Health Walk - Thursday 2nd January

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

Sheila T:  "Sunny walk in the park this morning with a chilly breeze.   James led ten walkers across the fields and the stepping stones with Sheila back marking.   Colin led the Elite group of twelve, one young person and three canine friends with Irene back marking.   The groups met in Gravel Hole wood."

Eileen P:  "Sunny and breezy walk in Cuerden Valley Park this morning, muddy in places but can’t expect anything else at this time of the year."

James produced a snorkel and goggles and said we were going to cross the stepping stones so he hoped we were all prepared.  We followed him up through the Car Park, down Berkeley Drive turning left into Shady Lane running the gauntlet of speeding cars to reach the new Kissing Gate safely.

Photo 1 - Sheila                                                     Photo 2 - Sheila 
The view to the east

Photo 3                                                                Photo 4                                                Photo 5 - Sheila 
James actually followed the path this time, it was muddy in the Meadow but so was the path

Photo 6 - Sheila                                                    Photo 7                                             Photo 8
walking out of the mud down the larger meadow

Photo 9 - Eileen                                                 Photo 10 - Eileen
Eileen spotted the sheep on the hill as we walked down the Meadow to Town Brow

Photo 11                                                              Photo 12                                              Photo 13 - Sheila
Leaving the road at the earliest opportunity we headed due north

s
Photo 14                                                              Photo 15                                              Photo 16   
Staggering through this very muddy patch

Photo 17                                                              Photo 18                                              Photo 19   
Traversing the stepping

Photo 20                                                              Photo 21                                        Photos 22 & 23 - Eileen
stones with me last as usual, having taken photos.

We came out on the Cycle Track alongside the Covert Pond and walked along the track to turn up into Gravel Hole Wood

Photo 24 - Frankie                                Photo 25 - Frankie                        Photo 26 - Frankie
where Frankie caught the leaders

Photo 27                                                            Photo 28
We had met the Elite Walkers going in the opposite direction who all stood aside to let us pass

Photo 29                                                              Photo 30
They had started walking down Snake Hill, up into Walkers Wood, into Cock Cabin Wood, round the Pond back down Bikers Hill over the Stone Bridge, up the Long Steps, round the reservoir, across into Dog Kennel Wood and Gravel Hole Wood where they met us

Photo 31 - Sheila                                              Photo 32 - Frankie
Sheila photographing the Elite Group and Frankie catching Sheila at it

Photo 33 - Frankie
slinking off, last as usual

Photo 34 - Frankie                                   Photo 35 - Frankie 
The Elite Walkers continued down the path we had just come up, walking along Cycle Track to the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill, into the Pinetum, right at John B's Many Eyed Tree and back to the Visitors Centre ahead of us

We carried on into Gravel Hole Wood, through Dog Kennel Wood

Photo 36                                                           Photo 37
along the eastern side of the Lake, through the Kissing Gate, up the steps onto Cam Lane and back down to the Kissing Gate and

Photo 38                                                           Photo 39
round the Lake on the other side, down the Long Steps, round the Picnic Area, across the Stone Bridge, up Snake Hill back to the Visitors Centre to join the Elite Walkers in the cafe

Photo 40 - Frankie
and up the steps on to Cam Lane

Zandra: "o 15 walkers, and 3 lovely dogs set off for our walk on a nice bright day, muddy underfoot in places. This is not a problem for the hoomans, but a certain 4 legged gentleman called George finds it beneath his dignity to walk through mud. He tried to tip toe through, but it was a definite No. Luckily his servant, Denise , was there, and she did the decent thing and carried him. Job done. We set off down Snake Hill, left at the bottom, up through the wood, then on to the main path. We turned right, round the pond, back on to the main path, down to the stone bridge, up the side path to the reservoir. Round the reservoir, turn right, and across and through the wood. Turn right at the bottom of the wood, left over the wooden bridge, up Cardiac Hill and back to the cafe for a well earned elevenses . Lovely. " at the Visitors Centre

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 >>.  similarly for the blue arrows

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick with grateful thanks to John, Margaret, Eileen & Sheila

Cam Lane
Cam Lane Cottage
The Chorley Walks.  
Cinder Path
Cock Cabin Wood
Cuerden Hall
Cuerden Valley's Health Walk
Lower Kem Mill
Hawksclough Farmhouse
Tree Sculpture
Park
Pinetum
Ponderosa
Visitors Centre