Health Walk - Tuesday 19th April 2016

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

A beautiful sunny morning in contrast to last Tuesday's miserable November-like misty morning with fine drizzle.  Twenty walkers - Angela, Bernadette, Brian, Carmel, Elizabeth H, Elizabeth M, Frankie, Graham, Helen G, Irene S, Irene T, Jacqueline, Lawrence, Linda P, Michael, Peter, Pat, Paul, Sandy and Suzie.  

I, Michael, leading, outlined my plans for the walk.  Peter, leading the short walk with Suzie, elected to stay 'on top' i.e. avoid the hills.

The rest of us set off through the Pinetum walking up round the Viewing Area hoping to see some birds - just on Great Tit.

Photo 10
The trees are bursting into bud now, spring is really here.

Photo 1
Graham in the lead dominating the group

Photo 2
Fame at last - photographed by Graham as I took Photo 1.

All together we entered Gravel Hole Wood and progressed through Dog Kennel Wood we spotted at least one Jay, there may have been two.

Leaving the wood we entered the Field and walked up to the steps.   We walked down the steps to the Lake, walking round the Lake and Down to the Picnic Area.

Crossing the Stone Bridge we continued up into Walkers Wood emerging to enter Cock Cabin Wood.

Photo 3                                                 Photo 4                                                 Photo 5
I remembered to take the camera out again as we walked round the pond. In Photo 4 I think Graham is taking another photo of me, at the end of the notes.

Graham, with the exception of the ones he took of me, was photographing the flora - see Facebook where he has put his photos.

Photo 6
After we left Cock Cabin Pond we walked along to the Cinder Path, Photo 6 is another one of Graham's.  We got the impression that the path had been cleared of vegetation, it was nice and clean.

Photo 7
Remember this photo from last Thursday "Now where does this path lead?  Something to explore on another day" ?  Well I decided to explore leading everyone, as it turned out, a dance.  Apart from the edge of the wood along the Drive it turned out to be completely fenced in.

I think this little wood is part of Lady Hoghton's Plantation but the plantation may be all on the western side of Shady Lane.

After several exploratory detours the walkers abandoned me and retraced their steps.

Photo 8                                                 Photo 9
Determined not to be beaten I wandered on and came across the other end of the tunnel under the Drive.  Photo 9 shows the, now really overgrown, southern section of the Cinder Path.  The bright triangular stones are the western side of the path, the eastern side appears to be hidden by vegetation in the photo.

Peter and Suzie - green route - Walked to the Gregson's seat at the top of Snake Hill where they sat and enjoyed the sunshine for a while - Peter's back is playing up again.  They then retraced their steps to walk round the Hall having another rest in the sun in the little memorial garden on the north side of the Hall.  From there they walked down the Drive, into the little collection of houses and back up Berkeley Drive to the Barn

Back in the Barn we all enjoyed our refreshments.  

Today's walks

Photo by Graham - I think it's at Cock Cabin Pond
Michael Swarbrick