11th November 2009 Leisurely

Walk:	Butt Yeats, Wray, Cold Park Wood, Butt Yeats, Hornby, River Wenning, River Lune and Priory Farm
Start Point:	The Royal Oak, Hornby	Grid Reference:	SD 583 687
Distance:	6 miles	Ascent:	negligible
Time:	3 hours
Weather:	A dry day with the hint of some sun
Comments:	The walk was in the form of a figure of eight. Starting at the Royal Oak, Pam, our leader, took thirty people via an old railway bridge to the cross roads at Butt Yeats before heading for Wray via the main road and then a track. Being a reasonable clear day Ingleborough and other high areas of Yorkshire could be seen. In Wray we passed at least three places of worship but the village was deserted. There wasn’t a soul about. However, there was the pleasant sound of children at play when we passed the primary school on our way up a hill to a field path. By the time we had reached the field it was nearly eleven o’clock and this being the eleventh of November we stopped to remember the victims of war. At this juncture the Reverend Keith Brockbank, who was walking with the group, said a few appropriate words to finalise this solemn moment. Continuing towards Cold Park Wood, Pam was able to find some suitable mud to wallow in. At least one gentleman had to be rescued before he disappeared beneath the smelly morass. Even the bull that was supposed to be in the muddy field had gone AWOL. Refreshed by tea, hot coffee and cookies we returned to Hornby via Butt Yeats. On the face building on the corner of Station Road is “Dawsons Stone”. It depicts a cat holding a rat in its mouth. The monogram “PD” on the stone stands for Pudsey Dawson, one of the originators of the railway line that ran from Wennington to Morecambe. Retracing our steps to the River Wenning we then walked down stream with the river to its confluence with the River Lune. At this point there was a flooded area of field where two swans graced the water and thousands (well hundreds) of gulls took flight in fright before settling and then repeating the exercise as we approached. Walking upstream of the River Lune we were provided with a powerful aroma as a farmer sprayed slurry on to the field that we were walking through. However, the view of the distant Hornby Castle and faraway Lakeland mountains offset this small inconvenience. Loyn Bridge, which spans the River Lune, presented a nice picture as it stood illuminated by the late autumn sun. Leaving the river just before Loyn Bridge we joined the road to return to the Royal Oak for an enjoyable meal. Nice day, nice walk and good company. Thanks Pam and back marker Brian.

Wednesday, 11th November 2009