Welcome to what I have decided to make, with my website going offline in a few weeks, my very last Photographer’s Ramblings.
With a beautiful day forecast and the autumn colours starting to look good, I set off from my Lancaster home for Wennington. It’s a small village some 11 miles up the Lune Valley, which fortunately for me is lucky enough to have hung on to it’s railway station. My route took me for the much of the way along the route of the old railway. Before that, the first landmark I passed was the Lune Aqueduct (pic 1).
Pic 1. Approach to the Lune Aqueduct at sunrise.
Given that I was about to spend a lot of energy on my long walk, I resisted clambering down the banking to the best viewpoint on this occasion! Half an hour on and following the River Lune I reached the beautifully preserved (by Lancaster University’s rowing club) Halton Station (pic 2), which glinted in the morning sun.
Pic 2. Halton’s former railway station.
Crook O’ Lune
The undoubted photographic highlight was a couple of miles further at the well known Crook O’ Lune. I have photographed the river and two bridges here many times. My first shot (pic 3)
Pic 3. Crook O’ Lune.
was actually inspired by a snap someone had put on Facebook. Sorry I don’t recall who. It was taken from under the railway bridge approaching the second railway viaduct over the river. I loved the light through the trees, which at this point still looked rather green. Pic 4 was more to do with light, with just a hint of the bridge.
Pic 4. Looking at one of the bridges through the trees.
This spot is most year’s a great place to admire autumn at it’s best and hopefully Pic 5
Pic 5. Autumn colour by the river.
captures some of that; much aided by sun in the right place and a gently flowing river allowing for some nice reflections.
My final snap at the Crook O’ Lune (Pic 6) is more of a classic one down by the river looking at the second railway bridge.
Pic 6. Beautiful bridge.
Pic 7. Tree lined railway path.
After a short detour at the next village, Caton, for a coffee, I continued my trek along the old railway path until it narrows and ends just past Bull Beck picnic site (pic 7). We are now about five-and-a-half miles from Lancaster (and my legs are starting to ache!).
Pic 8. Morning dew in the sun.
Pic 8 was about the dew sparkling on the grass and a challenge when looking directly towards the sun.
My journey from here got a little more tricky. My lovely off road path had ended and apart from short stretches of pavement and grass verges, I needed to negotiate the busy road. Extreme care is needed, particularly between the villages of Hornby and Wray after you veer to the right towards Bentham. It’s not much fun pressing yourself into a hedge to avoid being mown down by a passing lorry! How I wish the railway path could be extended further and perhaps one day it will. Anyway, there is a quite muddy track that takes you for a mile or so off the busy road and bypasses Wray. Wray is a very pretty old village and is worth visiting by the way.
Pic 9. Lonely leaf!
Pic 9 is where a lonely autumn leaf sticking out into the sun in front of me caught my eye. A brief pleasing distraction from the mud underfoot!
I mustn’t forget the rather nice view I got across to Hornby Castle (Pic 11)
Pic 12. Ahead in North Yorkshire, unmistakable Ingleborough.
Pic 11. Hornby Castle nestling amongst the autumn trees.
From about the same point looking ahead of me and visible for much of my walk is the fine site of Ingleborough (Pic 12).
Back to the road for the final stretch to Wennington and I past and snapped this fine stone viaduct crossing the River Wenning and the old railway (pic 13).
Pic 13. Handsome bridge at Tatham.
This is Tatham, where the road takes you to a lovely little church and scattering of houses. Less than a mile to reach the end of my walk at Wennington Station (Pic 14). Wennington was once an important junction between remaining branch going off to Carnforth and the closed line to Lancaster that I had been following. Many reckon that Beeching closed the wrong line here. Expected freight traffic to Carnforth and Barrow never materialised leaving passenger traffic for Lancaster to detour north unnecessarily.
Pic 14. Wennington Station.
My final photo
Pic 15. River Lune from the train home.
for you was on the scenic journey home on the train as we cross the River Lune. (Pic 15) Do check the timetable first if you do this walk. Trains from Wennington aren’t very frequent.