Before we went to the lakes this year we had organised getting together with friends Dave and Edith, who we have come to know through their website and being fellow members of the Online Fellwalking Club. Dave regularly updates the website with walks that he and Edith do, mostly around their local area based in the north west of Lancashire. I know there are many places in this area we would love to investigate but the weather today was not going to be on our side and allow us to do the walk we had planned to do.

I spoke to Dave earlier in the day and rather than not meeting at all because of the rain he came up with the idea of meeting close to Levens Hall complete with walking gear just in case we still fancied a walk.  If not we could have a cuppa and chat in the café at Levens Hall. First though we had to drop James and Olivia off at Oxenholme station. From here they could catch a train to Manchester Airport for their flight back to Switzerland.

On arrival at the parking spot it actually wasn’t raining at all so we soon got our boots on and set off not really expecting it to stay dry at all. We were quite happy to follow wherever Dave and Edith led us not knowing the area at all and enjoyed the first part of the walk through the park close to Levens Hall which, although it is private land, has a public footpath going through it. We were lucky to see some of the Black Fallow Deer and also some of the unusual Bagot Goats who seemed to be determined to fight, locking their horns together and head butting each other.

Once we had reached the end of the public footpath through the park Dave and Edith decided that a different route to the one they normally took would be good this afternoon as they knew the ground would be waterlogged. So they led us along part of the disused towpath of the Lancaster Canal which is now sadly overgrown. We passed the Hincaster Tunnel which is now an ancient monument. The information panel on the tunnel told us that it is lined with 4 million locally made bricks and it was built to take the Lancaster Canal to Sedgwick Gunpowder works. Sadly it hasn’t been used since 1944. It’s always interesting seeing historical features such as this.

Our walk continued across some very nice countryside and through farmyards I’m certain we shouldn’t have been in!  Before too long we were back at Levens Hall just as we started to get a gentle shower of rain. Given the weather forecast I don’t think any of us expected to stay dry and we even had just a hint of sunshine now and again.

 

After enjoying a cuppa in the café at Levens Hall we went our separate ways. It was really great to meet Dave and Edith, so thank you for taking us on a walk and hopefully next time we are in the area we will have chance to meet up again.

 

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