30 EVENING POST www.lep.co.uk Saturday, October 24, 2015

Weekend walks

Remote Control BY PHILIP CUNNINGTON [email protected] @rilthy

Free your boots Alexander Dreymon stars as Uhtred in BBC2’s The Last Kingdom dale Hall. Safe in knowledge BY BOB CLARE you have permission, once www.lancashirewalks.com through the gate turn left and head towards the river MAN BUNS AND bank. The memorial to the ometime at the start find - a squat stone marker of the 10th century is situated close to the fence. A NORSE CODE a bunch of Extension to the walk. were rowing up For readers who would be the . irked by retracing their steps hose Vikings didn’t seem like a bad OnS board their vessel was an return to the public footpath were a funny thing, as once they’d enormous treasure chest full and turn leftand where the lot, weren’t finishedsla ughtering and of silver. For some unknown path divides close to the they? All pillaging, these Vikings reason the Vikings decided to hall bear left.Aft er passing being called liked farming and country stop, dig a hole and bury their through a gateway cross to a TRagnar or Ragnarsson, pursuits – a bit like a swag. None of them ever came stile in the hedgerow ahead. or Ragnar Ragnarsson, hairier, dirtier Chipping back to collect it. From here follow the path having hipster beards and Norton set. In 1840 (175 years ago this along the riverside. This man buns before such Needless to say, this year )the was discov- will take you onto the A59 at things were invented, rural idyll couldn’t last, ered by a gang of workman re- Brockholes Bridge. Turn left and killing their wives as and soon Uhtred’s Viking pairing the nearby bank of the cross the bridge to join the barns burn down around protectors were being river. Some attempt was made Guild Wheel Cycle Route/ them. killed in awful ways, and by the workmen to fill their Ribble Way by turning lefton From what I could the now grown-up Uhtred pockets with coins from the the far side. In 2½ miles this make out in The Last was swearing vengeance. find but following the inter- brings you to London Road Kingdom (BBC2, I’ve not seen Game of vention of a bailiffth ey were A6. Turn leftac ross London Thursdays, 9pm), one Thrones – I know, I know allowed to keep one piece each Road Bridge and kept ahead particularly bloodthirsty – but The Last Kingdom while the rest was taken to sist some warlord in the north Museum and the South Rib- to Walton-le-Dale. After Nordic pillager was called seemed grounded in Hall where the trove east of ? ble Museum. In the summer 700yds turn left into Cuer- Abba. He didn’t seem reality, literally, given all covered a sittingro om floor. It Freebooting marauding Vi- months Dr David Hunt leads dale Lane. much of a dancing queen, the dirt on show. was the largest Viking hoard kings fitin to the popular no- a guided walk to the site of the l Walk devised by Dr but he was certainly keen It was a bit difficult ever found in Western Europe. tion of the when discovery. The walk described David Hunt, curator of South on nailing people to things keeping track of which The hoard was made up the constant prayer was “From below follows that route. Ribble Museum & Exhibi- and dropping Saxon Viking was which, apart of 8,500 items mainly coins the fury of the Northmen de- Directions: From the tion Centre. women from the rafters. from Rutger Hauer, giving from Viking controlled ter- liver us O Lord.” Yet the dis- church cross the road and Anyway, these it full Lurpak voice, who ritory. The other items were covery of the hoard gives us turn right. After 300yds bear Vikings have come to stole every scene he was ingots with cut up broaches, another picture - one which left onto a farm drive which Northumbria intent in, even the one he was chains and rings known as reflectsth e wide internation- drops down past residences Factfile in taking over, and the supposed to be dead in. “hack silver”. From the dates al connections the Vikings had and then before farm build- Northumbrians are intent I think it’s going to on the coins historians can tie across the known world in all ings swings left and then right START: St Leonard’s Church, on stopping them. They be fun following this, down the burial of the hoard likelihood made not by con- alongside a tall hedge. After a Walton-le-Dale seemed a bit lily-livered, especially as Alfred – to a five year period between quest but peaceful trade. The metal gate (where you may en- DISTANCE: 2 miles, 3k these Dark Age Geordies, before he was the Great – 905 and 910. Much of the hack non-Viking coins originated counter mud so be prepared) (extended walk 5 miles, 8k) to be honest –none of this appears soon. silver has been identified from the English (Anglo Sax- the public footpath follows TIME: 1-1½ hours (extended bare-chested bravado you Meanwhile, The as being of Irish origin giv- on) Kingdoms, the Continent, the field boundary on the walk 2–2½ hours) see at St James’ Park – and Returned (More4, Fridays, ing rise to speculation as to Byzantium and areas of Mos- right. Initially you are close GRADE: Easy. Please note the they fell into a Viking trap 9pm), well, returned, and whether there was a connec- lem influence in the Middle to the river but the takes you last part of this walk leaves the and were slaughtered. hit its stride straight away. tion with the Viking expulsion East and beyond. away from it as you cross a public right of way. Readers Apart from young Although it’s about from Dublin in 902. The Rib- The is a large bend of the Ribble. Af- wishing to view the memorial Uhtred, heir to one people coming back from ble would have been a natu- national treasure and most ter four fields the path reaches stone should contact the of the three lords of the dead, it’s not a zombie ral highway between Dublin of it is exhibited at the Brit- a metal gate alongside a wire farmer , Mr John Redmayne on Northumbria, who was thing, but it is chilly, and the great Viking centre ish Museum. However there fence. Through this the pub- 01772 877307 captured and put to creepy, and really, really of (Jorvick). Were these are displays locally at the Har- lic right of way continues on MAP: OS Explorer 286 work as a slave. Which good. freebooters on their way to as- ris Museum, the Lancashire an enclosed track near Cuer- Blackpool & Preston