Up into the hills

Out through those dark mills and cobbled streets of Lancashire mill towns. How many millions of granite sets must have been shaped to pave those streets and alleys. Move just off the main roads and there they are under a shallow layer of tarmac.

More canal and old railway paths and then out into the countryside. The Forest of Bowland was a royal hunting forest in the Middle Ages. It also has some high passes one of which is called the Trough of Bowland. A long, long, long hill with a really steep bit at the top. Average gradient 6%. Same as hill up to Clandown from Radstock. But about 2 miles long. I made it without dying.

Reach the top and the whole of Morecambe Bay appears. You can see Barrow in Furness and Blackpool.

I've paddled a canoe and watched salmon leaping just upstream from the bridge on the River Lune where the rainbow appeared. And terrified myself paddling on the rapids at Halton by Lancaster Uni.

Then joy....Carnforth station is where the station scenes in Brief Encouter was filmed in 1945. Nice meal there.Read more