direction from the way we had set of down it earlier in our walk. We rested here and had a last swig from our flasks, before heading back to Barton Grange along the same route as we had travelled at the start of our walk.

                       Thanks Anthony for a very enjoyable walk.

GRIMSARGH

A STILE-ISH  WALK  5miles

WALKERS :- Anthony, Vic, Mike, Martin, 

                       Danny, Paddy, John W

As we parked up in Grimsargh Park we were joined by one of our number who has been unwell and unable to join us for quite some time.   JAMES  had come to say hello and see is off on the walk.

Our group's average age is around the mid seventies so not surprisingly there are ailments to be taken into consideration when planning walks. Knee and hip replacements as well as other major problems mean that stiles can be difficult. Your writer - today's leader, "Cocked up Big Time" as there were 5 stiles in the first half mile. Oh Dear !

Leaving the park we followed the Longridge road as far as "The Plough" pub where a narrow alley led to stile No 1.

Stile No 1

This took us onto the old rail route from Preston to Longridge Not for long, however, as we quickly arrived at the next stile.

Stile No.2

Across a field and then following the fenced banks of the old Grimsargh Reservoirs now partially drained and renamed  "The Grimsargh Wetlands"  nature reserve.

Stile No.3 followed shortly but somebody (me !) forgot to photo it. But never mind Stile No. 4 was upon us or rather we were upon it very quickly.

Stile No.4 (to the left of locked gate)

4 was followed  IMMEDIATELY by 5

Stile No.5

 

That was the last stile for a mile or two (thank goodness) and led us onto the causeway through the wetlands.

This is what can be found at the bottom of John W's garden

From the Wetlands it was only a few metres back to the Longridge road.

A left turn and another quarter of a mile along the road found us at Alston Lane church where several benches in the graveyard offered seating for our morning coffee.

A short walk between the school and the presbytery 

Above is the back  of Alston Lane Pimary school where a right turn down a rough track took us to stile No. 6.

Stile No.6

The next few hundred metres were along a "permissive" footpath

... where a strong barbed wire fence separated us from this impressive beast.

and also from this equally impressive but rather more charming "Baby" beast.

The permissive footpath ended at stile No.7 (not photographed) and then a short distance down Alston Lane we came to Thorn Lane which we were to follow.

Thorn Lane proved to be a delightful, quiet country Lane

Danny in a poetically bucolic pose.

Never mind the oldies this is a photo of a white cyclamen (centre bottom ),

At the end of Thorn Lane was Jenkinsons Farm (spelled Jinkinsons on the Ordnance Survey map ).  The farm had a beautiful garden.... I took a photo of it........

 ......Oops ! well that's a nice wall anyway. Let's hope Danny's photo comes out better.

The path now took us through a field next to the farm where we passed stile No 8. This was, however,  disqualified as it was of a different genre and was not needed. Mike however, was happy to demonstrate it's  "Style".

Crossing the field it was essential to keep to the straight and not-so-narrow.

Often on our walks we are rewarded by displays of wild flowers. This walk did not disappoint.

From the field a track took us through a group (hamlet) of very upmarket houses......

.... before delivering us to a bend of Alston Lane. Round the bend (We possibly are) we came to the next footpath sign that pointed down a track towards what John W remembered as a junk yard. It was lunch time and at the entrance to the farmyard some handy stones made do as seats.

Sitting on a little bridge (look carefully) was a handsome Leprechaun......... Well a Vic really.

And then a little friend joined us begging to share our lunch.

The farmer came out to say hello. John W, ever the diplomat asked him what had happened to the "Junk Yard".

 "There was never a Junk yard it was always a farm," he protested. Profuse apologies from our crass leader.

Off again over the next stile. Stile No 8.  Paddy was sitting on it to have his lunch (see a previous photo)

This was followed by stiles No. 9 and No. 10 which were literally inches apart crossing two hedges forming a corner. As we made our way round the Junkyard -   No ! no ! FARM ! the farmer In spite of our "Faux Pas"  cheerfully waved us on our way with directions for the best path.

Out into fields again and soon arriving at stile No. 11,

"Those Blue Remembered Hills".  On the horizon you can see the Bowland fells with Parlick and Fairsnape prominent. From here the fields became very wet and muddy, Water and mud were not the only things which made us tread carefully.

You will notice the nasty wee beasties on this cow pat. Clegs or horse flies. They can deliver a painful bite.

Not far to go now and only stiles No.12 and No.13 to negotiate. Mind you gateways were not much better.

This mud was DEEP !

Danny Creeps round the edge.

Whilst Vic clings desperately to the gate post.

Out onto Elston Lane and soon back in Grimsargh but not before discovering some unpleasant graffiti on a bridge's parapet.

Back in Grimsargh just opposite the terrace where John W lives.

Much to the derision of the others John W declined the walk to the park as he would only have to walk back and anyway he had done that in the morning before they had set off.  So there !

"Bye everybody. See you next week."

THE END