Health Walk - Tuesday 22nd May 2018

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

Today we had fifty walkers 

It was a lovely morning with glorious summer sunshine

Margaret W led the main walk with John W back marking.   Susan S led the short option walk with John B back marking.  It was John's first time back marking.

Margaret introduced herself and John and set off down the side of the visitors Centre into the Pinetum and down Cardiac Hill. The Elite walkers set off in the same direction but carried on through the Car Park.

Frankie soon left Snake Hill to go round Cuerden Hall and along James' Walk to see the Bluebells.  We scrambled down to the Cinder Path.

Leaving the Cinder Path we walked along the Cycle Track to Cock Cabin Wood, walked round the Pond, leaving the wood we entered Walkers Wood emerging on Bikers Hill to cross over the Stone Bridge and walked

Margaret turned down the path alongside the Visitors Centre into the Pinetum then down Cardiac Hill, over the Wooden Bridge

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turning left to walk along the river,

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passing the rivulet/culvert to the Stone Bridge

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Leaving the Stone Bridge behind and heading up Bikers Hill into Walkers Wood

we emerged from the wood to enter Cock Cabin Wood and as we left we

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passed the Elite group and carried on along the Cycle Track being delighted by the May blossom (Hawthorn) so we can confidently 'cast a clout' - a layer of clothing

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the May Blossom

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a Hawthorn bush as we approached the footbridge over the M6

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and a carpet of buttercups in the grazing field

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Looking back all the Dandelions have gone replaced by the May Blossom

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Over the M6 and my first rose this year

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Leaving the M6 behind.  We came out on the A49 and walked under the M65 to enter the north side of the Park

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where Colin D and Graham drew attention to the Horse Chestnut.  Walking down the track towards the Stag Lodge Car Park turning right to walk past the Pond

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Beautiful spring setting

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Carrying on round we paused for a rest and to enjoy the ambience before we walked along the bottom

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to climb back up the hill

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Passing the view of Saint Saviour's Church.

We came out of the North Side, passed under the M65, through Wigan Road Car Park back over the M6 to enter the Cinder Path on our way up Sue Ryder's Drive, round the front of Cuerden Hall to get back to the Visitors Centre

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The Bike Rack it doesn't look finished but it is.  Photo 28 is one we spotted on the old railway path into Weymouth last September

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 F, Ann K, Annette, Barbara, Bernadette, Brian C, Carol W, Colin d, Elizabeth M, Eric, Frankie, Geoff A, Graham, Irene S, James Mc, Janet, Joe Mc, John McN, John W, Joyce, Judy, Kath H, Lawrence, Linda E, Maggie, Malcolm, Margaret W, Marie, Marilyn, Maureen Mc, Michael G, Michael S, Roberta, Roseanne, Sheila T, Susan G, Sylvia, Teresa, Vic, & Yvonne C

It was Annette's first walk with us

Elite group - Beth, Carmel, Dianne, Jennifer, Joan, John B, Julie, Karin, Muriel & Suzi

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.