The October Ramble – Around Grimsargh
The object of this month’s walk was to explore some of the numerous footpaths in the area between Grimsargh and the east of Preston.
Starting in the centre of Grimsargh, our group of six headed eastwards and picked up a footpath that took us along the back of the old reservoirs, now drained and reverting back to nature. Then it was along Elston Lane, which we left at a stile to join the Ribble Way. We now entered the best part of the walk, the descent into the beautiful, steep valley of Tun Brook Wood. Now the Ribble Way took us past the crematorium and on to Red Scar Wood, passing the remains of the old hall and on to a footbridge over the busy and very noisy M6 to enter Grange Park.
Within the park are the remains of Ribbleton Hall, demolished shortly after the war and this is where we had our lunch stop, half the party in the drawing room and the others, who knew their place, in the scullery.
Leaving the park, we followed the valley to Ribbleton Lane, crossed over into Sion Park and climbed the steep embankment to the old Longridge railway which we followed for a while, noting the steady gradient as this was originally a gravity railway bringing stone from the quarries at Longridge.
After re-crossing the M6, we left the old rail-bed and walked along the M6 link road as far as the new Spar filling station, crossed to a farm, to be met by two noisy dogs and then followed the motorway northwards for a while before making our way towards Haighton House and “Squire Anderton’s Wood”. We are now in familiar territory, following the brook, then Cow Hill and back to Grimsargh.
Many thanks to Janet and Jim for arranging a splendid local walk, full of interest and blessed with excellent weather.
Linda and Eddie Grange