Elsful two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Elsful here.

The route started from Elswick along a reasonably quiet road as far as Roseacre, where it turned off into a muddy farm track past cows (in a barn) and goats (in plastic houses). The footpath was not obvious, but was easy enough to track from the GPS or map. After passing a slurry pit (!) I went through a gate onto another farm track which came out at the village of Wharles, which had a couple of benches. The route passed a large array of military aerial masts.
A longish, but quiet road section then led to the canal. There were good views in this flat landscape, but the noise from the motorway because gradually more noticeable.
When plotting the route at home, I had considered bypassing Wharles and continuing on field footpaths, past Ferdy’s Wood, alongside the M55, and out by Blundell’s Wood at Stanley Lodge, but the Google Street View at Stanley Lodge looked discouraging. However, when I walked it, the work there had been completed and it looked more inviting.
The canal section was easy and pleasant, although the sound of the motorway persisted. Swillbrook Boatyard, near Catford, appears to have a café during the summer months.
Soon after the little aqueduct, I left the canal, via a stile and short stone staircase.
The gate and stile between Whinnyfield Bridge and Whinnyfield Farm were in poor condition, and I found climbing over the gate to be the easiest option. I have reported this issue to the local council, but I don’t think it was enough to fail the route. From the farm, a surfaced lane led into the lovely village of Woodplumpton. I had a pleasant refreshment break at the Wheatsheaf there, and followed their recommendation to visit Meg Shelton’s grave, the “Witch’s Grave”, at St Anne’s Church just across the road. There are also stocks and a wall sundial there.
Toplands Clay Shoot is open for shooting every other Sunday, so I’d choose to walk on a different day! The public footpath marked on OS is overgrown, and the signage directs you through the edge of their field instead. There were also peacocks and pheasants roaming around here!
As you cross the next field, you can just see the narrow footbridge to aim for, especially if the sun glints off the metal bits along the top. This leads you to a recently constructed, enclosed, and well used streamside footpath around the base of the recycling centre and its grassed hill. It exits, unmarked, onto the Preston Guild Wheel cycle route. The remainder of the route is a mixture of suburban roads and pleasant footpaths.
I was quite pleased with this route, with a balance of quiet roads, muddy fields, canals and farm tracks. And I saw swans, moorhens, skylark, buzzards, and a stoat!.

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