238 Country Rambles. 



between Wigan and St. Helens, but access thereto is not 

 so easy, nor is there the same sweet sense of remote and 

 airy solitude, green as the early spring, which, unless the 

 visit happens to be most unfortunately timed, always 

 awaits the pilgrim to Ashurst. The beacon upon the 

 summit, a stone tower with pyramidal spire, was erected 

 in the time of the French Revolutionary wars, taking 

 the place of one established on the identical spot in the 

 memorable August of 1588, the year, as Charles 

 Kingsley says, of Britain's Salamis. 



From Appley Bridge there is also a grand walk to the 

 summits upon the right-hand side of the rails, the chief of 

 them, Horrocks Hill, lying about two miles away to the 

 north, and at a spot called Higher Barn, attaining an 

 elevation superior even to Ashurst. But it is not so well 

 adapted for a signalling station, and hence, instead of a 

 beacon, is marked only by a tree. The view from the 

 top is singularly fine, embracing the whole country up to 

 the Lune, with the towers of Lancaster city, Blackpool, 

 Rufford (where there is a very interesting old hall, black 

 and white), the Ribble, and the entire course of the 

 Douglas, embouchure included. For variety, the return 

 walk may be made via Standish. 



Lathom Park implies, upon the Newborough side, a 

 delicious walk through the intricacies of what in this part 

 would be better called Lathom Wood. The trees are 

 lofty; the shade is dense; the path, gently undulated, 

 crosses about the middle a swiftly-running stream called 

 the Sawd. This ? like the water in Dean Wood, is a 



