Health Walk - Thursday 25th May 2017
Photos by Michael & Peter - Please click on photos to see a larger one
Today we only had fourteen walkers. Another gloriously sunny spring morning
Michael S was leading the main walk, Carmel was back marker.
Peter was leading the short walk option, four today.
Michael had planned to do the standard Route 4 walk clockwise but as there were so few he asked if anyone didn't like stiles and no one objected. There were going to be three stiles but as it turned out there were only two.
Michael set off down Berkeley Drive turning left and walked along Shady Lane to the first stile which we avoided because the field gate could be opened!
We walked down the field to Town Brow and into Town Brow car park crossing to where the stepping stones used to be In the past we have used these stepping stones to avoid the road and car park and well, because it was adventurous. Then we walked as close to the river as we could get
Photo 1
Graham spotted a Buzzard and this was as close as Michael could get with his normal lens on his camera.
Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4
The Yellow Irises are blooming now.
We carried on along the river side just avoiding the Cycle Track and continuing along the unofficial path. Here were more stepping stones which some of the more adventurous used to use having walked on the opposite side of the river.
We carried on treading over tree roots, ducking below fallen trees, climbing over fallen trees, avoiding slipping in the river all the way to the entrance to Gravel Hole Wood.
We were early here so Michael opted to go up into the wood but Mary and Bernadette left the walk to take a direct route back to the Barn via Cardiac Hill. Mary had to be back early and Bernadette accompanied her.
We carried on through Dog Kennel Wood and on to the Lake side where we saw the Heron's neck above the tree vegetation, presumably on the western nest, on the Island.
Down the Long Steps, across the Picnic Area where we saw the rangers erecting a new picnic table and the schoolchildren pond dipping.
Over the Stone Bridge and up Snake Hill back to the Barn.
Peter led the short option group, the Elite walkers, in the opposite direction into the American Garden, Pinetum, down Cardiac Hill and along the river through the Kissing Gate and up into the Field dropping down to the Lake where they saw the Heron's nest on the east side of the Island.
Susan and Carol opted to walk down the slope to the Stone Bridge but Peter and Norman carried on round the Lake
Photo 6 - Peter
where they saw the goslings before
they went down the Long Steps, across the Picnic Area and over the Stone Bridge following the same route that we were to follow later.
They eventually caught up with Susan and Carol, who had been walking and resting in the few shaded areas, and made their way back to the Barn.
Main group statistics.
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 >>
Today's walkers
Main Walk - Ann T, Bernadette, Bill, Carmel, Colin D, Graham, Helen G, Mary, Michael S, Moira
Short Walk Group - Carol R, Norman, Peter & Suzi
The Chorley Walks.
