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Walking - Parbold
Dennis Kelsall descends through a magical corner of Olde Englande as he visits Fairy Glen near Parbold Hill
Just a couple of weeks ago I wandered into Fairy Glen, one of the country parks managed by West Lancashire District Council and a noted local beauty spot.
Aptly named, it is a delightful, densely wooded clough, but in spring, before the leaves have had chance to fully form, the banks burst with the colour of bluebells, wild garlic and red campion.
A lively stream babbles at its heart and, at one point, tumbles over a small but nonetheless impressive waterfall. In the damper corners, the rocky crevices provide anchors for a variety of ferns adding their own shade of delicate green to the backdrop.
Its steep sides have precluded its past use for anything other than some minor quarrying and a wonderful diversity of plants and trees has developed.
As a consequence, it has been designated a Biological Heritage Site and gives some idea of the ancient woodland cover that once more widely covered the area. After dropping through the glen, the walk continues beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal before returning around the flanks of Parbold Hill.
1Leaving the lay-by, follow the road right in the direction of Parbold, crossing after 50 yards to a track.
Beside it, a squeeze stile gives access to the head of Fairy Glen. A path winds down through the valley beside the stream. Where it later splits by a seat, take the right branch and remain on this bank a little further to pass a footbridge. Lower down, however, the main path crosses a bridge below a pretty waterfall.
2Carry on along the valley, the stream now having fallen below you on the right. The path eventually rises to a squeeze stile out of the wood.
However, don't go through, instead drop right down steps to a bridge across the stream. Swing left, continuing for a short distance at the base of the valley before the path turns away, climbing out of the wooded glen over a ladder stile into the adjacent field.
3Strike directly out to a stile beside a gate at the far side. Continue along the bottom edge of a second field that is overlooked by Parbold Hall from the top of the hill.
The manor was originally held by the Lathoms, who because of their strong Catholic beliefs, sided for the king in the Civil Wars. Having backed the wrong horse, their sympathies were subsequently deemed treasonable and their estates were confiscated.
The Lathoms never recovered Parbold, which was eventually bought by John Crisp, who rebuilt the old manor in the Palladian style seen today.
4A contained path beyond eventually leads you out on to a track. Ahead it undulates easily through more woodland, passing a couple of cottages and eventually reaching a junction by a decaying Portakabin.
There, go left on another track, crossing the railway line and winding down to a bridge over the canal. Join the towpath and follow it away to the right. Half a mile's walking brings you to a second bridge. Cross back and follow the track away, over a level crossing and rising to a junction with Wood Lane.
5Go right but then immediately leave over a stile on the left, climbing away at the field edge to gain the main road at the top.
Cross and walk downhill some 50 yards. Just before the point at which a narrow track diverges, look for a wayposted path that heads into the woods. Emerging from the trees it continues up at the edge of a field beside a wooded gully. Over a stile at the top, swing right along an enclosed path, bearing left through a gate at the end to continue on a farm track.
6Leave the fields beside a couple of cottages, following the drive away to the right. Where it later swings sharply left, leave along another track signed off on the right.
The way soon narrows to a path, running within the hedge margin dividing the fields. Breaking out to more open ground, bear left beside reedy pools to the corner of a woodland plantation, where the path curves left beside its boundary. Picking up the course of a developing stream, the onward way continues easily down the hillside, later entering more woodland.
7The path finally swings across the stream and over a stile into a field. Walk away beside the left wall, turning within the corner to follow a track out to the main road at the lay-by from which you began.
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Weather for Preston
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
