Mawdesley Moss

Mawdesley Moss -

MAWDESLEY MOSS.
Starting point: The Village Hall, Mawdesley.-Distance: 3.75 miles.

This easy walk heads out over the fertile drained mosslands towards Croston and returns across the fields of the older landscape formed from the glacial clays. It illustrates very well the differences between the two.

From the Village Hall car park turn right and as you approach the Bowling Club bear left to pick up the tarmac footpath coming in from your left, this passes behind the attractive sheltered housing. The tarmac soon stops but the path is well defined and crosses a brook. Ignore paths going off on the left but stay with the hedge on your right. The land on the left was cultivated until about 20 years ago when it was bought by a speculator hoping to build houses, it has lain fallow ever since. It is now a rich wildlife habitat and shows how soon nature re-exerts itself if left alone. The footpath soon emerges onto Smithy Lane, cross carefully and turn right.

This is one of the older parts of the village, 100yds. down the lane you pass the ivy covered Lane End's House on the left, just beyond turn right into Gales Lane. The lane soon deteriorates to a stony track and after about 300yds. swings round to the left and 300yds. later back to the right. Ahead lies the open fertile flatness of Mawdesley Moss. There are no hedges, the peaty fields are criss-crossed by deep drainage ditches and the land is only about 25' above sea level. Despite this, in clear weather' you have good views of Harrock Hill over your right shoulder, Winter Hill on your right, and the woods of Rufford Park to your left.

In a little while you come to a thin clump of trees surrounding a pond on your left where the track swings left towards Moss House, don't follow it but take the path straight on heading towards the distant buildings on the outskirts of Croston. In about half a mile you will pass under a power line and 150yds. later come upon four stout posts on the right hand side of the path. Beside the fourth is an overgrown stile; turn right and walk along the edge of the field with the ditch on your left. Far ahead lies Great Hill and further right Winter Hill. Closer to hand are the many copses and plantations put in as cover for game birds. In about 300 yds. the path follows the field boundary half- right leaving the deep ditch but another shallower overgrown ditch soon appears on your left half hidden by trees is Wood Lane Farm and slightly right the white buildings of Boundary Farm. Soon you cross to the other side of the field boundary to join a developing farm track which leads directly towards Wood Lane Farm.

As you get to the farm the scene changes; the land begins to rise slightly, the fields, bounded by hedgerows containing gnarled oaks, are grazed by sheep and cattle: an altogether older landscape and a result of the change to a heavier clay soil. After 200 yds bear left into Nook Lane; there are good distant views of Bowland through the trees on the left. Opposite Nook Farm a footpath sign on the right, marked "Hall Lane", points up the drive of Woodcock House and Nook Cottage Farm; walk up the drive for a few yards and where it swings right, head left across the grass towards the wooden shed. A sign nailed on an ash tree confirms your direction. The path goes to the left of the shed and round the back to reach a gate into the field where you turn left.

Follow the hedge to the field corner, turn right with the hedge for about 15 yds. then follow it round left and cross the stile in the field corner. Continue with the hedge on your left, the hedge soon juts out again for about 15 yds., follow it out and back to cross the footbridge in the left hand field corner. Go forward for a few yards then look for a copse ahead. Make for the right hand corner of the copse and cross the stile beside the gate. Continue along the edge of the copse for about 70 yds and at the corner look up the field to the skyline. mere is no obvious path but ahead you will see the top of an isolated oak and slightly to its left a pair of oaks; the left hand one has a distinct flat top, that is your marker. Walk towards the flat topped oak and as you approach it you will see how it has been deformed by the wind, its branches arch right over to the left. Under the arch in the field corner jutting out towards you is a stile, cross it and go forward with the hedge on your left. When you reach the field corner, in about 350 yds., go ahead through a gap in the scrub, working your way to the left, I until you see a farm track, where you turn left.

This track soon brings you to Hall Lane, opposite Round Bank Farm Shop, where you turn right along the footpath and return to the village. The Village Hall is signed to your right as you enter the village.