Health Walk - Thursday 14th March 2019   

Photos by Jim S & Beth - Please click on photos to see a larger one!

Today we had twenty-three walkers and three dogs.  

Sheila:  "Frankie led our main group with Sheila back marking and John B led the shorter option with Margaret W back marking.
What started as a very wet morning developed into a sunny and very pleasant walk. We avoided the woodland due to forecast of high winds.
Ann Kingston started the walk with her 3 dogs but had to drop out. We met her later. for refreshments."

Photo 1
Frankie set off down Snake Hill, Jim following with the camera

Photo 2
Cuerden Hall from Snake Hill

Photo 3  
Over the Stone Bridge where the river is still in spate.

Along Cam Lane and up the Slope and round the eastern edge of the Lake, up the steps

Photo 4  
back on to Cam Lane and along to Hawks Clough

Photo 5  
Climbing up the path on the edge of Green Wood

Photo 6
towards the Ponderosa

Photo 7
Passed the Ponderosa and continuing along Cam Lane past the ponds where we first saw the Otters

Photo 8
Approaching Sheep Hill, crossing the road and walking down Sheep Hill.

Back across the road at the bottom of Town Brow, reentering the Park and walking along the Cycle Path

Photo 9                                                              Photo 10
towards the Wooden Bridge

Frankie led them over the Wooden Bridge and up Cardiac Hill into the Pinetum where some walkers chose to go straight up the side back to the Visitors Centre.

The rest carried on up passed the Walled Orchard along the sunny side (actually sunny today) of the Hall, round the Hall, down the Drive into Cuerden Close then back up the path to walk round the Barn, through the Car Park back to the Visitors Centre

John, having previously ascertained the river level was OK, led his group of eight cautiously, because of the high winds and river level warnings, set off down the side of the Visitors Centre into the Pinetum passing the Monkey Puzzle Tree and climbing the steps to the Viewing Platform.

Passing the Walled Orchard he continued round the Barn to pick up the Hall Drive and enter the Cinder Path.

Leaving the Cinder Path they walked along the Cycle Path and as the wind appeared very light they decided to enter Cock Cabin Wood

Photo 11 - Beth
and walk round the Pond

Photo 12 - Beth
where they paused to look at the Frog Spawn

Leaving Cock Cabin Wood they continued down Bikers Hill

Photo 13 - Beth
to cross the Stone Bridge and walk along the river

Photo 14 - Beth
admiring the view of the Visitors Centre

They crossed the Wooden Bridge, ascended Cardiac Hill, entered the Pinetum and climbed up 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 >>.

Thanks to Frankie for supplying her photos and to Margaret for explaining the Elite route.

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick

Barn
Cam Lane
Cam Lane Cottage
The Chorley Walks
Cinder Path
Cock Cabin Wood
Cuerden Hall
Cuerden Valley's Health Walk
Hawksclough Farmhouse
Jenny Greenteeth
Park
Pinetum
Ponderosa
Tree Sculpture
Visitors Centre