Health Walk - Tuesday 8th November 2016

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

Twenty-three walkers today - Bernadette, Carmel, Clare, Colin C, Colin D, Elizabeth H, Elizabeth M, Frankie, Graham, James, Jennifer, John W, Judy, Karin, Lawrence, Linda E, Michael, Pat, Paul, Sandy, Sylvia, Suzie and Zandra.

Cloudy a bit nippy but a good morning for walking.

Another record, we set off on the walk at 1000 hours!  On time at last.

Lawrence was leading and Frankie was back marker to the main walk.  Suzie was leading the short/slow walk.  

Lawrence outlined his plans for the walk and set off towards the Hall and led us along the 'sunny' side of the Hall

Photo 1   
and down to the Stone Bridge

We crossed the Stone Bridge, walked along the bottom of the Dam and up the steps to the Lake.  We didn't spot anything of interest on the Lake as we walked round and climbed up into the Field.

At Hawks Clough Lawrence led us into Green Wood down across the wet/muddy path.  We climbed the long set of steps, walked along the top and round the back of Asda.  

Photo 2
As we descended down into the valley Frankie suggested I took this shot.

We climbed up the even longer set of steps on to Cam Lane turning left and walking along the lane.

Photo 3                                                  Photo 4                                                Photo 5
Alongside the lane as we approached the pool on the right these 'structures' created a certain amount of interest and discussion.  They were all the way up this tree trunk about a metre apart. What are they = Horse hoof fungus it's scientific name is Fomes fomentarius.

We had a bit of excitement as Michael stepped off the road onto the carpet of leaves, shuffling further the leaves only to have his left foot disappear into the pond.  Grabbed by Frankie and Pat he was pulled to safety.

Photo 6                                                  Photo 7
On the same trunk we noticed these two holes - Woodpecker?

Our little group had fallen behind now but Lawrence and the others waited for us at the top of Sheep Hill.  We all walked down the hill together and crossed the road at the bottom back into the Park.

Once again we fell behind as we climbed up Cardiac Hill

Photo 8                                                                                                  
As we entered the Pinetum there was no sign of the walkers

Photo 9                                                  Photo 10  
so we rested and recovered

Photo 11
before walking back to the Barn

Suzie's group set off into the Pinetum, crossed the Wooden Bridge and walked up into Gravel Hole Wood crossing into Dog Kennel Wood

As they left Dog Kennel Wood they walked down the slope to the Stone Bridge and climbed up Snake Hill and alongside the Hall back to the Barn

The reason for our diversions past the Hall was because the path past the new building was to have been closed.  Work was due to start on Monday on sewage works for the new building but it didn't appear to have started.  The scaffolding was supposed to have been removed too.

Today's Walks

Red - main walk
Green - shorter walk

Michael Swarbrick