Abby Benton

Worsthorne, United Kingdom

Today Rachel and I went for a walk around Worsthorne and into the neighbouring fields. Worsthorne is mediaeval and has some very old houses in it. We walked up this narrow street and through a gate and onto a muddy track with a small stream flowing by it. This track was apparently an acient mule track to haul in salt to Worsthorne. It dates back to mediavel times as well. The flat stones are original.

Medieval mule track into Worsthorne

We followed this path over a few fields surrounded by stone walls. It was very muddy. The stone walls had these gates called 'kissing gates' because they can go either way. I suppose it would be easy to meet up in the middle.

Kissing Gate

After we had walked half a mile we reached the village of Hurstwood. After that we carried on out to a reservoire and back in through a small wood.

I've not seen a single other tourist so far. The weather isn't exactly warm, but not as cold as I thought it might be. As far as I can see, it is a very monocultural community where we are. People are quite friendly and say hello when we walk past them.

We went to a place called Towneley Hall in the afternoon. The oldest part of the house was built around the 1400's. The Towneley's were Catholics and there were apparently 7 different priest's holes in the house used to hide the priests from the Anglicans. The house rambled all over the place and there were little stone passages going everywhere. It is used as an art gallery now and there were heaps of massive paintings all over the place.

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Abby Benton on January 17, 2008 from Worsthorne, United Kingdom

from the travel blog: UK

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Manchester, United Kingdom

By the time I got to Hong Kong I had slept about 3-4 hours squashed up next to an overweight Korean man. It's strange how you don't mind the close physical proximity of other people on a plane. Everything is so small that you wonder if you'll actually fit into it. However, all these fears were weightless (haha) and I probably improved my flexibility greatly squeezing out over my arm rest without bumping the guy's fully reclined seat in front of me, trying not to pull out my earphones or inadvertantly call for assistance from my remote and still trying to maintain a small piece of decorum.

Hong Kong airport was very clean. It grew light while we were there.

On our final leg to Heathrow, I was able to get a good look at the Chinese mountains and then Russia. After that, we flew over Denmark and Holland and - in the 13th hour - descended into Heathrow.

somewhere over China

Russia from plane window

Heathrow was fast. We didn't have much time before our connecting flight to Manchester and so we basically ran out of the plane. We didn't stick out, though. Basically everyone was running. Everything smelt strange and there was a plethora of English accents around me. I had a strange feeling that they were all faking it and I had strayed into the set of some movie.

Immigration was fun. The lady refused to smile at me and kept asking me why I was coming to England and where I was going and how much money I had and what on Earth had I been doing in Tonga.

Burnley finally arrived and we staggered into the house at about 7.30 pm. It was dark and cold but we got there. Yay.

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Abby Benton on January 15, 2008 from Manchester, United Kingdom

from the travel blog: UK

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Abby Benton

Trips:

Shorthand link:

Day 1

Worsthorne, United Kingdom

Arrival

Manchester, United Kingdom

Heading South?