Mellor Brook. Tues 28 April 15


Mellor Brook. Tuesday 28th. April 2015

A good turnout of 22 group members and 3 dogs met at Mellor Brook for our usual 10 mile Tuesday walk.  The weather was quite bright and sunny but with a cold westerly wind, although nothing a light windproof couldn't keep at bay. The forecast was for showers, some reportedly likely to be wintry, particularly on high ground.
 
Our walk leader, Dave took us down Higher Common's Lane and across the fields, some of which had been recently ploughed, to Bowfields, which according to the sign on the house has been changed to Boughfields.  More fields took us to DaisyHill and onto Jackson's Bank Rd.  Pleasant field paths took us towards Balderstone Hall, with the Ribble down below us on the right.  A short sharp climb, the only one of the day, lifted us onto Bezza Lane, where an easy 2 or 3 mile walk saw us cross the A59 at the old Five Bared Gate.
 
Soon afterwards we had to cross a field occupied by quite a large herd of frisky young cattle, which almost ended with 2 of our lady members refusing to go any further.  Ken Peaks forever the gentleman escourted them across to safety.  We then came to an old building by the stream, which was in the process of being rebuilt, only for Paul to tell us that when he was a lad his grandfather lived there, in what was then called "The Hermitage".  Our route then took us past Nab's Head, Hoolster farm and Park Lane to recross the A677 and pick up more field paths back into Mellor Brook.
 
The weather, as it usually is, was kind to us with no rain, and the Ribble Valley, usually quite muddy was very dry and mud free.  Back to the cars just after 2.30pm after a pleasant walk of 11 miles.
 
Click on pictures to view.
 
 
Thanks Dave for this report and for leading the walk. We haven't walked this area very often and many who took part were surprised at how pleasant it all looked.