Cuerden Valley stroll

Our visits to local country parks continued today as we explored Cuerden Valley, a short drive away on the road to Leyland near Clayton Brook. Despite being only a few miles from home it's a place we'd never visited, so there was added interest for our walk.

The stroll from the car park was along a flat, straight path popular with dog walkers, not particularly inspiring at first but eventually a pond is passed before steering towards a wood and the River Lostock. Across a bridge over the river, we headed uphill towards the visitor centre and the large former Cuerden Hall, originally a wealthy family residence but during the wars it served as a hospital and then a command headquarters. Nowadays it is used as offices for the Central Lancashire Development Corporation.

Sadly the neighbouring orchard wasn't open to the public so after looking round the gardens we continued past the hall buildings and downhill back to the river. Across the river we found the lake, perhaps once an old reservoir for nearby mills, but nowadays a pleasant spot with plenty of ducks and geese looking to be fed.












On the way back to the car we got chatting to a chap walking a beautiful and shy dalmation dog, and, seeing my camera he explained that the park is home to kingfishers (Carole's desparate to see one) and even roe deer, who are often grazing in the spring and summer around sunrise. So, the challenge is to get up early one morning to get some wildlife images to be proud of!