Staring mournfully out of the window Southey said, "how awful the weather has been lately, with seemingly endless rain."
Allen replied, "that storm last weekend was exceptional and caused so much flooding and heartbreak across Cumbria and Lancashire."
"We had 24 hours without electricity, but that was minor compared to other areas of Lancaster and Morecambe and nothing compared to the worst affected areas", went on Tetley.
Just then Grizzly, Little Eric and Shaun arrived with the flasks and cake tin.
"Great!". cheered Allen, "just the thing to brighten a depressing day."
Southey and Tetley had shot off to get the mugs and plates, the latter being passed around and Tetley helped Shaun fill the mugs with steaming tea.
As Allen opened his mouth to ask, Grizzly forestalled him, saying, "Little Eric has made apricot and peach slice, and I have made chocolate rice crispy slice."
"Ooh lovely", responded Allen, taking a piece of each.
So all was well with the world as we munched away happily, Tetley saying, "the cakes are delicious, pals."
"Mmm", agreed Southey through a mouthful. Then having swallowed, "thanks as always."
"You're welcome", replied Little Eric.
"So", said Shaun, "it seems ages since our last walk up Pendle Hill to complete the Bowland Fells challenge."
"Yes", agreed Southey. "That was a great day for me, as being the newest member of the group, I now have one completed challenge to my name."
"Well for one week Dad and Uncle Brian were at Armathwaite Hall, and since then this week has been very busy for Dad. Maybe we can get out sometime next week?", suggested Grizzly.
Allen quickly opened the calendar on the iPad, saying, "next week is busy too with Panararmer coming to fit the shower cubicle, meaning only Tuesday is available." He then quickly brought up the weather app. "Mmm, it looks like a dry but drab day, with cloud."
"Well, first we need a plan", said Little Eric.
"Not a day for the hills", mused Tetley, "and with what Dad has on next week we need to find a walk that does not involve too much driving."
"I know", said Shaun. "How about we do a walk from Jubilee Tower."
"Good idea", agreed Allen, "I'll get the map."
"Here's the start", pointed Shaun. "Seems best to head out via Hare Appletree, then round to come to the road at Yeat House.
"Then there are two alternatives", said Tetley. "A loop via Knowe Hill, or along the road and down via Clough Wood, the routes coming together at Heversham House."
Taking up the suggestions, Little Eric then said. "it is east to the road, then just a bit south to head east again to Borwicks and then turn north to gain the start."
"Sound great", agreed Southey. "So just the case of seeing if Dad will take us out."
"My job", said Allen, who before he set off commented, "I am pretty sure this will be almost totally new ground for us all."
"I am sure you are right", agreed Tetley.
So off Allen went. Meanwhile Shaun refilled his mug, as we all know what a tea belly Allen is, just like Dad.
A few minutes later he returned. "Oh thanks pal", he said, accepting the steaming mug. "It's on. Dad agrees it is time to get out again. So, we just have to hope the weather remains as forecast."
"Great", cheered Southey.
The Walk
So, giving time for the rush house traffic to clear, we set off soon after 09:00, on the now very familiar journey to the start.
As we rode along, Tetley said, "it is interesting that while doing the Bowland challenge we never actually started from Jubilee Tower."
"True, agreed Shaun. "The reason was that we did Clougha Pike and Grit Fell from near Quernmore, which was a less rough ascent had we done them from the tower."
It was as we had expected a dreary day, and as we neared the start the cloud and mist obscured the fells to the east. "Just as well we are not going up there then", said Allen.
Breezy and cool too, Dad's car being the only one in the car park, and we were to see no other walkers today. Opening the door the wind swirled round the car, and for a moment our enthusiasm wavered and we almost wished we were safe and warm at home with our pals. But then Shaun said, "we have been out on much worse days than this, so we must not be wimps."
"Quite" the rest of us called out, and we were then eager to be off.
Dad got quickly ready while we hunkered down in the rucksack. Shaun pointed saying, "we start along the signed path opposite by the tower." First we were to head to the farm almost in the mist, and the picture illustrates the drabness of the day.
"Why is it called Jubilee Tower?", asked Southey.
Grizzly quickly responded. "It was built by James Harrison of Hare Appletree, to commemorate the jubilee of Queen Victoria, in 1887."
"There is a viewing platform", said Dad. "I will take you up there when we get back. On a clear day there is a quite fantastic view out to the coast and to the Lakes, but sadly not today."
So now ready we crossed the road and headed down the rough boggy ground by the wall. After a few yards Dad said, "actually it would have been a better idea to walk on the concrete access track to Westfield House."
This is what Dad now did making a beeline, rather than sticking to the footpath. Through the farm it was over the cattle grid and on with the with wall to the right.
Coming soon to a corner Shaun called out, "we go right over that tiny stone footbridge and then the stone step stile."
Beyond walked the boggy pasture to cross a ditch and stile in a cross fence, and then on to a step gap stile in next wall.
"We keep by the fence to the right", instructed Shaun.
This led to crossing a stream and then a stile in the fence beyond and up the bank. Soon a boggy depression had to be crossed. The ground was very wet and slippy and suddenly Dad lost traction and his right leg folded under him.
"Ouch!", Dad called out, getting up gingerly.
"Are you alright?", asked Southey worriedly.
He grimaced then said, "yes lad. It has stretched the muscles, but I am fine to continue."
"Just to the right seems a less slippy place to cross", pointed out Tetley.
"Thanks lad."
Continuing, another stile was reached, where there were two alternatives. The ancient ladderstile and the newer step stile that Dad used.
Now at Hare Appletree Farm, we met the farmer who helped with directions through the yard. It was left, left and then right coming to a gate and on to another, here encountering this group of geese who noisily made their presence felt.
The path climbed drifting left to a gate and then on by the fence on left. Soon we climbed this by a stile and walked on now with the fence on the right to pass through another gate.
"A good view of the farm, but not the fells behind, all obscured by the low cloud", said Little Eric.
Striding on to a wall corner at a junction of paths, Shaun pointed and instructed, "we go right then left over that ladderstile."
Now crossing the field a wall faced us and Southey said, "are you sure this right, as I do not see any way over this wall."
Getting closer, Allen suddenly pointed and called out, "there's the step stile."
"Oh yes", replied Southey. Then contritely, "I'm sorry I doubted you Shaun."
"It's OK pal. It was hard to see."
After the stile Dad struck right by the wall down towards Booth Hall Farm. The route now was not clear and there were no waymarks to assist us. Shaun suggested "if we skirt left we can follow the access road."
"OK lad", agreed Dad.
With Shaun, Tetley was also looking at the map, and he said, "we are now heading to Black House, which if I am not mistaken can be seen at the top of that hill?"
"That's right", agreed Shaun. By now Dad had reached the point where the access road swung right to the farm. "So..", he went on, "we should bear off left through that gateway."
Beyond Dad climbed the field to shortly reach a gate, and on to pass Black House.
"Whew", said Southey. "I would never have sorted that out. Shows I have a lot to learn."
"I've been walking many years now", replied Shaun. "It will come with time, pal", he said comfortingly.
The way led right to a gate, then up the field to a stile and on by the hedge on the left to a surfaced track. Above was Welby Crag with its disused quarry now a small caravan park.
On along the track as it swung right, passing this pretty little pool, with the duck statue on the rock island...
...and leading us to the road at Yeat House Farm opposite. The footpath sign pointed through the buildings and just brought us to the road again as it loops round the farm.
Again no waymarks to assist and the map was not very helpful either. "Hmm", mused Shaun, somewhat stumped.
Grizzly came to his rescue, by suggesting the alternative route that we had muted when planning the walk. "How about we just continue on the road to the brow, and then take the path right that will bring us to Heversham House where both routes meet?"
"Fine by me", said Dad, when Shaun looked inquiringly in his direction.
The path at the brow was signed leading us across the field to a gate, and on ahead, Dad dropping down.
Too late Little Eric, who had glanced at the map said, "we should be keeping up by the fence."
"Sorry lads, I am not paying attention", replied Dad as he resolutely climbed back up to a gateway, and then on past Black Wood."
Approaching the next fence, Allen exclaimed, "well in all our walks, I have never seen a stile like that."
"No lad", agreed Dad, "that is indeed unusual."
The way was now to the building seen behind, passing left to another waymarked unusual stile into a field, then through a gate in the wall. Going right the route descended to yet another unusual stile, and finally a gate to Heversham House.
"It seems these stiles are just common to this area", remarked Little Eric. "And, if we had not changed the route, we would never had seen them, so I guess it was meant to be."
"We go left over the stream", said Shaun, "and then left on the access track."
This climbed to the road, passing the forlorn ruins of this farmhouse and barn.
"Look", called out Southey. "That sheep is posing for a picture."
"Oh no", cried Allen, "and here I was hoping we would get a sheep free story."
At the road Shaun said, "We go right, then left to that house we can see." Reaching this we saw the owner who told us the route was behind the house. Crossing the pasture we climbed the stile in the wall and then on to a footbridge and stile in the fence, near a small stone building.
"We head to the right end of Waste Wood", said Shaun. Here after a stile and footbridge it was steeply uphill to step stile in a fence and tiny stone footbridge.
Onwards via more stiles, to go left and down to a footbridge in a small wood and then up to the buildings at Borwicks. Skirted left round the back via two gates and then soon through the gate right in the fence to continue on as before. Now drifted right to a gate and on to come to Low Moor Head.
There was a seat here, and Grizzly said, "will you take our picture Dad?"
We had met the farmer, and Dad asked his permission, which he granted with a smile.
By this was a gap stile. Beyond it was by the fence to a ladderstile, then ahead to the next fence line.
Here Shaun gave his final instruction, saying, "we turn right and go through High Moor Farm and along the access the Trough road."
From there we turned left following the road as it climbed to the start.
"Will you take us up the tower?", asked Little Eric.
"Sure lads", agreed Dad.
We hopped out and managed to sit looking out towards Morecambe, waving our paws to Uncle Brian and our other pals.
"What a shame the view is so poor today", remarked Allen.
As we returned to the car, Tetley said, "when Shaun and I first climbed Ward's Stone in 2003, we were with Uncle Eric. Barnaby, Lee, Grizedale and Ginger came along to see him and you took our group picture on the bank by the car park. I know Barnaby and Co are not with us today, but it would be nice if we could try and replicate that shot."
"OK lads, settle down then."
As you can see Tetley and Shaun had thought we had sat by this boulder, but as the original shot shows we had in fact just sat on the bank. "Well it is close enough", commented Tetley, "and we would have been blown over in the wind today."
"My, my", exclaimed Little Eric, "how young you and Shaun look!
So that was that and we hurried to settle in the car and get warm. As Dad drove us home. he remarked, "the distance was eight miles, but it felt further, with the very wet conditions underfoot. Good to be out though."
