Midge Walkers
Croston /Eccleston 18-08-24
The last time we carried out this walk was March 2019 when the temperature was somewhat cooler. Today 14 members met on the car park of the Highfield Restaurant on the Southport Rd at Ulnes Walton, setting off at 1.55 pm. Crossing the road and passing down a farm track along side the site formerly occupied by The Mill Hotel, we entered a field and and took a diagonal course to the opposite corner to enter the next field at the side of the River Lostock. Keeping this boundary on our right, we passed through a gate and over Ridley Lane in to th next field, angling left to arrive at a stile in the hedge, At the end of the next field a further stile routed us through some newly installed kissing gates to emerge on to Moor Rd.
Continuing along the footpath in the direction of Croston, we crossed to pass down through a gap in the hedge on the opposite side, to follow a path around the perimeter of a field to ultimately emerge on to a farm track appropriately named Out Lane, passing some fairly dated properties and emerge on to Town Rd adjacent to the Lord Nelson pub. Crossing the road and looking down to the River Yarrow it was difficult to imagine that it had been possible for this to rise to such an extent back in 2015 to cause the extensive flood damage that was inflicted. Moving along the cobbles of Church St, passing the ancient stone cross, we entered the grounds of St Michael & All Angels Church dating back to the 15th century following the path to the rear area where picnic benches provided a suitable spot.for our refreshment break.
Suitably revived, we resumed the route to exit on to Grapes Lane where we turned right following the twisting road to a point where it crossed the river, we branched left in to a farm track and then through a kissing gate to follow the direction of the river towards a a weir. Crossing a couple of field’s, led us to a path running along side the river and emerged at Eccleston bridge on Towngate where we turned left and branched in to New Lane. Continuing to a fingerpost sign pointing us to the left we passed down a drive to the rear of a converted barn and continued across a series of fields some of which were growing sweet corn , taller than most of us.
Passing in to an open field we angled across to a gate with a broken stile at the side, some of our number scrambled the gate others persevered with the stile and continued along the track turning right to make our way through a farm gate at Sarscow Farm and follow the lane to meet Southport Rd where a left turn returned us to our starting point, It had taken almost exactly 3 hours in a temperature that started at 17 degrees but seemed to get warmer as we travelled, There was considerable debate as to the distance but it certainly wasn’t less than 6 miles. But with the warmth of the sun and conviviality of the company, who was counting.
Take a look back on previous walks - click on this link - www.midgewalkers.co.uk
