All well. We had steaming mugs in paw, and there was cake.
"Ahh bliss", sighed Allen, taking another piece of blueberry slice. "It is quite delicious, Grizzly."
"Thanks pal."
"So it the chocolate coconut and cherry slice from you Little Eric" said Tetley, with a look of delight on his face.
"We love baking. It is very calming and good for the soul", Little Eric replied.
"We never ever take it for granted", said Shaun.
Southey turned the conversation to walking. "We have had a good run of walks this month with Dad, and some with the company of Uncle Eric too. I know it is bank holiday, but Dad will not be going to Elaine's on Monday. The weather looks to be good so perhaps Dad will take us out."
"Somewhere not too busy", mused Grizzly.
"How about from the Scorton Picnic Area?", said suggested Little Eric.
"I think we have found all the routes from there", replied Tetley. "But I am not averse to a repeat, but it would be nice to find a new route, and so another story for our website."
Shaun was looking at the map for that area and said, "Forton village is on the other side of the A6. There is a car park marked on the map. How about we try and devise a route from there."
We huddled over the iPad Tetley saying, "we could walk along School Lane to the Cockerham Road. Cross the canal and take the path to Centre Farm then left all the way to Cockerham."
"Yes", agreed Allen. "From there if we walk to the church we can come south via Little Crimbles Farm as far as Burns Bridge then strike east to Crookhey Farm."
"Nearly there", said Little Eric excitedly. "If we then go right to Forton Hall Farm and left along Stoney Lane we can then take the path over the canal and across to Forton."
"Super" cheered Southey. "I'm sure Dad will agree, especially as Allen will be asking. He never refuses him."
"I hope so", said Allen. "Sunday will be my 20th birthday. The weather is poor for then, but I can celebrate it Monday."
"Goodness me, I can hardly believe it", said replied Tetley. "20!, how the years have flown by pal."
The day was basically cloudy with a cool wind, but dry.
Turning off the A6 we drove into Forton. "The car park is by the junction with Winder Lane", advised Shaun.
"Here", called out Grizzly. "By the bowling green and children's play area."
Dad was soon ready and we snuggled into the rucksack. "Left along School Lane" instructed Shaun.
Soon progress was stopped as Little Eric called out, "there's the post box. Please take a picture for my collection, Dad."
Across the road stands the beautifully kept war memorial.
"What a lovely house", pointed Southey. "It is named Rosary."
Strolling on we passed the substantial building of the village hall.
Out if the village we walked the lane. "That's a nice tree. A picture for the story, Dad", said Tetley.
Coming to Cockerham Road, Southey said, "go left, and cross the canal by the narrow bridge."
He started up the slope but quickly retreated onto the verge. "cars coming lads", he said. Those passed by but almost immediately there were another two.
Then seeing it clear he stepped forward, only for Allen to call out, "there's car coming up behind."
After those passed by we finally made it over. "Phew", said Grizzly. "It's a busy little road."
Just a minute or so later, Shaun instructed, "it's right here along the access track to Centre Farm. Follow through the buildings and where the track bends sharp right, take the gate on the left."
Here he issued the next instruction. "Cross the field to the far right corner."
The gate there was tied up. "Huh, not very walker friendly", muttered Tetley, as Dad nimbly climbed over.
Continuing ahead with the hedge to the right, it was then over a waymarked stile in the hedge and left as directed to a footbridge...
...spanning the River Cocker.
Striding on by the hedge the path led through an open gateway to come to a gate to the right. "We need to get over the stile by it", advised Southey.
"Could do with a bit of repair", remarked Grizzly, as Dad carefully negotiated it.
The waymark pointed us left. Little Eric said, "I guess we need to drift a little right to that gate."
"Yes pal", agreed Shaun.
There we continued by the hedge and over this stile...
...to walk on in the same direction on the opposite side of the hedge, over the hill, and down to nettle bound stile onto hedged and walled path to road at Cockerham.
Familiar territory, Tetley said, "left, and then down the lane past the Parish Hall, where we have parked a few times on other walks."
At the end is the imposing St Michael's Church.
"It will be locked, as we found out in May", said Grizzly. "I can tell you a bit about it. The oldest surviving part of the original church is the tower dating from the 16th century. The body of the church was rebuilt in 1814 and replaced again in 1910-11 by Lancaster architects Austin and Paley. The plan consists of a five-bay nave with clerestory and two-bay chancel. North and south aisles, a south transept with a vestry and tower."
"Thanks pal", replied Allen, as we made to walk the signed path on the right that runs outside the wall to a kissing gate."
"We've been here before on that walk in May", stated Tetley. "Then it was right on the paved path to the road."
"Opposite way today though", replied Little Eric. "Left along by the wall?"
Shaun and Southey studied the map, and coming to an agreement, Southey said, "no pal. We must head across the rough field to just the left end of those few houses."
There it was obviously along by the hedge, then over the stile in it and onwards in the same general direction to the far right corner.
"Where now?", mused Little Eric.
"There is the remnants of stile", pointed Allen. "It must be along the edge of this planted maize field."
The path was rather rough and difficult to negotiate, Dad saying, "At least it is by the edge, not like when we walked from Beetham, and we had to make our way thought the middle of the maize. It was hard to know we were going in the right direction."
Rounding the field right at the top, and over the footbridge we continued on by the river. "Yuck", called out Grizzly, seeing the mud by the kissing gate.
By the river we continued to pass left of Little Crimbles Farm. "Ignore the footbridges to the farm", advised Shaun. "Keep ahead past the farm and through the kissing gate and onwards by the River Cocker."
After two large fields we arrived at the graceful little Burns Bridge.
Dad climbed over the fence by the gates that were tied up. A family were there with their two dogs. Their difficulty was getting the dogs over the stile.
Dad said, "I did not notice the stile."
There was a little chat with them while this was accomplished. Then ignoring the bridge we walked up the pasture away from the river.
"We are heading to Crookhey Farm", stated Southey.
Ahead was what we thought was this, and where there were a large number of cars parked. This rather distracted Dad and he was set on getting there. In fact as we checked later we had gone wrong. Shaun said. "we should have gone along the path right past the barn."
Instead we went left and then to the right having to climb a few gates, the last two being into and out of a paddock to the car park and the home of Wallings Ice Cream. After reaching the car park, Grizzly pointed to the sign clearly stating the route we had taken was private and not to climb the gates!!
Oh well never mind. No comments were made by the people there. There was lots of coming and going and yes it was bank holiday, but it was quite obvious the ice cream must be very good!
"I'll have to come here on a quieter day and try it", said Dad.
"Aww, look at that little goat. So cute", said Allen.
At the entrance Tetley remarked, "those cow statues will make a nice picture."
Striding right we passed Crookhey Farm, Tetley pointing, "there's the signpost for the path we should have come along."
Just beyond Little Eric called out, "there's a post box. A picture please Dad."
By Forton Hall Farm, Southey instructed, "it's left along Stoney Lane."
"Look at the beautiful window in that house", called out Grizzly.
Here we met an elderly couple. The gentleman commented to Dad, "that's a proper camera."
As a result quite a chat ensued. Having lived in the countryside they had downsized and now live in Garstang. He told us that in his day he had been very interested in gun dogs and shooting. A lovely little interlude.
Walking on, Shaun advised, "we take the path off the lane near the access to Goose Green."
A few minutes later Allen pointed, "there's the stile."
A stile at the far right corner gave access to a track which we followed left to cross the Lancaster Canal by Smiths Bridge.
Over a stile then on towards two gates by the canal.
"A seat", cried Grizzly. "Just the place for our picture to include in the story."
Settled again in the rucksack, Southey instructed, "we take the right of the two gates, then straight on to a crossroad of paths."
The cows were a bit inquisitive, but caused no real problems, leaving them behind after the kissing gate at far side, to keep on along a good path by maize and passing a pool.
"What a noise", commented Shaun.
"It's all the ducks", called out Little Eric. "There's lots and lots of them on the bank."
Then it was over a footbridge to follow the clear path via stile and gate onto School Lane, and so right to the car.
"A very enjoyable walk", said Allen.
"Yes lads. Thank you for devising it", replied Dad.
"Aye another grand day out", went on Tetley.
