Health Walk - Thursday 21st June 2018

Photos by Michael S, Jen K & Unknown - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Today we had twenty-seven walkers.  It was a lovely sunny morning, chilly in the shade.

Sheila T led the main walk mentored by Michael S with David H back marking.  

Jen led the short option walk, with Suzi back marking

Photo 1
Sheila introduced herself and David and outlined her plans

She set off into the Pinetum, up through the Viewing Platform and down Cardiac Hill, over the Wooden Bridge turned right to walk up into

Photo 2
Gravel Hole Wood where at the top of the path we paused to check that everyone was OK

We carried on passing through Dog Kennel Wood to emerge on to the Lake shore

Photo 3
where we encountered Jen's group.

We walked along the east shore, through the Kissing Gate and up the

Photo 4
newly refurbished steps - hooray

We carried on along Cam Lane past the Ponderosa to the end.  We crossed Sheep Hill Lane and entered Sheep Hill Wood via Glenmore walking to the Top of the World.  Carrying on to the right we eventually came out on to Sheep Hill Brow crossing back into the Park again and walked along the Avenue of Oaks, planted to commemorate the queen mother's 80th birthday, walking along the Cycle Track to cross

Photo 5
the Stone Bridge

Photo 6                                                               Photo 7                                                  Photo 8
I saw this woman painting and couldn't resist photographing her, I later discovered she was with a group of artists who were from New Longton Artists and Friends Outdoor Painting Group.

I walked down to talk to her and couldn't resist walking across the Ford, the river was quite docile, something I've wanted to do for ages

By now I was well behind, everyone had disappeared up Snake Hill but hello

Photo 9                                                               Photo 10
is that John ahead?  Yes he'd been talking to more artists

Photo 11                                                               Photo 12                                                  Photo 13
Artists are springing up everywhere

Photo 14                                                               Photo 15                                                  Photo 16
Relaxing after the walk in the Visitors Centre.  Sheila's giving out forms with instructions on how to alert Lancashire County Council that there were problems on the path down to Town Brow

Photo 17                                                  Photo 18
These photos had appeared on Facebook when I looked at teatime so were there anymore artists hidden around the place?

Photo 19 - Jen                                                Photo 20 - Jen?
Jen had led the Elite Group down Snake Hill crossing the Stone Bridge, walking along the bottom of the Dam up the Long Steps to the Lake where they saw

Photo 21 - Jen
several Herons in the trees

Photo 22 - Jen
and walked along the Lake turning back at the Kissing Gate to enter Dog Kennel Wood, Gravel Hole Wood, the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill into the Pinetum and back to the  Visitors Centre

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 - Barry, Bernadette, Carmel, Colin D, David H, Edward, Eileen, Elizabeth M, Eric, Frankie, Graham, James, Jane, Jim, John W, Julie, Kerry, Michael S, Moira & Sheila T

Elite group - Ann, Jen, Joan, Karin, Margaret W, Robert, Suzi

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick

Cinder Path                Cuerden Hall          Hawksclough Farmhouse                         Cam Lane             

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

The Chorley Walks.