Photos by Michael S - Please click on photos to see a larger one
All Health Walks have been cancelled but Jimmy and Michael turned up to walk.
This is the first walk that has been destroyed by the coronavirus!
Jimmy was scheduled to lead but after some discussion Michael persuaded him to walk along the river to Lower Kem Mill. We took the opportunity to do a longer walk.
We set off from the Car Park into the Pinetum and down
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Cardiac Hill over the Wooden Bridge turning right to walk along the Cycle Path but not for long.
We left the path to walk
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along the river, usually too muddy at this time of year but surprisingly very dry. Both of us were surprised how clear it was of scrub and several new trees had fallen and formed flood barriers for Bamber Bridge and Lostock all and I suppose all points along the Lostock.
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We reached the Stepping Stones and
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crossed
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Looking up stream from the Stepping Stones
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Again we were surprised how dry the path through the field was
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with one exception
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looking back down the river
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This tree caught my attention - not really worth photographing
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Passing Peter Wragg's Bridge and crossing Town Brow
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into the south section of the Park
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As we started to climb up I noticed that hidden under the undergrowth was this wall. One always wonders what purpose these walls had when they were constructed.
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Now approaching the highest point
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with Daffodils on the right
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and sheep in the field on the left, much lower down and the eagle eyed will spot the farmer on a quad bike rounding them up
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Over the top and beginning the descent, Jimmy getting a little fed up of Michael stopping to take photos
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The Lostock wandering around the lower fields
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Blackthorn Blossom
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Keeping close to the river one wonders why the Whittle Walkers never leave to Cycle Path to walk along the river. Reaching the point where the figures are in Photo 39 we carried straight on, still off the path, through the woods coming out at the Footbridge, crossing
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and walking up the hill
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Rabia's church tower in the distance
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The gorse bush blooming
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Celandine in the hedgerow
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A Coot on the first pond
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Coltsfoot, a real sign of spring which really excites me - when I was a lad they were everywhere but now seem to be less evident
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Ducks on the Third Pond
We followed the path crossing Wood End Road and walking up to Back Lane .
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I think this is the farmer who leases some Park land
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Daffodils along the Ley Inn wall
We entered Sheephill Wood and walking through the wood, dropped down only to climb up again to Glenmore eventually reaching Sheephill and crossing into Cam Lane
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Walking along Cam Lane the pond has lost most of it's Jenny Greenteeth. Leaving Cam Lane
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we walked along the path with the Ponderosa in the distance
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and Preston. We continued down the steps into the Cow Field and through the Lower Kissing Gate into the edge of Gravel Hole Wood.
Here we parted our company. Jimmy carried on down the path, on to the Cycle Path, over the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill, into the Pinetum and back to the car while Michael walked through Gravel Hole Wood, over the WI Bridge into Dog Kennel wood
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where I saw this Crow? on the edge of the Path. Once on the computer this photograph revealed nest building material in its beak
Leaving Dog Kennel Wood and crossing over to the Lake,
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walking round the west edge along the Dam
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before struggling down the Long Steps
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Again this Heron revealed itself when the photo was enlarged.
Walking across the Picnic Area
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over the Stone Bridge and up
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Snake Hill - oh to be young again
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A Tit in a tree bordering the Car Park
No Elite walk today
Today's walks (Red Main Group, Green Short Walk Option Group).
Where there are green arrows on the red route it means the Elite walkers had followed the main >> or the main group had followed the Elite walkers >>. similarly for the blue arrows
Compiled by Michael Swarbrick with grateful to Jimmy for turnig up and agreeing to the long walk, 4.5 miles
café
Cam Lane
Cam Lane Cottage
The Chorley Walks.
Cinder Path
Cock Cabin Wood
Cuerden Hall
Cuerden Valley's Health Walk
Lower Kem Mill
Hawksclough Farmhouse
Tree Sculpture
Park
Pinetum
Ponderosa
Visitors Centre
