A Pleasington Walk. 🥾

Welcome back to Lancashire for this walk which is a couple of short train journeys away from my hometown of Clitheroe. We don’t use the train often enough and hope to remedy that when finding future hikes. This walk is featured in the Guide To Lancashire Pub Walks by Nick Burton, a handy little pocket size publication. We did a few of the walks mentioned during the first lockdowns , when the pubs weren’t even open. Happily not so the case now. 🙂

Anyway we caught a train from Clitheroe to Blackburn and then went on to the village of Pleasington from there. The whole journey took about 40 minutes including connection time. The walk took us up The Yellow Hills to see The Wainwright Memorial and then through woodland and Witton Park. Refreshments at The Railway Hotel in the village , at the end.

Pleasant Pleasington sign at the Railway Station.

We walk past Pleasington Priory.

And a house with Stone Lions guarding it.

And then through a field of cows. They were pretty calm until a farmer appeared on a quad bike, then they started chasing it around the field.

We escaped the cows!

A friendly Cat on a drive-way.

Fly Agaric, though not the best specimen.

Looks like we are on the Witton Weavers Way.

After walking through some woodland we ascended the gentle slopes of the Yellow Hills to come across the Wainwright Memorial , a fitting tribute to the Blackburn born Fell Walker, writer and illustrator Alfred Wainwright.  As a young man Alfred would walk in these hills above Blackburn. On a clear day he would be able to glimpse upon the fells of the Lake District, they would eventually entice him to Cumbria where he recorded his hikes in his famous Pictorial Guides.

The Wainwright Memorial was unveiled in 2013.

Intrepid Hikers.

No distant views as wasn’t clear enough. The Yellow Hills are named after the yellow blooms of the Gorse bushes that grow here.

A Polypore Fungi.

Crow Wood.

Autumn colours appearing.

We walked on to Witton Park, following woodland paths downwards through Billinge Wood and Crow Wood. The Crow Sculpture I had hoped to see didn’t appear to be there ( unless we somehow missed it !) , though there was an information board near where I thought it should have been. And there were plenty of real crows, magpies and other wildlife in the woods.

Crow Sculpture Information Board.

Nuthatch.

Grey Squirrel.

Witton Park.

Butler’s Bridge over the River Darwen.

Witton Park is vast, covering 480 acres. It is Criss crossed by various walking trails and has a visitor centre. We will have to return oneday as we didn’t come across the centre and only saw a small part of the grounds on our walk. After crossing Butler’s Bridge it was a short meander up past the Priory and back into Pleasington.

Pleasington Priory was opened in 1819.

The Railway Hotel.

Railway Flowers. 🚂🚂

Waiting for the train back to Blackburn. Pleasington is a request stop , so be prepared to stick your arm out. 😁

Map ~ OS Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors.

Book ~ Guide To Lancashire Pub Walks by Nick Burton.

Distance ~ 4 Miles/ 6.4km.

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Clitheroe to Mitton Circular Walk.

Just a quick post featuring a walk today from home. We set out about 8 am hoping to miss the heat, it was already getting warm early on. Luckily for Hugo this is another route taking in the river Ribble ,so he had plenty of opportunities for paddles and swims.

Today’s walk is a circular route from Clitheroe to Mitton and back. It’s one we have walked a few times over the years.

Heading for the railway bridge.

Mearley Brook.

Approaching the Ribble Way.

There’s a newish photography aid down Edisford.

Edisford Bridge.

Quackers.

We have now crossed the bridge and are walking along the other side of the river towards Mitton. We pass through a little wood.

And carry on down the riverside.

Mama and brood.

Up through another little wood and we find this newly carved bear chair, which has appeared during lockdown.

We follow the footpath signs to Mitton, passing Great Mitton Hall.

Over the bridge near the Aspinall Arms.

The Aspinall arms is somewhere we would ordinarily stop off at for refreshment. Huge beer garden and dog friendly.

Next to the pub footpaths can be followed back to Clitheroe.

I heard a piping call. It belonged to a Common Sandpiper.

Nearly home and more content cattle relaxing in the sun. 🙂

Have you got out and about this weekend?

Higham Circular Walk ~ The Sabden Valley.

I hope to bring you a few more photos from Lancashire walks whilst lockdown continues. 🌹

Higham nestles at the foot of Pendle Hill and the Pendle Way is a walking route which can be accessed from the village. The area has many associations with the Pendle Witches. Higham was home to several reputed victims of ‘ the witch ‘ Chattox. She allegedly turned the ale sour in the village pub ‘ The Four All’s Inn ‘ and bewitched the landlords son to death. She along with eight other people were hung on a hill above Lancaster for witchcraft in 1612.

On a more cheery note Higham was also the birthplace of Jonas Moore, who became known as ‘ The Father Of Time’ owing to his key role in establishing Greenwich Mean Time and the Greenwich Meridian. Not bad going for a Lancashire lad…

This walk is a 5.5 mile hike through a gorse strewn valley with lots of views of Pendle , old cobbled tracks and skies full of tumbling swift’s and swallows on a Sunday morning in May.

A Pendle Way sign above Higham.

Golden gorse.

Pendle Hill from above Higham.

Old wall.

Friendly horses, one in a rather posh cerice jacket. 🙂

A lovely Dapple Grey who wouldn’t pose for a photo.

A beautiful Grade ll listed cottage with mullioned windows..

Geese. 🙂

One was obviously a Guard Goose.

Unusual carvings.

At another farm ~ a gorgeous guinea fowl..

And a friendly mog.

Onwards along a cobbled track.

Footpath sign.

Looking back towards Pendle.

Climbing a small hill and admiring Pendle, or stopping to catch my breath. 😉

Sheep & lamb.

Over the top of the hill..

Time for a snack.

Heading back to the village.

Wall Brown 🦋

The Four Alls Inn.

The Four Alls on the pub sign denote the following.

The King rules all.
The Priest prays for all.
The Soldier fights for all.
The Common Man pays for all.

I was really surprised by this walk. Lots of history and gorgeous scenery in what was once royal hunting ground ‘ The Forest Of Pendle’ . The area is actually now an AONB and deservedly so I think.

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Walking Book – Guide To Lancashire Pub Walks by Nick Burton.

Map – OS Explorer OL21 South Pennines.