Midge Walkers

Walk No.  177

Bamber Bridge/Higher Walton 28-01-24  

Another cold but dry Sunday afternoon saw 13 suitably wrapped up walkers  congregate adjacent to the Methodist Church on Wesley St. Setting off at  1.50 p.m we made our way through to Mounsey Rd and along Brown St to  turn right into Cambridge Rd, at the end of which a narrow track along side  the rail line fence ultimately gave us access to a pedestrian bridge over the  rail lines leading us into Withy Grove Park. Continuing along the edge of the  rail track took us under a concrete underpass supporting the M6 motorway above. Curving away from the rail line, the path took us across open ground  and then along side an area of allotments bringing us out on Brindle Rd.

Crossing, we branched left along Shuttlingfields Lane which after a short  distance ran parallel to the motorway but became an unmade road. To the  right, what had been fields, was now rapidly being swallowed by a housing  development. Our route continued and soon two concrete culverts were passed under. These supported the two slip roads of the M61, on-to and off the M6.  

The lane continued to meander, until we arrived at a gate leading us into the  farm yard of Middle Shuttling Fields Farm. As farms go, bearing in mind the  barns were occupied by cattle, it has to be said it was remarkably clean. The  route went right through the centre and down the lane at the opposite end  over Drum Head Brook. The lane continued to wind and we passed other  properties, eventually emerging onto Gregson Lane where we turned left.

At the junction with Blackburn Rd, we again turned left, walking to the first  street, Church St, and passing to the bottom made our way through to an  area overlooking Many Brooks stream which benefitted from a bench seat  where we stopped for our refreshment break.

Resuming our journey we followed the line of railing’s bringing us on to  Kittlingbourne Brow where we started to rise the incline towards the bridge  over the motorway. On the right we passed the gates of the old Coupes  Foundry which now looked in a state of disrepair. On the left, a property,  number 57 with a unique appearance including a turret over the front door. A  local bystander, which turned out to be the son of the owner, gave us a bit of  the history of the property, which had apparently originally been two  cottages and had a false frontage put on it. The tower construction had been  acquired from Lancaster Hospital and weighed 6 tonnes.

Attaining the summit of the Brow and crossing over the motorway, a path to  the left gave us access around the rear of the sports fields of Walton le Dale  High School and led us into Brown Lane, passing a row of weavers cottages  on the right and many other more modern properties, brought us to Brindle

Rd.Turning left, we continued to enter towards the Leisure Centre and  followed through the park to exit via Sergeant Street on to Station Road. Turning  left and crossing the level crossing brought us back to our starting point  having completed 4.3 miles.  

Checking the clock revealed a time of exactly 2 hours inclusive of the  refreshment break. Whilst the route had specifically been chosen to avoid  nasties like mud, rough fields and stiles, nevertheless 2 hours must surely be  a record. Our leader must have really set the pace today, probably thinking of  everyone’s welfare and aiming to ensure they kept warm.