Health Walk - Thursday 9th January

Photos by Michael S & Sheila T (The A-Team) - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Sheila T:  "A chilly but dry morning for our walk today.  David H led a group of twenty walkers back marked by Jimmy.  Two walkers returned to the Visitor Centre part way and then a further four returned a bit further along leaving fourteen to finish the whole walk.  Those who completed the walk reported enjoying it as it seemed did Wesley our canine friend.  The Elite walk led by John B and back marked by Beth was a group of ten walkers and one canine Paddy"

Photo 1
The bus which presumably brought the children.   My first thought was "The Americanisation has already begun"

David H was leading and he outlined his plans and set off up into the Car Park, round the Barn and on to the Hall Drive.  Down the Drive to the Cinder Path or as James calls it the Strodi, an old English word to describe 'a path between two walls' and could be what it was called originally

Photo 2 - Sheila                                                    Photo 3 - Sheila 
Coming out on to the Cycle Track where David paused to allow everyone to catch up before setting off to enter

Photo 4 - Sheila                                                    Photo 5                                                 Photo 6
Cock Cabin Wood and walk round the Pond

Photo 7- Sheila
continuing through

Photo 8 - Sheila                      Photo 9 - Sheila                                    Photo 10 - Sheila
the wood and back out on to the Cycle Path

Photo 11                                                             Photo 12 - Sheila                                     Photo 13 - Sheila   
Sheila photographing the group.

David took us down into Walkers Wood then over the Stone Bridge to the Picnic Area

Photo 14                                                              Photo 15                                              Photo 16   
I spotted the Elite Group walking along the Dam.

We walked up the Slope on Cam Lane, through the Kissing Gate into the Field with no pause at the top.  Here Helen G and Mary P decided the would leave the walk and got permission from James the Back Marker.

I was struggling now and James ran ahead to ask the leading walkers to wait while I caught up which they did at the Kissing Gate at Hawks Clough.  I'd also taken a few photos which compounds my problem.  We carried on walking up passed Cam Lane Cottage and at the top of the Steps down into Green Wood I said I was leaving the walk and going down the Cow Field and Eileen P, Frankie and Irene said they would walk with me.

Photo 17                                                              Photo 18                                        Photos 19
We seemed to interest these sheep as walked down the field, to the Cycle Path

Photo 20
These small bushes were behind the sheep, they appealed to me, can't think why.

We walked over the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill into the Pinetum and back to the Visitors Centre.

The main group continued down the Steps into Green Wood up to the top to descend the Steep Steps

Photo 21 - Sheila                     Photo 22 - Sheila
over the Footbridge

Photo 23- Sheila                  Photo 24 - Sheila
along the path back to Hawks Clough, into the Field and down through the Kissing Gate

Photo 25 - Sheila    
to pause again before going down the Slope, across the Stone Bridge, up Snake hill back to the Visitors Centre

John B: "10 walkers plus 1 canine friend, Paddy, John B leading, Beth back marker.  Up to left along Walled Orchard, right to descend steps and regain Cardiac Hill, right then left through Gravel Hole and Dog Kennel Woods.  Around reservoir to descend long steps, over stone bridge, right along cycle track to left down steps to Cinder Path, left towards Hall, right around stables and old barn to Barclay Drive, down to café" at 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 >>.  similarly for the blue arrows

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick with grateful thanks to John, Margaret, Eileen & Sheila

Cam Lane
Cam Lane Cottage
The Chorley Walks.  
Cinder Path
Cock Cabin Wood
Cuerden Hall
Cuerden Valley's Health Walk
Lower Kem Mill
Hawksclough Farmhouse
Tree Sculpture
Park
Pinetum
Ponderosa
Visitors Centre