How To Spend Your Weekend - A Walk To The Top Of Nicky Nook
Before my Grandma passed away, we'd see her every weekend. My mum saw her everyday. On Saturday and Sunday, she'd spend the whole afternoon with her. It's been hard for her now, knowing that she has huge gaps of her day to fill. So we decided that we'd go on dates - Tom has a season ticket for Preston North End anyway, so every other Saturday my mum and I are going to visit somewhere. For our first date, the whole family went and it was a place I'd wanted to take them for ages - a walk up to the top of Nicky Nook, in The Forest of Bowland.
The North West of England might get some stick sometimes, but there are some parts that are more beautiful than I've ever seen. If you get the weather, it's like being down south or in Ireland. Everything is so green and full of life.
You start off the walk in the village of Scorton. It's such a pretty place with lots of old houses and flowers all colours of the rainbow. You're taken along a country road and through the forest, working your way up towards Nicky Nook.
I remember telling my mum that we were going on a nice leisurely stroll - she didn't thank me for that afterwards!
You start the walk up Nicky Nook along a path. You climb and climb up steps and up the hill for what feels like forever. But every so often you'll stop for a rest and see the view.
When we got to the very top, we stopped to have some water and a small chocolate bar as a snack.
You know those moments when you're with your favourite people and everything is so still that you feel you could separate yourself from your body? I felt like I was standing there watching us, staring out at the view, together. I knew in that moment my family were happy and content - that means more than anything.
The walk back down Nicky Nook is just as stunning. Although we did get stared out by some cows....
There was one point, as we were walking along the river that was like a postcard picture. A tree was hanging over the river and the sun was at just the right angle that it was glittering in the water. Safe to say we stopped here for a while and took some pictures.
But one of the best bits about this walk is how it ends - back in the village in a place called, The Barn. A gorgeous country gift shop and a cafe that does the most amazing Sunday roasts ever!
We picked our table and I couldn't get enough of the grass picnic benches - I wanted to take one home with me! They also brought our cutlery out in a plant pot which was such a nice touch, something that would work really well at an outdoor dinner party.
So that was our walk to the top of Nicky Nook! If you're ever visiting Lancaster, Preston or somewhere nearby, try to visit Scorton and do this walk. When I was there taking pictures, I just couldn't wait to share them with you on here.
If you want to follow along more with my weekend adventures, pop over to my Instagram where I'm always posting about new places I find.
Have you ever been to the top of Nicky Nook? What's your favourite part of walking?