It was Thursday, Allen commenting, "1st May. Already a third of the year gone."
"Aye pal", replied Tetley. "The time passes so quickly."
"We have been blessed; such good weather that looks to be settled for another week or two, which has meant we have had lots of adventures.
"We should make the most of it as eventually the weather will change to rain and wind. It is to be hoped that this will not be in the summer", said Southey.
"I'm thirsty", said Allen. "Ready for tea."
Tetley let out a laugh, "no surprise, tea belly."
Just minutes later Allen's prayers were answered with Shaun arriving with the flasks and Grizzly and Little Eric with the cakes.
Allen had already got the mugs and plates, and lent a paw to Shaun to fill the mugs.
"Thank you pal."
Grizzly announced. "Little Eric has made tiffin. I have made peach and apricot slice."
"Yummy", cried Southey taking one of each.
"Both are delicious", went on Tetley. "Thank you as always for your efforts."
Meanwhile Allen was getting on with slaking his thirst, asking Shaun to refill his mug for a third time.
Our thoughts then turned to walking. Little Eric iPad in paw said, "Dad is free on Saturday. Perhaps we can get another walk in?"
"I am happy to ask, but we need a suggestion", replied Allen.
Tetley said, I have been looking at the map and have an idea, starting from Wennington, where we can park at the station." Taking the iPad he opened the OS Maps app, to explain. From Wennington we walk on Lodge Lane then just past Wennington Hall take the path north all the way to Wrayton. From there is it south west almost to Melling. Then on Lodge Lane again return in the direction of Wennington but then along the access to Lodge Farm, where walk the paths to Tatham and to the B6480. Along Park Lane to leave on path north to the start."
"Sounds a great route", said Grizzly. "Lots of new paths too."
"I agree", said Allen as he picked up the iPad and and went to see Dad. "Please fill my mug again", he called out.
"How many has he had?", asked Tetley.
"It will be his sixth", replied Shaun.
Laughing Tetley said, "I told you. He has hollow legs!"
Soon back, Allen said, "thanks pal", as he took the steaming mug. "Dad likes our suggestion. It's on for Saturday."
"Great", cheered Little Eric. "Here's to the best Dad in all the world."
We awoke to a more cloudy day with sunny intervals, but for Dad is was warm enough for shorts and t-shirt.
The drive was ever so familiar being the route Dad takes most Mondays when going to meet friends at Elaine's at Feizor.
We parked at Wennington Railway Station.
Dad ready and us safely tucked in the rucksack, Shaun instructed, "turn right over the bridge."
"I can tell you about this", said Grizzly, getting his notes out. "It was built in the early nineteenth century. Constructed in furrowed sandstone ashlar with rock faced abutments. As can be seen there are three arches the central one being wider with rounded cutwaters. The soffits of the arches have masons' marks. This is probably the 'Wenning Bridge' whose foundation stone was laid in 1822. It is Grade II listed."
This spans the River Wenning.
Looking down from the bridge Tetley pointed, "there's the Pinfold. The enclosure where loose animals were placed until the owners came to claim them. A fee was due then called 'Pin Money'. This is the origin of that saying."
By the road junction stands these houses. Allen said, "you once told us Dad that these were formerly a public house."
Grizzly piped up, "yes Dad is right. I found some information on the Wennington Community site. So here goes. Built between 1850 to 1870, for much of its life it was known as The Foster’s Arms Hotel, serving Tetley’s Ales and offering accommodation at a daily rate of 8/6 in the early 20th century. Eventually, the building was bought by a Mrs Young who expressed to her husband an interest in turning it into a milk bar, that most fashionable of 1950s and 60s enterprises. On hearing this, her husband told her she’d have to be a ‘crazy cow’ to even consider it! Thus, she named her milk bar Crazy Cow and the name has stayed with the building to this day. Following the death of Mr & Mrs Young, it fell into disrepair and eventually went on the market in 2004 and was subsequently bought and converted by a local builder into 3 houses and 2 flats in 2007."
"Ahh pal, you really add so much interest to our stories. Thank you", said Southey.
In yards we stopped again, as Little Eric called out, "please take a picture of the post box for my collection."
"Left here along Lodge Lane", pointed Shaun.
This took us past Wennington Hall.
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Grizzly told us, "in early history this was the seat of William de Wennington. In the 14th century it passed to the Morley family. In 1674 the hall was sold to Henry Marsden M.P. for Clitheroe. It descended to Henry Marsden, who lived at the hall with his younger brother John, known as 'Silly Marsden', and their aunt. Henry died in 1780 from alcoholism and John was induced by his guardian aunt and her ambitious husband to sell the hall and buy Hornby Castle. Wennington Hall was bought in 1788 by Rev Anthony Lister, who took the surname Marsden. The hall was later sold to Richard Saunders in 1841. The present building was designed by Lancaster architect Edward Graham Paley and constructed in 1855-56 for Richard's son William Allen Francis Saunders. After him it passed to Charles Morley Saunders and later William Morley Saunders. During the Second World War it housed Wennington School, who moved to Ingmanthorpe Hall in Yorkshire at the end of the war. From 1954 until 2022 it was occupied by Wennington Hall School, a Lancashire County Council boarding school for boys with learning or behavioral difficulties. After the school's closure it was acquired by Bowland Inns and Hotels and has been converted to a hotel and wedding venue. It carries Grade II listed status."
"Wow pal we have hardly started the walk but you have educated us so much", called out Tetley.
At end of wall Southey instructed, "right through the wooden gate to V shaped stile."
In the field, the path was clearly over the hill in front, and on down to a similar stile with this fine view ahead. "That's Gragareth to the right", pointed Tetley. "We have climbed that no less that four times overall. The last being in 2016 so that Southey could join the rest of us in bagging the summit. In 2011 we climbed it in the company of Uncle Bob. We had many super adventures with him. I miss his company, but he is not able to do the walks now."
Grizzly replied, "yes, we all miss walking with Uncle Bob, they were good times." Then looking again at the view stated, "the fell in shadow left of Gragareth is Barbon Low Fell."
In the next pasture. Little Eric suggested, "that lone impressive tree will be a nice picture for our account."
Climbing the next stile by a gate, Allen said, "good place for our picture. We can sit at two levels."
"That's that out of the way for this story", said Shaun, as we got settled in the rucksack again.
Now striding on by the fence, it was then over the stile onto a track, and over the plank bridge and stile opposite. Crossing the field we approached the next stile where stones had been laid leading to it.
"Helpful in muddy conditions", commented Southey.
"That substantial structure is Catgill Barn", pointed Grizzly.
Striding on we were followed by young cows. Not aggressive just inquisitive. Keeping an eye this was perhaps why Dad had drifted too far left and seeing the fence ahead, said, "hmm where's the stile?"
Shaun called out, "just cut right along the fence to the corner."
Doing so we found the stone step stile and small footbridge, seen here with the inquisitive cows looking over.
"Ooh", cried Allen. "If we had been here a week earlier this field would have been have been a blaze of dandelions. Now just the grey heads ready to spread the seeds."
After climbing the next stone step stile the path descended to a final stile with steps down to the road at the hamlet of Wrayton. There are nice houses in this pretty hamlet, this being a fine example, with its ivy covered walls.
"We take that track between hedges, and onwards through woods", advised Southey.
"Look", called out Allen. "Primroses. Always a reminder of our dear Uncle Brian."
Passing through two gates, the path still in the woods, narrowed, climbing to a gate into pasture. This we crossed keeping near the hedge to the right, down to a gate onto the track we had crossed earlier.
Here we met a gentleman with his two dogs, who was heading back to Wrayton where he lived. He and Dad had a nice chat, and we got introduced, Dad telling him a bit about the website etc.
Saying our goodbyes, Shaun said, "turn right to Lodge Lane at the Melling end."
As Dad strode on Little Eric called out, "that hawthorn blossom is beautiful."
At the road Tetley pointed, "look at that bank of wild garlic on the verge. Such a joy to see it."
"Ooh look", pointed Little Eric. "A US Mail post box. I must have a picture of that for my collection."
Looking at the map, Shaun instructed, "left along the road, then footpath right to Lodge Farm."
"They have their own personal post box", pointed Little Eric. Dad needed no more prompting to take a picture.
The drive is tarmac making for easy walking.
"This is the same Lodge Farm we see when on that walk from Loyn Bridge. When we climb out of Melling it dominates the skyline in front", said Grizzly.
As you will notice from the previous picture, lots of sheep and lambs were grazing. "Oh dear", sighed Allen. "I am not going to get away with Dad not taking a least one sheep picture."
"No lad", replied Dad, lining up the shot.
"Wow", cried Tetley. "That's a superb view to Ingleborough with to the left Park Fell and Simon Fell. I remember the day we climbed all three with Uncle Bob."
Coming to the end of the farm buildings, Shaun said, "through the gate then go left down the pasture."
After the stile he now said, "keep ahead over the hill and down to a stile by a gate."
"Huh", grumped Allen. "The stile is gone, and the gate is chained up to boot."
Expert as Dad is he was quickly over the gate, only for Southey to call out, "you've dropped the pen."
"Oh darn", sighed Dad, as he made to climb over and back again.
Here the waymark, of which there had been very few today, indicated half right over pasture where the grass was long.
As we crested the rise, Shaun and Southey scrutinised the map. "Some of the boundaries shown have gone. We should head more to the right and across to that distant gate onto the lane."
There it was left into the hamlet of Low Tatham, where stands the church of St James the Less.
"I have notes", said Grizzly. "There has been a church on this site from at least the Norman era. Most of the fabric of the present church dates from the 15th century, with elements remaining from the Norman period and the 13th century. The tower was rebuilt in 1722. In 1885-87 Lancaster architects Paley and Austin added a saddleback roof to the tower. It is a listed building designated as Grade II*."
Unlike last time we were here, the church was open. So it was nice to have a look round. Dad is having a bit of trouble with the flash on he camera, but was able to take this shot of the chancel and altar.
Leaving we continued along the road Dad stopping to chat with two workmen who were attaching wire fencing to creosoted posts.
One said, "we saw you coming down the field to the road."
The other asked, "do you fancy helping out with the fencing?"
"Regretfully, I'll just stick to walking", Dad replied.
"I don't blame you."
It was a nice chatty interlude.
To reach the road we crossed Tatham Bridge. This spans the River Wenning, and also the trackbed of the long closed railway line from Lancaster Green Ayre to Wennington. Grizzly told us, "there is not much information, other than to say that the original bridge was removed and this was erected to accommodate the railway line and opened in 1850."
"So, where now?", asked Tetley.
"A few yards left on the main road, then right along Park Lane", advised Shaun.
The warning sign that the road was unsuitable for vehicles was born out by it being in very poor condition in places. It climbed steadily to a gate across the road. Continuing Southey soon said, "we should look out for the stile left into the field."
"Aww look", called out Little Eric. "It's dinner time for those lambs."
Waiting until the lambs had taken their fill, we paused before crossing the stile, as Tetley said, "look at that tree growing out of the top of the post."
Walking ahead we got onto the path to the right that led past Coat Bank Coppice to a stile, where the way was left by the wood.
Look at the mass of bluebells in the wood", pointed Shaun. "What an incredibly beautiful sight."
Dropping down the path drifts right to a gate. Immediately beyond, Southey said, "it's over that stile on the left."
Now up to a gate on the right rounding the grounds of Overends and through at facing gate to pass the house.
Heading along the access, Shaun said, "at a corner we want to go through the facing gate and then half right to another gate into the road, and then go left to the main road and the station."
"What a super walk", cheered Little Eric.
"Such good views and beautiful countryside, which we had almost entirely to ourselves", added Grizzly. "Lots of new paths so another story for our website, and for us to remember in the years to come."
"Thanks Dad, as always. You are the best", cheered Allen. .
"I guess you want some refreshment", said Tetley.
Yes lad, I'm going to Bull Beck again."
"That's fine, we can have our picnic in the car", replied Shaun.
Dad had a large bun with bacon sausage and egg. Chorley cake and mug of tea. Well he really did deserve it!
