Health Walk

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Thursday 3rd January -  This was our first walk from the Barn of 2013

Photo 1
The Barn as we set off to the Cinder Path

Photo 2                                     Photo 3
Heading down thee Cinder Path and turning right and climbing over the M6.  I always find trudging down the Cinder Path depressing.

Photo 4
The M6 was the first construction to divide the Park, not sure how long ago.  In the distance you can see the M65 which completed the division.  After the M6 we used to get into the Park from Stag Lodge and there was a bridge over the M6 into what is now one of the nature reserves - see today's route map - and one didn't have to leave the Park as we do today.

Photo 5
Over the bridge and down to the A49, Wigan Road.

Photo 6
Along the M6 and under the M65 - this stretch is really noisy and unpleasant.

Photo 7
Back in the Park now but it is still dominated by the M65. I guess many of you have never known this area any different to what it is now but it used to be beautiful but on the other hand we were denied access - e.g. the high walls of the Cinder Path where all round the Park and the gamekeepers where waiting for you on the other side - well I had the fear of God put into me as a child (I was sent to Sunday School and taken to church).

However once a year the local children were invited inside the high walls for a 'treat'.  My mum's on there somewhere, I think, the postcard photo was among her sister's photos.

Photo 8                                     Photo 9
Turning right and heading down the path parallel to the A49 and then along the bottom path.  This path/drive from Stag Lodge used to go to the front of the Hall - then before the M65 through the pylon and over the the M6 on to the track at the eastern edge of Cock Cabin Wood - green line on map.

Photo 10
At the top of the hill now near the reflections photo and our first rest before returning to the A49 alongside the M65.

Photo 11
On the old drive to the Hall from the Wigan Lane Lodge, destroyed when the M6 was blazed through the countryside.  here we met Maureen, one of the original Health Walk leaders but now unable to help because of other commitments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

There were eleven of us today who had survived the seasonal festivities.