Health Walk - Thursday 3rd May 2018

Photos by Michael S & Eileen P - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Today we had twenty-nine walkers.

David H led the main walk with Irene S back marking.  

Colin C led the short option walk with Suzi back marking

It was a sunny morning for the most part                

David led us round the front of Cuerden Hall and into James' Walk.  Coming out of James' Walk on to Sue Ryder Drive we turned into the Cinder Path.

As we approached the Gate we caught up with the Elite walkers who Colin had led through the Car Park, behind the Barn on to Sue Ryder Drive ahead of us.

Photo 40 - Eileen
They felt it appropriate to allow us past them and formed a guard of honour with their sticks!

We came out on to the Cycle Track and walked along

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through the avenue of Dandelions (I know avenues are lined with trees - poetic licence)

The field on the right is

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full of, slight exaggeration, Cuckoo Flowers, Lady's Smock or as many of us prefer: May Flowers

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The Elite walkers striding out, now behind us.

David took us into Cock Cabin Wood but turned right immediately to walk past the Woodpecker nest holes and then proceeded anti-clockwise round the wood

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to meet the Elite walkers again who were walking clockwise round the wood.  We came out of the wood down Bikers Hill into Walkers Wood, here the Elite walker went directly down Bikers Hill avoiding the wood, and crossed the Stone Bridge into the Picnic Area where there were

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a group of students studying the river bed, this time with Jack.

The Elite walkers left us here to walk along the river (River Lostock) over the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill and back to the Barn

We climbed up the steps to the Lake

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looking back at the Bluebells and walking along the Dam

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Marsh Marigolds, also known as Kingcups, on the western edge of the Lake (Technically a Reservoir)

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We looked down on the School Children and could see the elite walkers crossing the Stone Bridge

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The broom bush

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The goslings again

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but today there were two lots!

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walking round the Lake we caught sight of the Heron's nest.

We climbed up the steps into the Field on to Cam Lane.  Her David had intended to go up round the Ponderosa but time was running out so he took us down hill

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and we had to be content with views of the Ponderosa up on the Hill

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approaching the Kissing Gate then proceeding up into Dog Kennel Wood, through Gravel Hole Wood and back

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along the river, another group of school children, to cross the Stone Bridge and climb up Snake Hill back to the Visitors Centre

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where we all enjoyed our tea/coffee and biscuits

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while enjoying discussing things of interest

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The view from the balcony - the sun was hiding now

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Meanwhile Peter W is working away on the lower cladding.  Peter and two others, who were hiding, have worked on the building since the beginning three years ago

Today's walks (Red Main Group, Green Short Walk Option Group).  
Where there are green arrows on the red route it means the Elite walkers had followed the main >> or the main group had followed the Elite walkers >>.

Today's walkers

Main Walk - Amanda, Barbara F, Bernadette, Bill, Colin D, David H, Eileen P, Eric, Frankie, Graham, Helen G, Irene S, James, Jane, Jim, John McN, John W, Linda E, Margaret W, Michael S, Moira & Roberta

Elite group - Ann S, Colin C, Jennifer, Julie S, Mary P, Suzi & Zandra

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick

Cinder Path                Cuerden Hall          Hawksclough Farmhouse                         Cam Lane             Lower Kem Mill

Cuerden Valley's Health Walk    Cock Cabin Wood   Cam Lane Cottage       Ponderosa

The Chorley Walks.