| Walk: | Whittingham Hall, Chingle Hall, Middleton Hall, Goosnargh Mill and Field Foot Farm | ||
| Start Point: | The Grapes Inn, Goosnargh | Grid Reference: | SD 559 638 |
| Distance: | 5.5 miles | Ascent: | 230 feet |
| Time: | 2.45 hours | ||
| Weather: | Dry and sunny with a sneaky cool breeze | ||
| Comments: | The name Goosnargh is believed to be
Norse for “hill pasture”. In the days of the former Preston Rural
District Council it was the largest parish in Lancashire. There are
five cheese making dairies in the parish. Whittingham Hospital (now
demolished) was at one time an asylum. There are now plans to build
new housing on the site. 24 people attended this undulating walk through country lanes and fields with a little bit of road walking. After booking meals at The Grapes Inn we headed through lush meadow land and then through the grounds of the former asylum to pass Chingle Hall which used to be famous as a haunted house - but is now a residential home. Skirting around the west of Goosnargh, passing through chicken and duck farms the leader took the group past Middleton Hall and on to Goosnargh Corn Mill. A lady resident of the Mill told the group a little about the now defunct mill. It is said that the mill was grinding as recently as 1962. Continuing along the aptly named Mill Brook the group emerged on to Eaves Green Lane before turning towards Field Foot Farm and then The Grapes. The only disappointment was the poor service at the pub despite having been in touch with them on two occasions. However it did not spoil a really pleasant walk. |
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Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Waiting for opening time
Goosnargh Church and Bushells House
Chingle Hall - re-visited
Duck with orange sauce
Making use of a green lane
Middleton Hall
Time out
A pleasant walk
. . . and Ramblers roaming about
A reception committee
Waiting for stragglers
Can we join your ramble?
A buttercup meadow