No I didn't know the distance until I plotted the route, which can be viewed at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6110784
Why this route? Well there were a couple of woodland that I've passed many times on my journeys up and down the M58 that I often thought, "We'll do a walk one Sunday to take a closer look at those woods". Today was that day.
The other reason,it was close to home and there was an off chance of rain!
Approaching from Church Road to Bickerstaffe, we parked at the church.
Heading back along Church Road, we turned right along the edge of,then through, Intake Wood.
Crossing fields,using very clear well kept paths we skirted Jubilee Wood and then across the A570.
It's difficult to imagine the now disused mine shafts when mining was active here. The woodland, well established, hiding the slag heap and any signs of mining. This whole area must have been so different.
Lots of signs of Autumn with leaves changing colour, that autumnal aroma and fungi.
Some of you may wonder why we meandered as much as we did, before reaching Collery Plantation, next to White Moss Road South. Well let's just say it avoided going through farmyards and the potential of confrontations with farm-dogs. Something one of us isn't comfortable with.
There was an interesting collection of plants just before entering Collery Plantation.
Will certainly attract a wide range of birds.
A slight detour, to look at the lake in Collery Plantation,
...and we were off again to walk to, what we had avoided so far. Lyelake Farm!
Chris wondered if the farm's name was linked with the mining activity in this area. Lye is a term that can refer to the liquid obtained by leaching ashes (containing largely potassium carbonate or "potash"), or to a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. It is commonly the alternative name of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or historically potassium hydroxide (KOH). Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are used in soap making. Sodium hydroxide is often used to make solid soap while potassium hydroxide is used to make liquid soap. Soaps made of potassium hydroxide are softer and can more easily be dissolved in water than sodium hydroxide soaps.
We had commented about how many fields of potatoes hadn't been harvested. Walking through the farm answered that question. Every barn, trailer and other storage spaces were packed to the brim.
It was also nice to see the Saddle Back pigs. In this field, between Lyelake Plantation and Lyelake Lane, was one boar with seven sows.
Crossing the A570, next to the Stanley Gate Pub, well worth a visit (although on our last visit the food was good but, the choice of Bitter Beers was poor) we made our way past the now converted windmill and through another plantation following Bickerstaffe Brook.
Across The M58, via a footbridge, we made our way past Little Wood, onto Hall Lane and back to Bickerstaffe Church.
Another nice walk on the Merseyside, Lancashire borders and yes we avoided the rain!
No comments:
Post a Comment