Health Walk - Tuesday 18th October 2016

Photos by Michael & Sandy - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Only eighteen walkers today - Carmel, Frankie, Geoff, Irene T, James, Jennifer, John W, Karin, Lawrence, Linda E, Margaret, Michael, Peter, Sandy, Suzie and Sylvia.

Only Eighteen!   This time last year we'd have been delighted with eighteen.

Rained heavily overnight but it was dry and sunny with only one short sharp shower.

Lawrence was leading and Frankie was back marker to the main walk.  Peter was leading the short walk.  Only Peter was wearing his hi-vis jacket!

Lawrence took us down Snake Hill, across the Stone Bridge and along the bottom of the Dam up to the Lake.

We walked round the Lake and up into the Field dropping down again to the entrance to Dog Kennel Wood.

Photo 1
Here we spotted the short walkers walking along the top of the Dam

Photo 2                                                 Photo 3                                                 Photo 4
We carried on into Dog Kennel Wood

Photo 5                                                  Photo 6
The wood was lovely with the sunshine creating lovely colours.

Photo 7                                                  Photo 8
Approaching the Women's Institute Footbridge and crossing into Gravel Hole Wood

Photo 9                                                    Photo 10                                                                                                 
Walking down to the Cycle Track between Gravel Hole Wood and Black Banks Wood.

We crossed the Wooden Bridge and climbed up Cardiac Hill and once in the Pinetum we climbed up to the Viewing Area and progressed back to the Barn where we were surprised to see we were the first back.  Actually we had done a slightly shorter walk than usual only taking about fifty minutes.

Where were the short walkers?

All the following photos are Sandy's

Peter had led them into the Pinetum and down Cardiac Hill, over the Wooden Bridge turning left to walk along the river and up the slope to the entrance to the Field meaning to walk up and back down to the Lake but

Photo 11 
Karin spotted the cows and said she'd prefer not to go in the Field so they walked back to the Lake and walked round to the steep steps.  This was where we spotted them.  See Photo 1 above.

Photo 12   
The calm of the colourful Lake after the overnight stormy rain

Photo 13
They walked along the bottom of the Dam, crossing the Stone Bridge, up Bikers Hill and into Cock Cabin Pond

Photo 14            
Walking round the pond

Photo 15
Leaving Cock Cabin Wood on the carpet of autumn leaves.

Peter and Karin dropped down into Walkers Wood but Sandy and Suzie kept to the Cycle Track

They walked up Snake Hill.  

By now in the barn we were getting anxious.  What had happened to the short walkers?  Carmel contacted Suzie on her mobile and they said they were just passing the new building much to our relief.

They had walked for two miles, the longest short walk to date!

Today's Walks

Red - main walk
Green - shorter walk

Michael Swarbrick