Health Walk - Tuesday 30th May 2017
Photos by Michael S - Please click on photos if you wish to see a larger one
Overcast with occasional drops of rain. Thirty-five walkers and a dog took part.
Lawrence was leading, Frankie was back marker. Peter was leading the Optional Short Walk Group with Suzi as back marker
Lawrence set off but Michael was left behind erecting tables in the classroom and when he came out there was no sign of the walkers and no one seemed to know which way they had gone.
Michael reasoned they may have gone into the Pinetum so he set off hotfoot into the Pinetum and walking down Cardiac Hill, crossed the Wooden Bridge. Instinct led him up into Gravel Hole Wood and at the top of the path there was still no sign of the main group so Michael decided he would go up the Cow Field. Most of the walkers won't go in the Cow Field when the cows are out in spring, summer and autumn and they won't go in in winter when it's wet.
Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3
Panoramic views from the top of the steps
- looking west
Photo 4 Photo 5
Looking north.
Michael crossed Cam Lane down the steps into Green Wood walking round the top,
Photo 6 Photo 7 Photo 8
down the steps along to Hawks Clough where the Bistort is noticeable
Photo 9
Leaving Hawks Clough he encountered the short option walkers, who like to be called the elite group, climbing up from the Lake. they said the main group went that way i.e. over the Stone Bridge but they were long gone.
Michael walked down the Lake to see
Photo 10
the Heron's nest as recommended by the elite group.
Photo 11 Photo 12 Photo 13
Walking round the Lake he saw the Canada Geese and their goslings.
Photo 14 Photo 15 Photo 16
The Yellow Flags round the eastern edge of the Lake
Photo 17
It's not raining but not sparkling in the sunshine either
Photo 18 Photo 19 Photo 20
Walking along the bottom of the Dam there are now many Spotted Orchids
Across the Stone Bridge and up Snake Hill but walking along the sunny side of the Hall
Photo 21 Photo 22 Photo 23
Admiring the lovely flowers and neat flower beds
The elite walkers had walked down Snake Hill. When they reached the bench John thought it might be best if he turned back so Suzi went with him and they walked round the east side of the Hall, onto the Drive, down and round Cuerden Close back on to Berkeley Drive and to the Barn.
The rest of the group
carried on down Snake Hill, over the Stone Bridge, up round the Lake and into the Field where they met Michael.
They dropped down to the Kissing Gate and walked down the slope to the Cycle Track, along the Cycle Track to the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill into the American Garden (Pinetum) and back to the Barn
Photo 24
Back in the Barn the elite group are getting their drinks. You can see why Michael got lost. He tried to arrange the tables so that there we weren't in little isolated groups, it almost worked.
Many many thanks to Brian C who helped stack them all back against the wall.
The main group had walked as Michael hoped: Pinetum, Cardiac Hill, Wooden Bridge, Gravel Hole Wood. Here Michael lost faith but they had carried on through Gravel Hole Wood, Dog Kennel Wood, the Field, round the Lake, Stone Bridge, Walkers Wood, Cock Cabin Wood, Cinder Path, Hall Drive and Back to the Barn.
Today's walks
Red - main group
Green - short option group
Pale Green - short option group breakaway
Blue - main group straggler
Today's walkers:
Main Walk - Barbara G, Brian C, Carmel, Carol W, Christine S, Clare, Colin C, Elizabeth M, Frankie, James H, James Mc, Janet M, Janet S, Judy, Lawrence, Linda E, Michael S, Roseanne, Sheila, Sylvia, Victor & Yvonne
Short Walk Group - Ann S, Carol R, Beth, Heloise and dog, Karen F, John B, Kathleen, Muriel, Norman, Pat, Paul 2, Peter & Suzie
The Chorley Walk - Find Your Feet scheme.
Compiled by Michael Swarbrick
