Tetley strolled in. "Your Lake District magazines have arrived pals."
"Thanks" replied Allen and Southey together. "We can't wait to see what interesting articles there are this month."
"Has your Dalesman come?", asked Allen.
"Yes" replied Tetley. "I'm looking forward to reading it.
Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived just then bringing tea and cakes.
"Ooh", great cheered Southey, as he went to get the mugs and plates.
"I'll lend a paw to pour the tea", volunteered Allen.
"Thanks pal" replied Shaun.
"What's the cake today?", asked Southey.
"I have done fruit scones", said Grizzly. "Little Eric has made chocolate caramel shortbread."
We all dug in and with cakes on our plates and steaming mugs in paw, all was well with the world.
"The scones are delicious" said Shaun.
"And the chocolate caramel shortbread is scrumptious", added Southey.
"So I see", laughed Allen. That's your third piece. And you call me a cake stuffer."
Turning our thoughts to walking, Shaun said, "Dad and I have been looking for somewhere to go this Sunday, as currently the forecast is good.". He spread out OL5 and pointed to junction 39 on the M6. "There is parking on the link road to the A6. Dad has highlighted a route from there up past Hardendale as far as Wintertarn Farm and across to Threapland and so south to the start. There is also an interesting stone circle and standing stone to visit too."
We all studied the map, Tetley saying, "this looks to be a good walk and we will be exploring a totally new area."
"Let's hope the weather forecast stays the same", enthused Little Eric.
It was not far to the start. A familiar drive up the Lune Valley through the villages of Caton, Claughton and Hornby. Then on to soon come to Melling.
"The start is down Vicar Lane, off the A683 just through the village", said Dad.
By the junction was a small layby where he parked. Soon ready and us settled in the rucksack, Dad strode off down the lane.
It meandered passing the entrance to this house.
"I like the horse sculptures", commented Southey. "Must be stables, I guess?"
Commenting on the house name, Tetley smiled, "I hope it is a long time before that happens to us."
At the lanes end, this sign clearly, gave our continuing direction.
Shortly passed through a kissing gate to continue along a muddy path by a fence/hedge. It was a bit slippy and noting the very boggy area to the right, Little Eric said, "take care Dad, we don't want to end up in there."
Soon a stile came into view ahead that we crossed and immediately a second.
A large pool was adjacent. "This is part of the Old Lune", said Allen. "The course of the river long ago."
Beyond can be seen some of the many arches that carry the railway over the River Lune and its many tributaries."
"We should keep on the hedge until a corner", said Shaun.
Reaching this it was left by the hedge to pass though two gates in close succession and then straight ahead across the very large field to a gate onto a track.
"We follow this to the village", instructed Shaun.
It swung left, the field over the hedge being full of sheep. "Oh no", called out Allen, seeing one was posing, and did not run away when Dad got the camera out.
"Out of luck again with sheep pictures", snickered Southey.
"Stop winding Allen up", scolded Dad.
"Those are very ornate gates", pointed Tetley
Another identical set were just a few yards further on. "There must be quite the impressive property behind them", mused Grizzly.
Under trees the track soon swung right and climbed becoming...
...where we joined the A683 in Melling.
Across the road was the church. "We have been up through the churchyard a few years ago to view what is left of the motte and bailey, said Tetley."
"And we had our lunch sitting on that seat by the church gate", said Allen.
"Trust you to remember that", laughed Little Eric.
"Good place for our picture today", commented Shaun.
Melling is a pretty village with many stone houses full of character.
Reaching the junction Shaun instructed, "we take Lodge Lane, the road to Wennington."
Shortly Little Eric called out, "there's another wall post box." Looking closely he said, "this is much more modern than the one at Patton Bridge. That was from the reign of Queen Victoria, this is from our current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II."
As Dad strode on, Shaun gave directions again. "We pass the school then when the road forks take the left."
Reaching a track off to the left, Shaun said, "we ignore this and keep on ahead."
Looking left, Allen said, "there are some autumn colours. Make a nice picture for the story."
Again Shaun gave instructions, as Dad walked on. "Where the track turns right, we should look for a gate or stile on the left into a field."
Keeping a look out it was Southey who called out, "there's the stile tucked in the corner."
Climbing the field keeping near the hedge, Shaun said, "we pass under the electricity line, keep left of the pylon."
"Which one?" queried Allen, spotting two ahead.
"The one in the middle", replied Shaun. He then said, "we are looking for a barn."
Reaching the crest, we looked about, and seeing none, prompted Grizzly to say, "it must have a cloaking device active." This is because he watches all the sci-fi programmes with Dad.
"We are meant to go through a gate into the wood by this", said Shaun.
Admittedly the walk was published nearly 40 years ago, so despite Grizzly's comment, we assumed the barn must have been demolished. Then Tetley pointed, "look there's the gate about half way along the fence."
The indistinct path led through the woodland, passing through two gates. After the second, now on more of a track this led to the road at the hamlet of Wrayton.
We stopped to look about at the houses, this one being particularly impressive with its ivy clad walls. An Internet search revealed that this is Wrayton Farmhouse and Grade II listed.
"Our way is through that gap stile into the grounds of Wrayton Old Hall", pointed Shaun.
The path is very narrow squeezed between hedges then towards its end a fence and hedge and down to a stile that can just be made out over the fence.
The River Greta was now to our right along the field boundary. Keeping close to this we soon arrived at a stile gained by a few metal steps, which brought us out onto the A683 at Greta Bridge.
"Cross the road and through the gap stile by the bridge, now", called out Shaun.
Ahead a clear path took us by the River Greta. It starts in Ingleton at the confluence of the River Twiss and River Doe. Here it is near its end, shortly to flow into the River Lune.
The path soon brought us to a low embankment that led us on and on by the Greta almost to its confluence with the River Lune. Here the path swung left to a stile and then still along a slight rise led through trees.
Finally the path led us to a gate and a cross track. "It's right", said Shaun.
"Oh lordy!", exclaimed Little Eric, "that looks extremely muddy."
"Is there no alternative?", queried Tetley.
"Sadly no", replied Shaun.
The first few yards were not too bad as the grass in the centre gave support but then after it was just mud and more mud. Boot sucking and slippy too. Progress was slow, but it was accomplished without mishap.
"I will be very glad when we get a spell of dry weather and the landscape dries out", said Dad with feeling.
Reaching solid ground, Dad paused and took this shot of some of the many arches of the Arkholme Viaduct.
Allen called out, "I can hear the rumble of a train approaching."
"That was lucky", laughed Grizzly. "On a Sunday there are only six trains on this line."
The train is caught crossing this bridge...
...that we walked under to join our outwards route, turning left to the start.
"I'm so glad we got out" cheered Southey.
"Aye lad, the fresh air has done me good", agreed Dad.
Dad had planned to go to the tearooms in Hornby, but his trousers were so muddy at the bottom, he decided to just go home.
Had Uncle Brian been able to see the state Dad was in, he would have called him a 'dirty little tyke', and ordered him into the shower, which is exactly what Dad did.
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