Health Walk - Tuesday 24th April 2018

Photos by Sheila T & Michael S - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Today we had forty-three walkers.

Michael led the main walk with Frankie back marking.  Brian L led the short option walk with Colin C back marking

Keith wrote on Facebook:

After an enforced absence since the previous Tuesday, I was filled with excitement at the prospect of being back in the park again this morning, and in the priceless company of my fellow health walkers. As soon as I entered Cuerden Valley I became overwhelmed by the dramatic transformation that’s taken place in just one week, being greeted by a verdant wonderland, bejewelled with splashes of colourful blooms & blossoms in every direction. The moment I opened the car door my senses were hit by the most heavenly perfume that filled the air from all that luscious flora, enlivened by some recent rainfall that thankfully abated for the righteous gathering on the balcony of the Cuerden View Café. Despite a number of notable absentees – bon voyage and get well soon friends, a decent number turned out this morning, who were assembled by our [larger group] walk leader (Michael S) and back marker (Frankie) for the requisite preamble and route outline. Without further ado, we headed off into the park via Cardiac Hill, passing behind the visitor centre, circling the bowl in the landscape containing the monkey puzzles and wood carvings, out into the open and down the hill.

Photo 1                                                                 Photo 2
Having crossed the river, we turned right at the tarmac path to walk as far as the entrance into Gravel Hole Wood on the left. The climb by the side of the water run-off from the cow field above was the next pleasant surprise, as the sporadically flowering bluebells from the week before were now forming an ethereal lilac haze hovering just above the floor of the woods which, in a few weeks’ time, will be one of the must-see Great British annual natural spectacles. At the top of the climb we stopped for a brief moment

Photo 3                                                                 Photo 4
as Linda (P) ceremoniously laid her painted stone, in keeping with the latest craze being enjoyed by children (and youthful spirits alike) around the country, whereby small brightly painted pebbles are being secreted about the countryside in order to be spotted, noted, and re-positioned for subsequent spotters to continue the pebble’s story. Linda’s stone was placed between the routes at the base of a fir tree, it displayed the name of our walking group and the date, and included a request for the finder to find it a new home. It will be lovely to see how many different homes it finds over the coming weeks. It was then the familiar rollercoaster meander through Gravel Hole and into Dog Kennel Wood, the path now being flanked by an emerging carpet of green to replace the previous bear earth, and the canopy above becoming increasingly dense as the trees’ leafy plumage develops. Having emerged from the woods and dropped down towards the lake, we then veered right to take the path

Photo 5                                                                 Photo 6
that begins to climb towards Hawks Clough, passing the lake to our left and looking up towards Cam Lane Cottage to our right. It was noticeable today that the paddock area between ourselves and the lake is beginning to slowly fill with expanding clusters of white flowering wood anemone, as was the field beyond just before Hawks Clough, interspersed with even greater drifts of butterbur – many thanks to David (B) for his recent expert advice and identifications. Hawks Clough is just about hidden by the trees & shrubs in front of it now, but at that point Michael took us down to the left for a clockwise circuit of Green Wood, crossing the stream to then steadily climb up towards the top walk, along and passed the store, then dropping back down to re-cross the same stream before immediately rising again to climb the steps leading to Cam Lane. At this point we turned right to follow Cam Lane, passed the ‘cottage’ for sale and continuing to skirt the outer edge of Green Wood until we duly arrived back at Hawks Clough. From there we back-tracked as far as the steps leading down to the lake on the right, which we took to follow the only accessible path along the fringe. The lake was well occupied this morning with lots of geese and a flotilla of ducks tracking our movements in the hope of some treats. Unfortunately, the herons were keeping a low profile during our walk today but, with a myriad of other smaller birds to be seen and heard throughout the park, there was certainly plenty to marvel at. Having walked around the lake as far as one can go, we took the steps dropping down to the picnic area which we crossed along with the stone bridge over the river, to begin our sweeping climb up Snake Hill and back to sea level.

Photo 7                                                                 Photo 8
We uncannily managed to time our route so that we merged with the smaller group at the final kissing gate, which allowed everyone to breast the tape together and take up our seats on the balcony for some welcome refreshments and reflections. As well as the aforementioned flora, the more ubiquitous plants were also on top form today – masses of celandine, beautiful clumps of primrose, the blossom in the trees was gorgeous, in particular

Photo 9                                                                 Photo 10
the brilliant white blossom highlighted in Michael’s photos taken along the top walk in Green Wood (I agree with Alison & Eileen’s estimation – a cherry of some sort). Thanks to the keen eyed amongst us, I was also directed to a wonderful host of cowslips which are covering the mounds outside The Barn at the moment. To go for a walk surrounded by nature is always a joy, to visit the beautiful environs of Cuerden Valley Park is a particular joy, to experience both in the company such thoroughly delightful, warm-hearted people is indescribably joyous and this morning was precisely that for yours truly. Very many thanks to Michael and Frankie for taking care of us today, for the kindness of our caterers, and to everyone else for your precious company. All being well, Thursday should be breezy but bright, with a possibility of some sunlight during the walk. I’m already getting my walking gear together as I press the ‘Post’ button!

Back to Michael

The Elite walkers set off and followed us through the Car Park then round the back of the Barn and on to the Cinder Path then over the M6 into the Dark Side of the Park, the north area.  Circumventing the fields to return the same way down the Cinder Path but this time round the front of the Hall and

Photo 7                                                                 Photo 8
along the path to Snake Hill where, as Keith said, they joined the main group.

Today's walks

Today's walkers

Main Walk - Ann K, Barry, Brian C, Christine S, Dee, Edward, Eric, Frankie, Jim, John W, Katrina B, Keith, Kerry, Linda P, Maggie, Margaret W, Marilyn, Michael G, Michael S, Rob, Roberta, Roseanne, Rosemary, Sheila T, Susan G, Sylvia, Vic, Victoria, Vivien & Yvonne C

Elite group - Ann S, Brian L, Colin C, Elizabeth H, Emma, Gwen, Irene T, Jennifer K, Julie, Kath H, Suzi, Yvonne M & Zandra

It was Emma, Katrina, Rob & Roberta's first and probably walk with us - visitors

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick

Cinder Path                Cuerden Hall          Hawksclough Farmhouse                         Cam Lane             Lower Kem Mill

Cuerden Valley's Health Walk    Cock Cabin Wood     Cam Lane Cottage   Ponderosa

The Chorley Walks.