Harrock Hill

A weekday walk around Harrock Hill. Started off with frozen ground, but as the day progressed the frost melted and we started to descend in the mouth of mudness.

Harrock Hill elevation

Harrock Hill route

I didn't think to take pictures of the state of the footpaths until about half way round, so this isn't even the worst of it, but this is increasingly becoming the state of the paths we use and it only seems to be getting worse each year. (With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel).

Hello quagmire my old friend

I've come to walk in you again

Because a slurry softly seeping

Left its mess while I was sliding

And the muck that was planted in my stride

Still abides

Within the sound of squelching

Harrock Hill

Around our revised Harrock Hill route again, squeezing it in before the alleged rain in the afternoon.

Harrock Hill elevation

Harrock Hill route

Nothing much of note except being chased through a field by a vicious pack of teenagers (cows).

The Evil Eye of Bovine Death

Ripening wheat

Harrock Hill

Walk around Harrock Hill. Adding in a an extra bit leading up to the hill itself to add some variety.

Harrock Hill elevation

Harrock Hill route

Bit of a grey day but we did see some cute ducklings.

View over the fields

 Ducks and ducklings by the level crossing. Lots of cheeping and quacking.

Duckling

Duckling

Male Mallard

Path up to Harrock Hill

Galls on Oak

Neatly cultivated field

Harrock Hill

An unspectacular day around Harrock Hill.

Harrock Hill elevation

Harrock Hill route

Grey, overcast, misty and very, very muddy in places.

Misty fields

Muddy paths

Even muddier paths

Spring flowers coming in

Corridor of roly-polies

Sheep

Harrock Hill

Supposed to be a big walk today, but I woke up with a sore throat and runny nose, so we chose Harrock Hill instead as it can easily be cut in half, which we ended up doing. Tried to keep up Vitamin C levels scoffing brambles on the way round, but we're really struggling to find sweet ones. Not a great year for fruit so far.

Harrock Hill elevation

Harrock Hill route

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Sheep grazing and wind turbines in the distance

Curious Cow

Managed to get round to the Pub just in time for opening.

If only pints really were this big

Recently harvested fields

Contented Cows (note the three turbines in the distance)

Harrock Hill

A return to a walk around Harrock Hill. Very bright, sunny day, so not very good for photos, but at least it's not raining! Saw Buzzards, Mistle Thrushes and Red Legged Partridge in the fields near the start.

Harrock Hill elevation

Harrock Hill route

Fresh Lambs

Blossom

Bluebells

Flowers (Marsh Marigold?)

Bright sun over Lancashire fields

'Heisenberg' and 'Popeye Doyle'

Many trees still bare

Harrock Hill

A walk around Harrock (and Parbold) Hill.

Harrock Hill route

Harrock Hill elevation

The fields had recently been harvested, with towers of straw bales.

Giant Haystacks (and little daddy)

Another pleasant weekend spent rolling around in a field

Spotlit trees by the canal

The Fairy Glen

Dripping wet vegetation

Male spider pushing his luck

Yellow Dung Fly

Yellow Dung Fly

Cranefly (maybe Ptychoptera contaminata) on Stinging Nettle

 Large growths of Himalayan Balsam by the canal, busy with bees and flies.

Bee in Himalayan Balsam

Bee in Himalayan Balsam

Hoverfly on Himalayan Balsam

Honey Bee trapped in spider web