Health Walk - Thursday 23rd August 2018

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

Today we had twenty-three walkers.  It was an enjoyable morning if overcast and a little damp.

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

Colin led the Elite walk with Suzi back marking.

David led off through the Car Park, round the side of the Barn on

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to Cuerden Hall Drive, into the Cinder Path and over the M6 footbridge, along the A49 and into the north side of the Park

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Eileen spotted these berries in the hedgerow and Graham identified them as Cuckoo Pint berries - (Arum Maculatum)

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By now Eileen, Graham, John and myself had got a long way behind so we cut across the field

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using a dog-walkers path

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couldn't resist photographing these

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We caught up again

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before the pond.  Walking round the pond we avoided the Kissing Gate and started up the hill

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where the autumn berries are much in evidence

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Fruit trees from an old orchard - Dixon's Farm?

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Don't know what these are?

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Sloes

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Conkers - Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

We left the north side onto the A49, under the M65

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and back into the Park - Rowan, Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus Regnans)

We crossed the M6 and walked along the Cycle Track towards Cock Cabin Wood

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where we came across the Elite walkers coming in the opposite direction.  Suzi is telling Linda that there is a cow chewing a piece of plastic and neither getting it in or discarding it.

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Linda rushed off to get the walkie-talkie but I had it at the back.  We tried to get the Rangers but without success, Linda ended up ringing John P.

David led us anti-clockwise round Cock Cabin Wood

and led us down

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Bikers Hill but we didn't see the cow, probably a bullock, in distress.

David took us across the Stone Bridge and up the slope into Dog Kennel Wood. Through Gravel Hole Wood, down and over the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill into the Pinetum and back to the Visitors Centre

The Elite group had walked the opposite way to us but leaving Gravel hole Wood they had walked round the Reservoir, down the Long Steps, round the Picnic Area picking our path up again, walking along the Cycle Track, avoiding Cock Cabin Wood and using the Cinder Path, round the front of Cuerden Hall and back to the Visitors Centre

Today's walks (Red Main Group, Blue short cuts and 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 - Bernadette, Barry, Colin C, David H, Eileen P, Elizabeth M, Graham, Helen G, Irene S, James, Jane, Janet, John W, Julie C, Julie S, Linda P, Michael S, Moira,

It was Julie C's first walk with us

Elite group - Colin C, Dianne, Jennifer, Margaret W, & 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.