Health Walk - Thursday 26th April 2018
Photos by Michael S & Jen - Please click on photos to see a larger one
Today we had thirty-two walkers.
Cheryl led the main walk with Michael S back marking - Cheryl's first lead for Cuerden. Up to now Cheryl has back marked but now she is sufficiently familiar with the Park to lead. Previously she has led walks in Peterborough and Blackpool
Colin C led the short option walk with Suzi back marking
Keith Billington:
What a wonderful walk we enjoyed in the park this morning. The conditions were dry, bright and breezy, maybe a little too breezy in some exposed areas, but it felt invigorating with regular bursts of sunlight taking the edge of that stiff westerly. Circumstances meant this morning’s leader of the pack was Cheryl, who has previously only ever back-marked for our group, but her wealth of experience leading health walks in other regions became immediately apparent, and has meant Cheryl is now a fully-fledged invaluable member of our pack of leaders. The same set of circumstances meant Michael stepping in to back-mark for Cheryl and so, in those safe and capable hands, we embarked on what was to be an imaginative excursion to the farther reaches of this part of the park. Our route started with a descent down Cardiac Hill, over the river and on to the tarmac path. Here we turned right and followed that
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Cowslips near the Covert Pond
path all the way to Sheep Hill Lane. That used to be a walk down an avenue of trees and shrubs but, thanks to some considerable coppicing this year, the experience is now very different, feeling light and airy with open views into the fields beyond. At Sheep Hill Lane we crossed the road and headed right towards Town Brow, re-entering the park proper at the first access point immediately after crossing the river on the left. From there we began the steady climb that looks down on the disappearing river below to the left, and up towards a field currently filled with countless clumps of (what I believe to be) sedge.
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Having reached the top of the climb and entered the wooded stretch,
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it was wonderful to see so many daffodils still hanging on, interspersed with an ever thickening blanket of bluebells and all the other usual woodland suspects.
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Having dropped back down to the level of the river, and at the point where the path forks,
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Cheryl confirmed we had reached the halfway mark on our walk this morning - in terms of time allowed. That prevented Cheryl from leading us into an area I’ve personally never visited before, so it had to be
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the ‘shorter’ left-hand option to cross
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the river yet again, and
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climb up the right-hand edge of a field overlooking a landscape that, for all intents and purposes, gave one a feeling of being lost in the heart of the countryside, with the only signs of human activity pertaining to farms – Lower Wood End and Carver’s Farms (?). This path eventually wends it’s way behind the Blackthorn Croft estate, whilst still being immersed in beautiful woodland, until it eventually brings one onto Back Lane, on the opposite side of which is The Ley Inn. We turned left here and walked a further hundred yards or so before turning off to the right
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to enter Sheep Hill Woods. This was a particularly pleasant phase of this morning’s walk, as it involves another steady climb followed by a descent, but only after passing through a series of densely wooded and open areas, providing a constantly changing colour scheme and atmosphere, and highlighting the brilliance of the very pleasing blooms and blossoms which are around every corner.
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(Cheryl) At the top of this rise, we stopped for a brief moment to take in the spectacular views from there (and to take a quick breather), before making our descent that eventually arrived at Sheep Hill Lane. Turning left here, that meant our steady drop continued down to the CVP car park, passing Clayton-le-Woods Primary School and the ingenious plastic bottle greenhouse – that concept must surely have many other practical applications, across the road and through our last kissing gate. From there
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we back-tracked along the tarmac path
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following the course of the river, as far as the wooden bridge that we crossed for that infamous sting-in-the-tail Cardiac Hill. As any walker in the Cuerden Valley Park knows, a path taken in reverse is always an entirely different experience, revealing previously hidden flora and fauna, and offering a completely different perspective on the landscape. We duly arrived at the base of Cardiac Hill, but thanks to the location of our new home it’s not quite the breath-taking finish to a walk it used to be when our final destination was The Barn. Given the intrepidness of the Elite Group in recent weeks, it was almost a surprise to see them already tucking into their well-earned brews & bickies in the cafe, so we wasted no time in joining them having the surprising choice of doing so inside or alfresco on the balcony. What a debut for Cheryl’s leadership. The walk was a well-conceived departure from the norm and a virtuous 3-3.5 miles (depending on the mobile phone app) which, given the elevation profile of the walk, was a good 4 miles in anyone’s money. Jimmy would’ve been proud of today’s route. As for the natural beauty that was on offer this morning, I think Eileen’s, Jen’s and Michael’s wonderful photos speak for themselves. Very many thanks to Cheryl for her leadership and attentiveness, to Michael for his back-markership (please forgive the artistic licence), and to all the other two and four legged health walkers who contributed towards yet another richly rewarding experience this morning. Signing-off – one very happy health walker!
Back to Michael:
All the following photos are by Jen:
Before Colin led the Elite walkers down Snake Hill they came across this stone
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on the new bench. Leaving Snake Hill they walked up Bikers Hill
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What is concerning Zandra and Suzi? Suzi's phone was ringing
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to enter Cock Cabin Wood
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Today's mystery photo
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Leaving Cock Cabin Wood they entered Walkers Wood
Colin led them over the Stone Bridge, along the bottom of the Dam and up the Steps to
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Lake
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Snails. From the Lake they walked down the Slope
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to join the Cycle Track and walk along the riverside to the Wooden Bridge
Crossing the Wooden Bridge, walking up Cardiac Hill they
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Admired the new Visitors Centre before entering the Pinetum and walking up the side back to the Cafe. You can see that the cladding round the bottom of the centre is nearing completion
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 - Amanda, Barbara F, Bernadette, Bill, Cheryl, Colin D, David H, Eileen P, Eric, Frankie, Geoff & Paddy, Graham, Helen G, Jim, John W, Keith, Margaret W, Michael S, Moira, Roberta & Sheila T
Elite group - Anne S, Carol R, Colin C, Elizabeth H, Gwen, Jen, Julie S, Mary P, Norman, Suzi & Zandra
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.
