Health Walk - Thursday 10th December 2015

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

Despite the recent inclement weather it was a pleasant morning (originally I had 'nice' but my first English teacher at Grammar School said nice should not be used here) with occasional flashes of sunshine.  

Twelve people turned up to walk - Bernadette D, Carmel, Colin D, David H, Graham, Jacqueline, James, Mary, Michael, Paul, Peter and Sue.

David took the lead again and tried hard to find a dry route, thanks David.  

We set off through the Car Park passing the new Visitors Centre

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You can see the new the cafe roof supports 'growing'

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Work is still in progress despite the inclement weather                

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Leaving the new Visitors Centre behind, here Peter, leading the short walk, and Sue left us to keep to the top, i.e. avoiding hills.  They both suffer from COPD plus Peter has back problems and Sue's on antibiotics for her chest which still hasn't cleared up.  They walked round the north side of the Hall, down the Drive and back up again going through the passage with the cafe, across the front of the Hall and back to the main path.  They walked along the path a little way, not as far as the Gregsons' seat and then came back to the Barn just before we arrived - green route.

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Approaching the Stone Bridge we turned left and made for Cock Cabin Wood.

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Leaving Cock Cabin Pond.

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Descending Bikers Hill and approaching the Stone Bridge, leaving out the direct route because the path was flooded.

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The Lostock is rather more full than usual

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The Ford is somewhere under there

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and here

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There was water everywhere, here we are approaching the steps to the Lake with the temporay lake on the Picnic Area.

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Black Headed Gulls in their winter coat, i.e. the black heads are now white

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More reflections on the other side of the Lake

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The steps up into the Field are waterlogged

We dropped down again and entered Dog Kennel Wood.  

I got involved in a conversation here so there are no more photographs except this one from Judy:

Judy asks "Is it a bird!!!"

We entered Gravel Hole wood leaving it to cross the Wooden Bridge and make our way up to the Barn via the Pinetum.

Back in the Barn we were joined by Jacqueline and Pete for tea/coffee.

Carmel was busy sorting out our New Year's Day Lunch.

Today's walks.

Michael Swarbrick