Hoghton Rd. Leyland. Tuesday 25th.August 15

To view Terry's pictures click Here' then click slideshow box.

The walk today was from Clare and Terry's bungalow in Leyland, an almost level walk around Leyland, Ulnes Walton area and Worden Park and back. The weather was dry but overcast, 25 members and 3 dogs set off with Terry leading the way, first along the River Lostock passing through what is now called Hocking Woods, past old Stone fencing erected in early 1700's, up past rugby fields for the Leyland Warriors team for young players, then past Malt Kiln Farm, on towards the Old ammunition storage bunkers of World War 2 for the R.O.F factory which are now just meadows.

Next, passing behind Garth and Whymott prisons, then along Ridley Lane to Littlewood Hall Farm, turning left back along the River Lostock, near where it joins the River Douglas, the Ribble, then the sea. We came out at Lostock Bridge Farm, Ulnes Walton Lane, along Holker Lane turning left across more fields, back to the river where we stopped at 12:30 for lunch, a nice relaxing place. 

Off again more fields, then some very young bullocks which did not like the dogs much but it made it a bit exciting, to say the least. Out onto Leyland Lane, up Altcar Lane to Altcar Farm, where they do very intensive chicken and egg production, in to more fields, then onto the sting in the tail for this walk. Over half the group got stung by wasps, as there was a wasps nest under the stile, there sure was some rare dance moves and shouting going on for a while, Terry lost all his 10 points in this one go!

Anyway on into Worden Park, photo stop at a folly over Shaw Brook, then on to see the model trains, walled garden, craft centre, formal gardens and Worden Hall, most of which was destroyed by fire in 1941, then to see the 300 year old Ice House where the owners of Worden Hall, the Farington family, kept their food and drink cold during the warm months, packed in ice and snow collected during the winter. We then saw a large green stone, reputed to have come from the Helvellyn area in the Lake District during the last ICE AGE DRIFT. We then continued back through the woods, past Wade Hall Estate, back along the River Lostock, to finish the walk back at the bungalow where Clare had made ready cakes and biscuits and hot drinks for everybody. A great end to an eventful days walk, to say the least. Overall most people said they had enjoyed it, thanks to everybody for coming.

Regards

Terry

Thanks a lot Terry for leading the 11.5 mile walk, the tour of a World Champion's budgie trophy shed, taking the pictures and doing this report. Thanks also to Clare for the cakes and drinks at the finish. Very much appreciated.