Wednesday, 20th November 2013

Walk: Lancaster canal towpath, Forerigg wood, several farms and Thurnham Hall.
Start Point: Canalside Craft Centre, Galgate Grid Reference: SD 464 546
Distance: 5.5 miles Ascent: 150 ft
Time: 3 hours    
Weather: Miraculously it was dry despite the forecast and the rain from night before. However it was somewhat muddy in the fields.
Comments: 25 of us embarked on the walk including 2 people, Mike and Cynthia from Solihull who were on holiday. There were a maximum of 12 stiles and the walks main feature was through the grounds of Thurnham Hall. It is of 13th century origin and was occupied by the renowned Catholic Dalton family for 450 years. The last of the Daltons, Miss Alzira Eloise, lived in a cottage until her death in 1983. It has since been refurbished and has become a time-share complex

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

Desmond giving his pep talk at the start of the walk

 

Departing Galgate Craft Centre

 

Going North along the Lancaster Canal

 

Why are we waiting . . .

 

why! . . . for food of course

 

Canalside

 

Making for Forerigg Wood . . .

 

after crossing a hidden stile

 

A glimpse of Lancaster University

 

Vera directs people over . . .

 

a bridge . . .

 

to join the others for a hot drink . . .

 

and a bite of an apple

 

A sullen Glasson Canal

 

Des relates tales of . . .

 

Thurnham Hall

 

 

 

This would appear to be a chapel annexed to Thurnham Hall

 

A RC church at Thurnham

 

Paddling in farm yard mud

 

And more mud on the approach to a wood

 

Re-grouping before continuing . . .

 

through the wood . . .

 

where these berries caught the sunlight

 

A Des-Res - keen gardener required

 

Ellel Grange

 

These two are camera shy

 

Is This a trunk Route?

 

Plenty of mud and water on the trunk route

 

A burst of sunshine

 

Back to the Marina . . .

 

for a Winter Cruise

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