Wake-up call.

This little chap woke me up this morning with his cheerful chirping. Time to get going.

As part of my rehabilitation, sorry to bore you again, yesterday I managed 5 miles in the boggy fields around Goosnargh and today met up with a mate to walk 8 miles on The Reelers Trail. The location was a convenient half way meeting point between us. This is one of four varied circular walks in Lancashire on The Witton Weavers Way — a 32mile route around Blackburn using historic tracks and visiting many industrial sites and period settlements.

Look for your self at — http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/Pages/Witton-Weavers-Way.aspx

The mist was just clearing as we left Abbey Village on a lane down to the Roddlesworth Reservoirs.

RODDLESTONE RESERVOIR, DARWEN TOWER IN THE BACKGROUND.

It was relatively early due to the clocks leaping forward. A calm section through woods led to a steep field path up towards the picturesque village of Tockholes with many 17th century buildings. We passed several listed buildings of this period including Higher Hill Farm, a small room jutting out of the first floor was the en-suite toilet of the age.

Apparently the track we were on was a Saxon bridleway connecting Rossendale to Preston.  One interesting site was an old intact parish pinfold  [pound] for stray animals.

Many of the cottages we passed were old hand weavers’ dwellings, now in great demand for semi-rural living. One small holding was using a llama to guard the poultry. Unusual sight in these parts!

Before long we were walking in close to proximity to the M65 motorway and into urban housing estates in Feniscowles.

NOT IDEAL WALKING.

The sun was out and the day took on a more friendly nature with leisurely canal-side walking, along with family cycling groups,

LEEDS LIVERPOOL CANAL.

A steep climb up towards Stanworth Farm and then we ducked back down under the rumbling motorway bridge.

UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES.

From here we entered a  deep incut, almost secret, valley clothed in ancient woodland, rich in wild life. We were in a different world to the motorway.

This valley, which seems to be a tributary of the River Darwen, is a delight to follow and eventually brought us back to Abbey Village, the Hare and Hounds pub and a welcome pint outside in the warm Spring sunshine.

Simple short day but satisfying with lots of chat and not too much of a problem with the foot. Though I think I’ll be back on the bike this week!