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The Halls of the Ribble Valley was the theme for today's walk which started from Mrs Dowsons Ice Cream Parlour near Osbaldeston on the A59.
17 people assembled at the start, including Jenny and Glyn, just back from France, and Derek, whom we haven't seen for some time, and we set off with the ever-present threat of rain. We soon came to the first of the long, wet grass and the many, many dodgy stiles that were to be a feature of the day.
The route took us up towards Clayton-le-Dale and Lovely Hall, which we didn't actually see, and then through Copster Green and across the busy A59. We then passed Bolton Hall, lovingly restored but spoilt somewhat by the extension which was out of keeping with the old building. Showley Hall, with its eccentric scrap-collecting owner, was next and then it was on through Old Park Wood and up to Oxendale Hall with its stationary sheep and its huge lawns.
We carried on down to Osbaldeston Hall, on the banks of the Ribble, which is currently up for sale for £3.5M;we decided our funds wouldn't stetch that far, so we stopped for lunch on the riverbank at a spot chosen by the ladies.
We'd had the occasional shower during the morning but we had a short but very heavy downpour just after we'd finished lunch - lucky again! We passed Hothersall Hall on the opposite bank and then traversed more woods, stiles and fields, skirted another grand house, Burr Green (though not officially a Hall), and eventually arrived back at Mrs Dowson's for tea, scones - for the lucky few - and ice cream for those not on diets!
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