Health Walk - Tuesday 11th August 2015

Photos by LINDA PHILLIPS - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Would it rain?  No we had a dry walk.

We had 15 walkers today - Angela, Barbara, Brian, Carmel, Carole, Elizabeth H, Frankie, Harry, Irene T, Maureen, Michael, Oliver, Sandy, Sue and Angela's dog Molly.  It was Angela, Harry and Oliver's first time.

Michael led off into the Pinetum.

As we reached the Cycle Track Elizabeth wasn't feeling too good so Carmel, Sandy and Sue stayed with her while the rest of us carried on.

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Walking along the Cycle Track and up into Gravel Hole Wood.

At the top of the wood we had a discussion as to whether to enter the field and climb up to Cam Lane or proceed through the wood.  Some were apprehensive because of the cows and it was decided that because we had Molly we would carry on into the wood and Dog Kennel Wood

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Leaving Dog Kennel Wood we walked up into the field where we encountered more cows but they didn't bother us.

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We walked down to the Lake and along the shore.

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Michael stripping off while we had a rest.  We carried on round the Lake and across the Stone Bridge.

Photo 11
Walking north along the Cycle Track

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Emerging from 'Walkers' Wood' we paused to gather our breath having climbed out of the wood on the deceptively steep path.  To our relief this was the last real hill.  Harry (or Oliver) took over the lead here, he's five, and later said he'd like to be a leader.

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Arriving at Cock Cabin Pond and checking if we still had eleven.

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Emerging out of Cock Cabin Wood and making towards the Cinder Path we saw even more cows resting.  They say when the cows are sitting down it's going to rain but it didn't.

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As we got to the passage between the two grazing fields the leaders couldn't unfasten the gate into he Cinder Path and this young bull was approaching much to their chagrin but they managed to overcome the catch and escape into the Cinder Path.  Meanwhile the rest of us stayed safely behind the other gate until it had sauntered through probably wondering what all the fuss was about.

We came out on to Sue Ryder Drive and eventually returned to the Barn for our refreshments where the others were waiting for us.

Elizabeth recovered and with Carmel, Sandy and Sue walked north along the Cycle Track to the Stone Bridge where they walked along the same route that we were to do - green route on map.

Today's Walk

Many thanks to Linda for providing the photos

The green shading shows the original Cinder Path, it used to go from Wigan Lane (A49) to Shady Lane.  The Blue is the original drive from Stag Lodge to the Hall and the red shows the original footbridge over the M6 which still left the Park connected without having to go on the A49.  This bridge was removed when the M65 was built cutting the northern part of the Park off.

Michael Swarbrick